Neoplatymops mattogrossensis, Vieira, 1942

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Molossidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 598-672 : 637

42.

Mato Grosso Dog-faced Bat

Neoplatymops mattogrossensis

French: Molosse du Mato Grosso / German: Mato-Grosso-Bulldogfledermaus / Spanish: Neoplatimop de Mato Grosso

Other common names: Mato Grosso Free-tailed Bat, South American Flat-headed Bat, South American Free-tailed Bat

Taxonomy. Molossops mattogrossensis Vieira, 1942 ,

“S[outh] Simao, rio Juruena, norte de Mato Grosso,” Brazil.

Neoplatymops was previously considered a subgenus of Molossops . Monotypic.

Distribution. E Colombia, Venezuela, SW Guyana, NE Bolivia, and Brazil.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 44-58 mm, tail 20-23 mm, ear 10-13 mm, hindfoot 6-8 mm, forearm 27-30 mm. No range data are available for body weight, but average weight in Brazil was 6-1 g (males) and 5-4 g (females). Males are slightly larger in overall size and weight than females. Small wart-like granulations are present on dorsal surface of forearms. Dorsal pelage is short (3 mm), with brown tips and whitish bases; ventral pelage is paler. Ears are dark brown and widely separated on forehead. Wing membranes are dark brown. Gular gland is well developed in adult males. Dental formulais11/2,C1/1,P 2/2, M 8/3 (x2) = 30. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 48 and FN = 60 or 62, if sex chromosomes are acrocentric.

Habitat. Savanna, dry forest, and rainforest, at elevations of 75-195 m.

Food and Feeding. Diet consists mainly of beetles ( Coleoptera ) and flies ( Diptera ). Secondary items include bugs ( Hemiptera and Homoptera) and moths ( Lepidoptera ), and to an even lesser degree ants and wasps ( Hymenoptera ), grasshoppers and crickets ( Orthoptera ), and cockroaches (Blattodea).

Breeding. In Guyana, juveniles have been caught in July. Complete reproductive synchrony was seen in the caatinga of Brazil with pregnant females in August during the middle of the dry season, births in November and December during the transition to the wet season, and lactation from December to April in the wet season.

Activity patterns. The Mato Grosso Dog-faced Bat roosts in rock crevices near the ground and under stones. It has a low wing loading and aspect ratio, but narrow wingtips, which suggests it is more maneuverable in flight than most other molossids.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. One male and 2-4 females were usually found at the same roost in Venezuela, suggesting a harem-polygynous social system. In Brazil, the species has been documented roosting with the Common Tentmaking Bat (Uroderma bilobatum).

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The [UCN Red List (as Molossops mattogrossensus).

Bibliography. Acosta et al. (2006), Eger (2008), Linares & Escalante (1992), Novaes et al. (2013), Peterson (1965a), Sazima & Taddei (1976), Willig (1985b), Willig & Jones (1985).

Figures

42. Mato Grosso Dog-faced Bat (Neoplatymops mattogrossensis), 43. Peale’s Free-tailed Bat (Nyctinomops aurispinosus), 44. Pocketed Free-tailed Bat (Nyctinomops femorosaccus), 45. Broad-eared Free-tailed Bat (Nyctinomops laticaudatus), 46. Big Free-tailed Bat (Nyctinomops macrotis), 47. Equatorial Dog-faced Bat (Cabreramops aequatorianus), 48. Rufous Dog-faced Bat (Molossops neglectus), 49. Dwarf Dog-faced Bat (Molossops temmancku), 50. Freeman's Dog-faced Bat (Cynomops freemani), 51. Mexican Dog-faced Bat (Cynomops mexicanus), 52. Southern Dog-faced Bat (Cynomops planirostris), 53. Cinnamon Dog-faced Bat (Cynomops abrasus), 54. Greenhall’s Dog-faced Bat (Cynomops greenhalli), 55. Thomas's Dog-faced Bat (Cynomops mastivus), 56. Miller's Dog-faced Bat (Cynomops milleri), 57. Waorani Dog-faced Bat (Cynomops tonkigui)

Distribution. E Colombia , Venezuela , SW Guyana , NE Bolivia , and Brazil .