Mexican funnel-eared bat

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Mexican funnel-eared bat

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Chiroptera
Family: Natalidae
Genus: Natalus
Species:
N. stramineus
Binomial name
Natalus stramineus
Gray, 1838

The Mexican funnel-eared bat (Natalus stramineus) is a bat species. Despite its name, it is native to the Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean.[2]

Description

The Mexican funnel-eared bat gets its name from its very distinctive funnel-shaped ears. The face has a triangular shape, pale skin, and forward-tilting ears. Both sexes of this species are similar in size, unlike other species. They have brown fur, which becomes darker as it reaches the tip.[3] They tend to live in deep and very humid caves and have groups from 100 up to 10,000 bats.[4] Another prime difference in this bat species compared to other, is that the Natalus stramineus has the longest genstation period reported for bats (some seven months). The Mexican funnel-eared bat also has migrant characteristics since it must live in a highly humid environment. If the habitat is not as humid as their liking, their population in that habitat will drop due to many of the bats looking for a more suitable place to call home nearby.[5] This species displays slower flight speeds than others; as insectivores, the Natalus stramineus needs greater mobility to catch insects in densely vegetated areas.[6]

References

  1. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T14360A22040956.en.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link
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  2. .
  3. S2CID 85828399.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link
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  4. ^ Arita, 1 HT. (1995). "Natural history, interspecific association and incidence of the cave bats of Yucatan, Mexico". The Southwestern Naturalist. 40: 29–37.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ Clay, Mitchell G. (30 April 1965). "A Natural History Study of The Funnel-Eared Bat, Natalus Stramineus" (PDF).
  6. ^ Akins, J. B.; Kennedy, M. L.; Schnell, G. D.; Sánchez-Hernández, C.; Romero-Almaraz, M. L.; Wooten, M. C.; Best, T. L. (1 December 2007). "Flight speeds of three species of Neotropical bats: Glossophaga soricina, Natalus stramineus, and Carollia subrufa".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

Further reading