Nyctinomops laticaudatus (E. Geoffroy, 1805)

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Molossidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 598-672 : 637-638

45.

Broad-eared Free-tailed Bat

Nyctinomops laticaudatus

French: Nyctinomope des rochers / German: Grof 3ohr-Bulldogfledermaus / Spanish: Nycténimo de orejas anchas

Other common names: Broad-eared Bat, Broad-tailed Bat, Espirito Santo Free-tailed Bat, Geoffroy's Free-tailed Bat

Taxonomy. Molossus laticaudatus E. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1805 ,

Asuncion, Paraguay.

Subspecific taxonomy and precise distribution are unsettled. Five subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

N. L laticaudatus E. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1805 — S Bolivia, Paraguay, S Brazil, N Argentina, and N Uruguay.

N. l. europs H. Allen, 1889 — E Colombia, Venezuela, the Guianas, N Brazil, E Peru, and N Bolivia; also Trinidad I.

N. L ferrugineus G. G. Goodwin, 1954 — Mexico (Durango and S Tamaulipas to Guerrero). N. L. gracilis Wagner, 1843 — E Brazil.

N. I. yucatanicus G. S. Miller, 1902 — Cuba, SE Mexico (Oaxaca to Yucatan Peninsula), Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, Panama, W Colombia, W Ecuador, and NW Peru.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 50-68 mm, tail 32-48 mm, ear 15-21 mm, hindfoot 7-12 mm, forearm 40-47 mm; weight 9-16 g. Subspecies in south ( laticaudatus ) and north of distribution (ferrugineus) are larger than the others. Dorsal pelage is short (4-5 mm), dark chocolate-brown, with base of hair white; ventral pelage is paler with slight frosting on tips; partial albinism has been reported in Brazil. Ears are large and rounded, with small bumps on anterior surface; these are connected over forehead and extend past tip of nose. Upperlip is wrinkled and overhangs lower lip. Nose is upturned with well-defined nostrils. Wing membranes have no hair and are semi-transparent. Skull has poorly to moderately developed sagittal crest and deep basisphenoid pits. A narrow gap separates the premaxillae. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 48 and FN = 58 or 64.

Habitat. Found in many tropical and subtropical habitats, including wet forest, cloud forest, dry forest, deciduous forest, thorn forest, pine-oak forest, scrubland, savanna, and palm swamps. It also occurs in disturbed habitats and urban areas. Elevational range is from sea level up to 1700 m, but primarily below 500 m.

Food and Feeding. Insects eaten and found in the digestive tracts were predominantly beetles ( Coleoptera ), taken in flight, and some moths ( Lepidoptera ).

Breeding. Pregnant females have been documented from March to July and in September. Lactating females were found from June to August. In the northern parts of the distribution, females are seasonally monoestrous, with parturition synchronous during the rainy season from late June to earlyJuly.

Activity patterns. The Broad-eared Free-tailed Bat is not as closely dependent on sunset as other species of molossids. Average emergence time from the roost was 42 minutes after sunset, and bats remained active over the next ten hours. The species has been found to roost in rock crevices, among tightly packed dead leaves, cracks in trees, and in Mayan ruins. It is only known to roost in caves in north-eastern Mexico and typically near the brighter entrance, in colonies of ¢.1000 bats. It has also adapted to roosting in man-made structures. The search-phase echolocation call structure has a QCF with a downward modulation that can alternate among three frequencies averaging 26-7 kHz, 28-7 kHz, and 32-4 kHz. Owls, American kestrels (Falco sparverius), and snakes are known to prey on this species.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Resident colonies are formed throughout the year, but populations may fluctuate from 50 to 1000 individuals and philopatry is low. Other species of bats have been found in the same roosts, including Parnell’s Common Mustached Bat (Pteronotus parnellii), the Common Vampire Bat (Desmodus rotundus), the Jamaican Fruit-eating Bat (Artibeus jamaicensis), the Great Fruit-eating Bat (A. lLturatus), the Lesser Antillean Funnel-eared Bat ( Natalus stramineus), the Least Little Mastiff Bat ( Mormopterus minutus ), Wagner's Bonneted Bat ( Eumops glaucinus ), Peale’s Free-tailed Bat ( Nyctinomops aurispinosus ), the Pocketed Free-tailed Bat (N. femorosaccus ), the Brazilian Free-tailed Bat ( Tadarida brasiliensis ), and the Common Black Myotis ( Myotis nigricans ).

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Broadeared Free-tailed Bat can be common in Mexico, but is rare in most other parts ofits patchy distribution.

Bibliography. Arita (2014d), Avila-Flores et al. (2002), Barquez & Diaz (2001), Costa etal. (2011), Eger (2008), Geiger & Pacheco (2006), Mikula et al. (2016), Ortega et al. (2010), Reid (1997), Silva-Taboada (1979), Sudman et al. (1994).

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)

Subspecies and Distribution. N. L laticaudatus E. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1805 — S Bolivia , Paraguay , S Brazil , N Argentina , and N Uruguay . N. l. europs H. Allen, 1889 — E Colombia , Venezuela , the Guianas, N Brazil , E Peru , and N Bolivia ; also Trinidad I. N. L ferrugineus G. G. Goodwin, 1954 — Mexico (Durango and S Tamaulipas to Guerrero). N. L. gracilis Wagner, 1843 — E Brazil . On following pages: 46. Big Free-tailed Bat ( Nyctinomops macrotis ); 47. Equatorial Dog-faced Bat ( Cabreramops aequatorianus temminckii ); 50. Freeman's Dog-faced Bat ( Cynomops freemani); 51. Mexican Dog-faced Bat ( Cynomops mexicanus 54. Greenhall’s Dog-faced Bat ( Cynomops greenhall); 55. Thomas's Dog-faced Bat ( Cynomops mastivus ); 56. Miller's); 48. Rufous Dog-faced Bat ( Molossops neglectus ); 49. Dwarf Dog-faced Bat ( Molossops ); 52. Southern Dog-faced Bat ( Cynomops planirostris ); 53. Cinnamon Dog-faced Bat ( Cynomops abrasus ); Dog-faced Bat ( Cynomops milleri ); 57. Waorani Dog-faced Bat ( Cynomops tonkigui ). N. I. yucatanicus G. S. Miller, 1902 — Cuba , SE Mexico (Oaxaca to Yucatan Peninsula), Guatemala , Belize , Honduras , El Salvador , Panama , W Colombia , W Ecuador , and NW Peru .