Miller's mastiff bat (Molossus pretiosus) is a species of bat in the family Molossidae. It is found in Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guyana, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Venezuela.[1]
| Miller's mastiff bat | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Chiroptera |
| Family: | Molossidae |
| Genus: | Molossus |
| Species: | M. pretiosus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Molossus pretiosus Miller, 1902
| |
| |
| Miller's mastiff bat range | |
Distribution
editMiller’s mastiff bat has a limited distribution and tends to inhabit isolated regions. This particular species of mastiff bat is native to Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. Its main habitat is lowlands.[2]
Morphology
editMiller’s mastiff bats have a powerfully built body, with a broad body frame and narrow wings. They have a thick mandible in comparison to other mastiff bats. They have a distinctive cusp shaped pattern on their molars and lack their third premolar.[3] Males tend to be larger than females. Full grown, an adult mastiff bat ranges from about 20 to 28 grams.[4] At birth, Miller’s mastiff bat is only about one-quarter its adult weight.[5] Miller’s mastiff bat had a variable fur coat color; ranging from black to a reddish color. The mastiff bat’s chest is speckled with white fur, and has black ears.[6][7]
Behavior
editMiller’s mastiff bat lives in open areas, mainly in grassland habitats. They have also been observed to build their roosts in caves, dry woodlands, roof dwellings, and thorn scrub.[8] They tend to live in areas by a river, lake, or watering hole. Water is important for drinking and foraging behaviors.[9] They are nocturnal, and start to become active at dusk, which coincides with the time when their food source becomes active. They tend to fly in a single file line to their destination. Their main food source are insects, such as beetles and moths.[10]
Conservation
editMiller's mastiff bat is listed as a Least Concern species with a low risk of becoming extinct. This is due to its ability to adapt to changing habitats and the distribution of habitats it occupies. It is also located in a number of protected areas. There are no known threats to Miller's mastiff bat.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c Solari, S. (2019). "Molossus pretiosus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T13649A22106312. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T13649A22106312.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
- ^ Simmons, N. B. (2005). "Order Chiroptera". In: D. E. Wilson and D. M. Reeder (eds), Mammal Species of the World, pp. 312–529. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- ^ Freeman, P. W. (1981). "A multivariate study of the family Molossidae (Mammalia, Chiroptera): morphology, ecology, evolution". Fieldiana Zoology. 7: 1–173. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.3128.
- ^ Jones, J. K. Jr.; Smith, J. D. & Turner, R. W. (1971). "Noteworthy records of bats from Nicaragua, with a checklist of the chiropteran fauna of the country". Occasional Papers, Museum of Natural History, the University of Kansas. 2: 1–35.
- ^ Dolan, P. G. (1989). Systematics of Middle American mastiff bats of the genus Molossus. Special Publications, The Museum, Texas Tech University, 29:1–71 ISBN 0896722031.
- ^ Miller, G. S. Jr. (1902). "Twenty new American bats". Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. 54 (2): 389–412. JSTOR 4062747.
- ^ Jason B. Jennings; Troy L. Best; Jennifer C. Rainey & Stephanie. E. Burnett (2000). "Molossus pretiosus" (PDF). Mammalian Species. 635: 1–3. doi:10.1644/1545-1410(2000)635<0001:MP>2.0.CO;2. S2CID 198968746. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2012-12-30.
- ^ Nogueira, M.; Pol, A. & Peracchi, A. (2008). "First record of Miller's mastiff bat, Molossus pretiosus (Mammalia: Chiroptera), from the Brazilian Caatinga". Chiroptera Neotropical. 14 (1): 346–353. Archived from the original on 2018-04-10. Retrieved 2012-12-30.
- ^ LaVal, R. K. (1977). "Notes on some Costa Rican bats". Brenesia. 10–11: 77–83. Archived from the original on 2017-11-07. Retrieved 2012-12-30.
- ^ Freeman, P. W. (1979). "Specialized insectivory: beetle-eating and moth-eating molossid bats". Journal of Mammalogy. 60 (3): 467–479. doi:10.2307/1380088. JSTOR 1380088.