Big crested mastiff bat

Big crested mastiff bat
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Chiroptera
Family:	Molossidae
Genus:	Promops
Species:	P. centralis
Binomial name
Promops centralis Thomas, 1915
Big crested mastiff bat range

The big crested mastiff bat (Promops centralis) is a species of bat native to Central and South America.

Taxonomy

It was described as a new species in 1915 by British zoologist Oldfield Thomas. The holotype was collected by George F. Gaumer, and presented to Thomas by Osbert Salvin.^[2]

Description

It can be differentiated from the other species of Promops, the brown mastiff bat, by its longer forearm. The brown mastiff bat has a forearm length less than 50 mm (2.0 in), while the big crested mastiff bat has one greater than 51.5 mm (2.03 in). It has a dental formula of 1.1.2.32.1.2.3 for a total of 30 teeth.^[3]

Biology and ecology

It is a social animal, roosting in small colonies of up to 6 individuals during the day. These roosts consist of the space underneath tree bark, the undersides of palm leaves, or tree hollows.^[3] Its search calls have an average duration of 20.6 ms, with a starting frequency of 23.0 kHz, an ending frequency of 25.6 kHz, and a peak frequency of 24.7 kHz.^[4]

Range and habitat

The big crested mastiff bat is found in Central and South America. It is found in Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela. It is found at a range of elevations, from sea level to 1,800 m (5,900 ft).^[1]

References

1. Solari, S. (2019). "Promops centralis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T88087651A22036112. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T88087651A22036112.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
2. Thomas, Oldfield (1915). "The Annals and magazine of natural history; zoology, botany, and geology". Annals and Magazine of Natural History. 16 (91): 61–64. doi:10.1080/00222931508693686.
3. Gardner, A. L. (2008). Mammals of South America, Volume 1: Marsupials, Xenarthrans, Shrews, and Bats. Vol. 1. University of Chicago Press. pp. 434–435. ISBN 978-0226282428.
4. González-Terrazas, Tania P.; Víquez, Luis R.; Ibarra-Macías, Ana; Ruíz, Adrián Tonatiuh; Torres-Knoop, Leonora; Jung, Kirsten; Tschapka, Marco; Medellín, Rodrigo A. (2016). "New records and range extension of Promops centralis (Chiroptera: Molossidae)". Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad. 87 (4): 1407–1411. doi:10.1016/j.rmb.2016.10.008.