Wrinkle-faced bat

Old face ( Centurio senex )

The old man's face ( Centurio senex ) is the only type of bat genus Centurio from the group of fruit Vampire ( Stenodermatinae ) within the sheet tabs ( Phyllostomidae ).

Description

Your name have these bats from the unique shape of her head. The face is broad and hairless, numerous skin folds that surround the nose and mouth especially, provide the animals with a senile appearance. A white, beard -like hairs on the neck reinforces this impression, while the rest of the fur is brown or gray. Characteristics are also white patches on the shoulders and white horizontal stripes on the flight membranes, which are more clearly pronounced in males. Old man faces do not have a nose leaf, the nose is even extremely small, but the eyes are relatively large. The ears are elongated and colored yellow. Old man faces reach a body length of 55 to 70 millimeters and a weight of 17 to 28 grams.

Distribution and habitat

Old man faces life in Central and northern South America, their range extends from Mexico to Venezuela and also includes the islands of Trinidad and Tobago with a. Their habitat are primarily forests, both rain and dry forests, mostly at altitudes below 1000 meters.

Way of life

These bats are nocturnal, especially between dusk and midnight, they go in search of food. During the day they rest alone or in small groups of two to three animals under the leaves of the trees. These groups are separated outside the mating season by gender. The food of the old man faces consists exclusively of fruits, which they prefer over-ripe mangoes, bananas and Papaus.

Reproduction

The secretions of scent glands under their chin, the males try to attract females. After mating, which can be done from January to August, the partners often rest together under a sheet. Comes As with most bats usually a single young is born. Otherwise, little is known about the reproduction.

Threat

Old man faces are considered more rare animals, although they are not among the endangered species.

Swell