Ghost-faced bat

Mormoops megalophylla

Mormoops megalophylla is a species of bat in the family chin Journal bats ( Mormoopidae ) which is native to North and South America.

The genus name is derived from the Greek Mormoops " mormo " ( = bugbear ). The species name megalophylla is from the Latin " mega" ( = large) and " phyllum " ( = leaf ) and refers to the sheet-like flap of skin at the snout of the animals.

Description

Mormoops megalophylla with a total length of 85-97 mm and an average forearm length of 54.5 mm, the larger of the two species of the genus Mormoops. In Mormoops megalophylla the connection is between the ears more pronounced than in its sister species Mormoops blainvillei. Remarkable are the lobe-shaped growths on the face in the two species. Both Mormoops megalophylla and M. blainvillei have an unusual skull shape in which the muzzle is curved upwards. Forehead and muzzle case form an angle of almost 90 °.

Way of life

Mormoops megalophylla is like most bats nocturnal and feeds on insects, whereby large moth captures are preferred. During the day the animals hang in colonies of up to 500,000 individuals in caves or mines. The individual animals keep each other at a distance of 15 cm and not like other bats form dense clusters. Mormoops megalophylla flying out shortly after nightfall and returns only about 7 hours later back to the hanging place.

Distribution and habitat

Mormoops megalophylla occurs from the southern United States via Mexico to Honduras and Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela. The IUCN estimates the way thanks to their wide distribution and presumably large populations as a unharmed, but pointed out that the species is vulnerable to interference, particularly by the commercial use of the caves.