Mormoopidae

Mormoops blainvillei

The chin leaf or mustache bats ( Mormoopidae ) are limited to America family of bats ( Microchiroptera ). It is divided into two genera, eight kinds.

Description

The most striking feature of these bats is the structure of the buccal region. The lips are enlarged, the lower lips are folded and provided with Hautwülsten. Additionally, small chin leaves can - be present - skin growths on the chin. The upper lip is also increased with beads and wrinkles that integrate the nostrils. But a typical nose sheet as the sheet lugs does not exist. These modifications result in a funnel shape of the mouth. The name of mustache bats they owe a hem stiff hairs around the mouth.

The wings are not attached in some species on the flank, but at the backbone, giving the impression of a naked back. The tail is relatively long, its tip protrudes from the Uropatagium ( the tail wing membrane between the legs) out. The fur of these animals is short and fine, its coloration is variable. Chin Journal bats orange, bright or dark brown or grayish, the underside is usually brighter. These animals can reach a body length of 40 to 80 mm, a tail length of 15 to 30 mm and a weight of 8 to 20 grams of reach.

Way of life

Chin Journal bats in tropical regions of the southern United States (Arizona and Texas) into middle Brazil ( Mato Grosso region) common and occur also in the West Indies. They inhabit a variety of habitats, both rain forests and arid regions. Like most bats are nocturnal; during the day they sleep in caves, mines, tunnels and rarely in buildings. They prefer this dark areas, often deep inside the caves and far away from the entrance. For sleeping they form large groups of often hundreds of thousands of animals, but each instance holds about 15 centimeters distance to the next animal.

After dark, they go in search of food, which can take five to seven hours. You are on the way later than other bat species of the genus Mormoops a peak of activity time between 23.00 and midnight clock is reported. These animals are insectivore, they feed mainly on butterflies and beetles, which they locate by means of echolocation.

Mostly once a year, the female gives birth, a single young is born, the mating and breeding season depends on the climatic conditions. In the southern United States, most births fall in the months of May or June.

System

External system

Previously, the chin Journal bats were out as a family Chilonycterinae within the sheet tabs ( Phyllostomidae ). Differences in the construction of the front limbs and the idiosyncratic face shape justify the opinion of most researchers the family rank for this group. Phylogenetically, they are regarded as sister taxon of the sheet tabs. The fossil history of the chin Journal of bats is poor, they can be traced back only to the Pleistocene.

Genera and species

• The genus Pteronotus ( often referred to as mustache bats) includes six species that are distributed from southern Mexico to Brazil. Based on the wings it is divided into two subgenera: In the subgenus Pteronotus (two species) are the flight membranes attached to the backbone, which is why they are also called Naked back bats. In the subgenus Chilonycteris ( four species) sit the wing membranes on the flanks.
• The genus Mormoops ( sometimes referred to as Actual chin Journal bats) comprises two species found from the southern United States to northern Peru. They are characterized by the conspicuous rounded ears that wrap themselves around the small eyes, and through the leaf -like outgrowths on the chin.