- Cuban Flower Bat
-
Cuban Flower Bat[1] Conservation status Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Chiroptera Family: Phyllostomidae Genus: Phyllonycteris Species: P. poeyi Binomial name Phyllonycteris poeyi
Gundlach, 1860The Cuban Flower Bat (Phyllonycteris poeyi), also called Poey's Flower Bat, is a species of bat in the family Phyllostomidae. It is found in Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti.
Contents
Description
The Cuban Flower Bat is a medium-sized bat, with a wingspan of 29 to 35 centimetres (11 to 14 in), and a body weight of 15 to 29 grams (0.53 to 1.0 oz). The males are significantly larger than the females. Both sexes have silky, uniformly greyish-white fur. They have a relatively short tail, no more than 18 millimetres (0.71 in) long, and only a narrow patagium between the legs, since they lack a calcar. The snout is relatively long and narrow and bears a simple, rather rudimentary, nose leaf. The tongue is also long, with a hairlike structures forming a brus at the top, which helps the bat to feed on nectar from flowers.[3]
Cuban flower bats have been reported as flying no faster than 6.7 km/h (4.2 mph), and the shape of the wings would suggest that they have difficulty hovering in place.[3] Unlike other related bats, their echolocation calls are typically less than 50 kHz, and relatively long, lasting up to 7 seconds. In more enclosed spaces, like many bats, the calls are modified to shorter, frequency modulated sounds.[4]
Distribution and habitat
The Cuban Flower Bat is endemic to Cuba, Hispaniola, Isla de la Juventud, and surrounding smaller islands. On Hispaniola, it has been reported from both Haiti and the Dominican Republic.[2] It inhabits evergreen forest and scrubland at elevations up to 1,700 metres (5,600 ft).[3] There are two generally recognised subspecies, although these are sometimes considered to be wholly separate species:[1]
- Phyllonycteris poeyi poeyi - Cuba and Isla de la Juventud
- Phyllonycteris poeyi obtusa - Hispaniola
Behaviour and ecology
Like most bats, the Cuban Flower Bat is nocturnal. It spends the day in colonies of several thousand individuals in narrow, blind-ending cave galleries. Such caves are often shared with other species of bat, including the Cuban Fruit-eating Bat, the Buffy Flower Bat and various moustached bats. During the night, Cuban flower bats feed primarily on seeds and flower pollen from a wide range of plants, although they do also eat some flying insects. They are typically gregarious animals, flying in groups of up to thirty individuals during the night. The main predators of Cuba flower bats include Barn Owls, Stygian Owls, and Cuban boas.[3]
Females come into oestrus once a year, probably around December. The gestation period is unknown, but is likely to be around six months. The mother gives birth to a single, hairless infant, weighing around 5 grams (0.2 oz).[3]
References
- ^ a b Simmons, Nancy B. (16 November 2005). "Order Chiroptera (pp. 312-529)". In Wilson, Don E., and Reeder, DeeAnn M., eds. Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2 vols. (2142 pp.). ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494. http://www.bucknell.edu/msw3/browse.asp?id=13801121.
- ^ a b Dávalos, L. & Mancina, C. (2008). Phyllonycteris poeyi. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 04 December 2010. Database entry includes a brief justification of why this species is of least concern.
- ^ a b c d e Mancina, C.A. (2010). "Phyllonycteris poeyi (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae)". Mammalian Species 42 (1): 41–48. doi:10.1644/852.1. http://www.asmjournals.org/doi/full/10.1644/852.1.
- ^ Mora, E.C. & Macias, S. (2006). "Echolocation calls of Poey's flower bat (Phyllonycteris poeyi) unlike those of other phyllostomids". Naturwissenschaften 94 (5): 380–383. doi:0.1007/s001 14-006-0198-7. http://www.springerlink.com/content/q8174371035007j0/fulltext.pdf.
Categories:- IUCN Red List least concern species
- Phyllonycteris
- Animals described in 1860
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
Look at other dictionaries:
Cuban flower bat — kubinis šviesusis žiedlaižis statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas taksono rangas rūšis atitikmenys: lot. Phyllonycteris poeyi angl. Cuban flower bat rus. кубинский цветочный листонос ryšiai: platesnis terminas – šviesieji žiedlaižiai … Žinduolių pavadinimų žodynas
Cuban Fruit-eating Bat — Conservation status Near Threatened (IUCN 2.3) Scientific classification … Wikipedia
Cuban Fig-eating Bat — Conservation status Least Concern (IUCN 3.1) Scientific classification K … Wikipedia
Vampire bat — For the 1933 movie, see The Vampire Bat. Vampire bats Common Vampire Bat, Desmodus rotundus Scientific classification Kingdom … Wikipedia
Saussure's long-nosed bat — Saussure s long nosed bats Mexican long nosed bat (Leptonycteris nivalis) Scientific classification Kingdom … Wikipedia
Common Vampire Bat — Conservation status Least Concern (IUCN 3.1) … Wikipedia
Hairy-legged Vampire Bat — Conservation status Least Concern ( … Wikipedia
White-winged Vampire Bat — Diaemus youngi Conservation status … Wikipedia
Dark Fruit-eating Bat — Conservation status Least Concern (IUCN 3.1) Scientific classification … Wikipedia
Chestnut Short-tailed Bat — Conservation status Least Concern (IUCN 3.1) Scientific classification … Wikipedia