Aztec mastiff bat

Species of bat

Aztec mastiff bat
Conservation status

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Chiroptera
Family: Molossidae
Genus: Molossus
Species:
M. aztecus
Binomial name
Molossus aztecus
Saussure, 1860
Aztec mastiff bat range
Synonyms
  • Dysopes aztecus Saussure, 1860
  • Molossus molossus aztecus Saussure, 1860

The Aztec mastiff bat (Molossus aztecus) is a species of bat in the family Molossidae.[2] It is insectivorous.[1]

Taxonomy and etymology

It was described as a new species in 1860 by Swiss scientist Henri Saussure.[3] Its species name "aztecus" refers to the indigenous Aztecs of Mexico, where this species was first documented.

Description

It is one of the smallest bats of the genus Molossus. Its fur is chocolate brown and its patagia, nose, and ears are very dark brown. Individuals weigh 12–16 g (0.42–0.56 oz). Its forearm length is 34–35 mm (1.3–1.4 in). Its dental formula is 1.1.1.31.1.2.3 for a total of 26 teeth.[4]

Biology and ecology

It is nocturnal, foraging for its insect prey at night and roosting in hollow trees during the day. Unusually for its genus, females may become pregnant while still nursing a pup.[4]

Range and habitat

It is found from Jalisco and Cozumel Island in southern Mexico to Nicaragua and has been reported from Guatemala but not from El Salvador or Honduras. It has also been reported from southern Venezuela.[1] It is endemic to Mexico. It inhabits a variety of forest habitats at elevations from near sea level to 1,300 metres (4,300 ft).[1] It is generally documented at elevations greater than 1,500 m (4,900 ft) above sea level.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Solari, S. (2019). "Molossus aztecus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T13645A22107522. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T13645A22107522.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ^ Simmons, N.B. (2005). "Order Chiroptera". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 440. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
  3. ^ Saussure, H. M. (1860). "Note sur quelques mammifères du Mexique". Revue et magasin de zoologie pure et appliquée. 2. 12: 285–286.
  4. ^ a b c Ceballos, G.; Cabrales, J. A.; Vazquez, D. (2014). Ceballos, G. (ed.). Mammals of Mexico. JHU Press. pp. 767–768. ISBN 978-1421408439. OCLC 900027107.
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Extant species of family Molossidae
Subfamily Molossinae
Chaerephon
(Lesser mastiff bats)
  • Duke of Abruzzi's free-tailed bat (C. aloysiisabaudiae)
  • C. atsinanana
  • Ansorge's free-tailed bat (C. ansorgei)
  • Gland-tailed free-tailed bat (C. bemmeleni)
  • Spotted free-tailed bat (C. bivittata)
  • Fijian mastiff bat (C. bregullae)
  • Chapin's free-tailed bat (C. chapini)
  • Gallagher's free-tailed bat (C. gallagheri)
  • Northern freetail bat (C. jobensis)
  • Red free-tailed bat (C. jobimena)
  • Northern free-tailed bat (C. johorensis)
  • Grandidier's free-tailed bat (C. leucogaster)
  • Lappet-eared free-tailed bat (C. major)
  • Nigerian free-tailed bat (C. nigeriae)
  • Wrinkle-lipped free-tailed bat (C. plicata)
  • Little free-tailed bat (C. pumila)
  • Russet free-tailed bat (C. russata)
  • Solomons mastiff bat (C. solomonis)
  • São Tomé free-tailed bat (C. tomensis)
Cheiromeles
(Naked bats)
Cynomops
  • Cinnamon dog-faced bat (C. abrasus)
  • Freeman's dog-faced bat (C. freemani)
  • Greenhall's dog-faced bat (C. greenhalli)
  • Mexican dog-faced bat (C. mexicanus)
  • C. milleri
  • Para dog-faced bat (C. paranus)
  • Southern dog-faced bat (C. planirostris)
Eumops
(Mastiff bats)
  • Black bonneted bat (E. auripendulus)
  • Dwarf bonneted bat (E. bonariensis)
  • Big bonneted bat (E. dabbenei)
  • E. ferox
  • Florida bonneted bat (E. floridanus)
  • Wagner's bonneted bat (E. glaucinus)
  • Sanborn's bonneted bat (E. hansae)
  • Guianan bonneted bat (E. maurus)
  • E. nanus
  • Patagonian bonneted bat (E. patagonicus)
  • Western mastiff bat (E. perotis)
  • Colombian bonneted bat (E. trumbulli)
  • Underwood's bonneted bat (E. underwoodi)
  • E. wilsoni
Mormopterus
Subgenus Mormopterus
Natal free-tailed bat (M. acetabulosus)
M. francoismoutoui
Sumatran mastiff bat (M. doriae)
Peters's wrinkle-lipped bat (M. jugularis)
Kalinowski's mastiff bat (M. kalinowskii)
Little goblin bat (M. minutus)
Incan little mastiff bat (M. phrudus)
Subgenus Micronomus
East-coast free-tailed bat (M. norfolkensis)
Subgenus Ozimops
Beccari's free-tailed bat (M. beccarii)
M. halli
M. kitcheneri
M. loriae
M. lumsdenae
M. petersi
Southern free-tailed bat (M. planiceps)
Eastern free-tailed bat (M. ridei)
Subgenus Setirostris
M. eleryi
Molossops
(Broad-faced bats)
  • Equatorial dog-faced bat (M. (Cabreramops) aequatorianus)
  • Mato Grosso dog-faced bat (M. mattogrossensis)
  • Rufous dog-faced bat (M. neglectus)
  • Dwarf dog-faced bat (M. temminckii)
Molossus
(Velvety free-tailed bats)
  • Aztec mastiff bat (M. aztecus)
  • M. barnesi
  • Coiban mastiff bat (M. coibensis)
  • Bonda mastiff bat (M. currentium)
  • Velvety free-tailed bat (M. molossus)
  • Miller's mastiff bat (M. pretiosus)
  • Black mastiff bat (M. rufus)
  • Sinaloan mastiff bat (M. sinaloae)
  • M. trinitatus
Mops
(Greater mastiff bats)
Subgenus Xiphonycteris
Spurrell's free-tailed bat (M. spurrelli)
Dwarf free-tailed bat (M. nanulus)
Peterson's free-tailed bat (M. petersoni)
M. leonis
Sierra Leone free-tailed bat (M. brachyptera)
M. bakarii
Railer bat (M. thersites)
Subgenus Mops
Angolan free-tailed bat (M. condylurus)
White-bellied free-tailed bat (M. niveiventer)
Mongalla free-tailed bat (M. demonstrator)
Malayan free-tailed bat (M. mops)
Sulawesi free-tailed bat (M. sarasinorum)
Trevor's free-tailed bat (M. trevori)
M. congica
Midas free-tailed bat (M. midas)
Niangara free-tailed bat (M. niangarae)
Medje free-tailed bat (M. congicus)
M. leucostigma
Myopterus
  • Daubenton's free-tailed bat (M. daubentonii)
  • Bini free-tailed bat (M. whitleyi)
Neoplatymops
  • Mato Grosso dog-faced bat (N. mattogrossensis)
Nyctinomops
(New World
free-tailed bats)
  • Peale's free-tailed bat (N. aurispinosus)
  • Pocketed free-tailed bat (N. femorosaccus)
  • Broad-eared bat (N. laticaudatus)
  • Big free-tailed bat (N. macrotis)
Otomops
(Big-eared
free-tailed bats)
  • Javan mastiff bat (O. formosus)
  • Harrison's large-eared giant mastiff bat (O. harrisoni)
  • Johnstone's mastiff bat (O. johnstonei)
  • Madagascar free-tailed bat (O. madagascariensis)
  • Large-eared free-tailed bat (O. martiensseni)
  • Big-eared mastiff bat (O. papuensis)
  • Mantled mastiff bat (O. secundus)
  • Wroughton's free-tailed bat (O. wroughtoni)
Platymops
  • Peters's flat-headed bat (P. setiger)
Promops
(Domed-palate
mastiff bats)
  • Big crested mastiff bat (P. centralis)
  • P. davisoni
  • Brown mastiff bat (P. nasutus)
Sauromys
  • Roberts's flat-headed bat (S. petrophilus)
Tadarida
(Free-tailed bats)
  • Egyptian free-tailed bat (T. aegyptiaca)
  • White-striped free-tailed bat (T. australis)
  • Mexican free-tailed bat (T. brasiliensis)
  • Madagascan large free-tailed bat (T. fulminans)
  • European free-tailed bat (T. insignis)
  • New Guinea free-tailed bat (T. kuboriensis)
  • La Touche's free-tailed bat (T. latouchei)
  • Kenyan big-eared free-tailed bat (T. lobata)
  • European free-tailed bat (T. teniotis)
  • African giant free-tailed bat (T. ventralis)
Subfamily Tomopeatinae
Tomopeas
  • Blunt-eared bat (T. ravus)
Taxon identifiers
Molossus aztecus
Wikispecies has information related to Aztec mastiff bat.