Macrophyllum macrophyllum
| Long-legged bat | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Chiroptera |
| Family: | Phyllostomidae |
| Genus: |
Macrophyllum Gray, 1838 |
| Species: | M. macrophyllum |
| Binomial name | |
|
Macrophyllum macrophyllum Schinz, 1821 |
|
The long-legged bat (Macrophyllum macrophyllum) is a member of the Phyllostomidae family in the order Chiroptera. Both males and females of this species are generally small, with wingspans reaching 80mm and average weights ranging between 6 to 9 grams. The facial structure of these bats includes a shortened rostrum with a prominent noseleaf. The most defining feature of these bats however, is their long posterior limbs that extend farther than most Phyllostomidae bats. At the ends of these hind legs, the Long-Legged Bat has abnormally large feet equipped with strong claws.
The first specimen of M. macrophyllum was found in Brazil in 1855. Since then, these bats have been sighted in various locations across South America and Central America. In the northern regions of South America, the Long-Legged Bat has been found in parts of Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Venezuela. In Central America, these bats have been spotted in Costa Rica, Honduras, Guatemala, and Nicaragua. M. macrophyllum has also been located in parts of southern Mexico. Although these bats are fairly small, they have been shown to have a large home-range of up to 150 hectares with females having slightly larger home-ranges than males.
In general, M. macrophyllum is found in regions slightly north of the equator in rain forests and tropical deciduous forest habitats. In the majority of documented sightings, these bats were found near water sources such as lakes, streams, or sea caves off the Pacific coast. It has been inferred that these bats live near water sources because of the abundance of insects at these sights. In addition to being found near the water sources mentioned previously, these bats have been found roosting in man-made structures such as water culverts, modern buildings, and even ancient Panama ruins.
Although bats can have a diet ranging from fruit to meat, M. macrophyllum is insectivorous, meaning that their diet mainly consists of insects. Stomach content analysis of these bats has revealed mainly winged insects, indicating that the majority of the insects that M. macrophyllum consumes are aerial insects. Although flying insects are the main food source of the Long-Legged Bat, these bats have also been known to supplement their diet with animal blood, but not with fruit. Due to the prominence of M. macrophyllum’s posterior extremities and large feet, researchers have suggested aquatic hunting in these bats similar to Noctilo fish-eating bats, but this has yet to be proven.
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Wikipedia