Geographic Range
Brown mastiff bats are found from Venezuela, Colombia and the island of Trinidad in
the north to southern Brazil and northern Argentina in the south.
- Biogeographic Regions
- neotropical
Habitat
Brown mastiff bats are volant animals that inhabit tropical and subtropical forests,
scrubland and savanna. They have been observed in the thorn-scrub habitat of the Chaco
region of Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina. The Chaco region is xerophytic thorn-scrub
forest with approximately 400 mm of annual rainfall. They have also been observed
in peripheral regions to this habitat, such as the Yungas phytogeographic region in
Argentina. The highest elevation they have been recorded from is 2,560 m. Brown mastiff
bats are known to roost in a variety of natural places including palms, hollow trees
and rock crevices. Additionally, they have been observed and captured in man made
environments such as the roofs of houses.
- Habitat Regions
- tropical
- terrestrial
- Terrestrial Biomes
- desert or dune
- savanna or grassland
- forest
- scrub forest
- Other Habitat Features
- urban
- suburban
- agricultural
Physical Description
Brown mastiff bats are free-tailed bats in the family
Molossidae
, subfamily
Molossinae
. Free-tailed bats are aptly named for the thick tail extending beyond the distal
margin of the uropatagium. The wings of this species are long and narrow with a relatively
high aspect ratio of approximately 2.64. The membrane (patagium) of the wings and
tail is tough and leathery. The legs are short and stocky and sensory hairs are present
on the feet. The brown mastiff bat has short, thick and round ears with a narrow keel
and the posterior edge is thin and narrow. The ears arise from the same point on the
center of the forehead, projecting forward and laterally. The ears posses a minute
tragus and pendant shaped antitragus which is constricted at the base. The muzzle
protrudes beyond the lower jaw and exhibits a median ridge extending from behind the
nares to the region between the eyes, with long hairs forming a crest between the
ears. The brown mastiff bat has smooth lips and a dental formula of 1/2, 1/1, 2/2,
3/3 Ă— 2 = 30. The upper incisors are slender, procumbent and less than half the height
of the canines. They also possess four lower weakly bifid incisors with the outer
cusp crowded laterally behind the inner. The anterior upper premolars are reduced
to spicules and may sometimes be missing. The skull exhibits a highly domed palate
with well-defined basisphenoid pits. Morphologically, the brown mastiff bat is very
similar to the big crested mastiff bat (
Promops centralis
). The fur is most often homogenously light brown/cinnamon brown in color with dichromatic
banding, but may also have a slightly grayish-brown dorsal coloration. The greatest
distinguishing feature between the brown mastiff bat and the big crested bat is size,
with the brown mastiff bat being smaller. The two most common size indicators for
bats are the skull length and the forearm length. The big crested bat has a forearm
longer than 51.5 mm and a skull longer than 19.9 mm, whereas the forearm of the brown
mastiff bat is usually shorter than 50 mm (range of 43.5 to 51.8 mm) and the skull
is shorter than 19.1 mm (range of 17.6 to 19.7 mm). The average mass of the brown
mastiff bat is 19.9 g and the total length ranges from 126 to 141 mm. It is unknown
if sexual dimorphism is exhibited within this species; however, within the Molossidae
family it is common for males to be larger than females. It is known that molossid
bats (including
Promops
) posses a throat gland; however, it is unknown if there is any sexual dimorphism
present in the expression of the throat gland of this species, although dimorphism
is observed in the sister genus
Molossus
.
- Other Physical Features
- endothermic
- bilateral symmetry
- Sexual Dimorphism
- male larger
Reproduction
Although the mating system is unknown for the brown mastiff bat, most species of molossid
bats are believed to be polygynous including the sister genus
Molossus
. For example, the Pallas's mastiff bat (
Molossus molossus
) exhibits a polygynous mating system where the dominant male maintains a harem.
- Mating System
- polygynous
Very little information is known about reproduction in the brown mastiff bat. Most
species of molossid bats are believed to be monestrus, giving birth to a single offspring
once per year; however, some species are known to be polyestrus, including the big
crested mastiff bat. Additionally, one species of the sister genus
Molossus
(the Pallas's mastiff bat) exhibits both reproductive strategies depending on the
range inhabited. In general, molossid species of bats have a gestation length of 2
to 3 months and a lactation period of 5 to 6 weeks. The time of parturition and lactation
of the brown mastiff bat is synchronized with the rainy season (November and December).
A pregnant female specimen with a 3 g fetus was captured in late November. Males have
been observed to exhibit scrotal testes during the month of June, although it is uncertain
whether this is a permanent state or if the testes regress as in some species of
Molossus
. Although there is no information in the literature regarding the reproductive cycle
of the brown mastiff bat, the closely related black mastiff bat (
M. rufus
), is a spontaneous ovulator with a functional luteal phase ending in true menstruation.
- Key Reproductive Features
- gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate)
- sexual
Little information is known about parental investment in the brown mastiff bat.
- Parental Investment
- female parental care
-
pre-fertilization
-
protecting
- female
-
protecting
-
pre-hatching/birth
-
provisioning
- female
-
protecting
- female
-
provisioning
-
pre-weaning/fledging
-
provisioning
- female
-
protecting
- female
-
provisioning
Lifespan/Longevity
The longevity of the brown mastiff bat is unknown. The median survival for the closely
related Pallas's mastiff bat was determined to be 1.8 years with a maximum of 5.6
years. Researchers suggest the short median lifespan is a function of small colony
size (mean size of 9.6 ± 6.7 adults), a trait the brown mastiff bat shares (8-12 individuals).
These observations contrast the expected pattern of exceptionally long lifespans relative
to body size reported in most bat species. The maximum lifespan of the Brazilian free-tailed
bat (
Tadarida brasiliensis
), a similarly sized species within the family
Molossidae
, is approximately 10 years.
Behavior
Very little information is known about the behavior of the brown mastiff bat. This
species has been observed in colonies ranging from 8 to 12 individuals of both sexes.
It is believed that these colonies use the same roosting shelter throughout the year.
Brown mastiff bats are volant, small bodied mammals with long and narrow wings. The
shape of the wings of these bats result in a relatively high aspect ratio and low
wing loading which allows for fast flight but low maneuverability. Thus, brown mastiff
bats tend to hunt in open spaces such as the Chaco region.
Promops
species of bats are considered aerial-hawking insectivores which hunt in uncluttered,
open spaces such as above the tree canopy and are therefore classified as open-space
foragers. Hunting bouts are restricted to within the first hour after dusk and the
hour before dawn when the abundance of insect prey is highest to offset the metabolic
costs of foraging. Closely related species such as Pallas’ mastiff bat and black mastiff
bat are crepuscular in nature. These bats forage twice per night for short periods
of time and their activity does not appear to be influenced by moonlight despite the
possible increased risk of predation. The black mastiff bat has been observed outside
of their roosts before dusk and after dawn when lighting posed a significant risk
of predation from diurnal birds of prey. Mist net captures of Pallas’ mastiff bat
returning to roosts after successful foraging bouts show and increase in mass of 30-40%
or more. The brown mastiff bat may also exhibit quadrupedal locomotion, which has
been observed in other species of mastiff bats such as the closely related black mastiff
bat. Observations of the black mastiff bat in captivity reveal that quadrupedal movement
was common in males of the species during breeding periods. Males of the black mastiff
bat have been observed fighting on all fours, as well as marking females and surfaces
with gular gland excretions while moving quadrupedally. Females were also noted to
move on all fours in efforts to nuzzle the gular glands of breeding males.
- Key Behaviors
- flies
- crepuscular
- motile
- social
Home Range
Nothing is known about the home range of the brown mastiff bat.
Communication and Perception
Bats are known to emit ultrasonic sounds for echolocation. The characteristics of
echolocation calls are species specific and can be used to identify animals within
the field. In insectivorous aerial-hawking bats such as the brown mastiff bat, echolocation
signals consist of three phases: search, approach and terminal (buzz). The search
phase is emitted when the bat is actively foraging for food or commuting through the
environment. The approach phase is a series of signals emitted to guide the bat towards
the target (i.e., insect). The approach phase may be active, passive or random. In
the brown mastiff bat, the approach phase is active due to it’s aerial-hawking nature.
During the approach phase, the pulse interval and signal duration decrease, eventually
transitioning into the terminal (buzz) phase prior to prey capture. The buzz phase
consists of a series of short signals at a high repetition rate. The search phase
calls of the brown mastiff bat have two types of calls in the search phase: a downward
modulated (concave curve) call with frequency range of approximately 31 to 37 kHz
and a duration of 11.6-17.0 milliseconds; and an upward modulated (convex curve) call
with a frequency range of approximately 37 to 44 kHz and a duration of 8.3 to 12.1
milliseconds. The genus
Promops
, including the brown mastiff bat, is also known to posses a throat gland. The function
of this gland may be chemical communication, particularly during the breeding season.
Observations of other molossid bat species using throat or gular glands for scent
marking have been recorded in the literature, but currently no direct observations
of this behavior have been recorded in the brown mastiff bat.
- Other Communication Modes
- scent marks
- Perception Channels
- tactile
- acoustic
- ultrasound
- echolocation
- chemical
Food Habits
Very little about the food habits of the brown mastiff bat have been reported in the
literature. It is known that this species of bat is an aerial-hawking insectivore.
There are no reports of the diet of this species; however, it is possible the diet
closely resembles that of
Molossus
species. The stomach contents of both the Pallas’ mastiff bat and the black mastiff
bat included prey items ranging in size from 2 to 25 mm in length from a wide range
of insect orders including beetles (
Coleoptera
); damselflies (
Zygoptera
); grasshoppers (
Orthoptera
); “true bugs” (
Hemiptera
and
Homoptera
); “true flies” (
Diptera
); and bees, ants and wasps (
Hymenoptera
).
- Primary Diet
- carnivore
- Animal Foods
- insects
Predation
There is no information on predation of the brown mastiff bat reported in the literature.
Other species of bats in the neotropics are preyed on mainly by birds of prey such
as American kestrels (
Falco sparverius
); bat falcons (
F. rufigularis
); and several owl species including black and white owls (
Ciccaba nigrolin
), great horned owls (
Bubo virginianus
), barn owls (
Tyto alba
) and tropical screech owls (
Otus choliba
). Other predators include snakes such as boiids (
Boidae
), colubrids (
Colubridae
) and viperids (
Viperidae
); invertebrates such as centipedes (i.e.,
Scolependra viridicornis
); and mammals including domestic cats (
Felis catus
), and spectral bats (
Vampyrum spectrum
). Predator avoidance in the brown mastiff bat is not recorded in the literature.
Few studies have been conducted on predator/prey interactions of molossid bats. Some
species of molossid bats are known to exhibit moonlight avoidance behavior, although
this behavior is not evident in the Pallas's mastiff bat. Additionally, one study
indicates that the closely related Pallas's mastiff bat exhibited inspection passes
during flight in response to distress calls from conspecifics.
Ecosystem Roles
The brown mastiff bat is a member of the aerial insectivore trophic guild, consuming
large quantities of insects within their ecosystem. The closely related black mastiff
bat has been known to consume 4.4 g of beetle per night during foraging flights. As
a result, the brown mastiff bat plays a role in the population control of insect species
within the ecosystem. The brown mastiff bat is a known host for endoparasites, such
as the parasitic nematode
Pterygodermatites andyraicola
(Paucipectines), and are also hosts to ectoparasites, such as ticks of the family
Argasidae
. The guano of the brown mastiff bat harbors the fungus
Histoplasma capsulatum
which may cause respiratory infections in humans.
Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
Brown mastiff bats may benefit humans by consuming large numbers of a variety of insects
which are considered agricultural pests. In addition, the guano of molossid bat species
may be used as a fertilizer.
- Positive Impacts
- produces fertilizer
- controls pest population
Economic Importance for Humans: Negative
Molossid bats including the brown mastiff bat are considered vectors for rabies and
possibly rickettsioses (transmitted by infected
Argasidae
ticks). Another zoonotic disease known to be transferred from molossid bats to humans
is histoplasmosis. This disease is caused by humans encountering and inhaling the
fungus
Histoplasma capsulatum
, that grows in bat guano, resulting in respiratory infection. In urban areas of the
Brazilian state of SĂŁo Paulo, researchers isolated
H. capsulatum
from 3.6% of molossid species sampled over a five-year period. Most infected bats
were collected from roofs in densely populated areas, increasing the risk of transmission
and infection.
- Negative Impacts
-
injures humans
- bites or stings
- causes disease in humans
- carries human disease
- causes or carries domestic animal disease
Conservation Status
The brown mastiff bat is listed as “least concern” on the IUCN Red List due to its
wide distribution and assumed large population. However, the site states that the
species is uncommon and population trends are unknown. Additionally, some regions
of natural habitat (i.e., the Argentine Yungas and the Chaco) have been fragmented
due to human activity, such as agriculture, which may fragment populations of this
species. The effects of this fragmentation are unknown at this time.
Other Comments
Several populations of the brown mastiff bat are recognized. These populations may
represent distinct phylogenetic lineages, but molecular and morphological analysis
are required to further investigate these relationships and the subspecies validity.
The subspecies are
Promops nasutus nasutus
(eastern Brazil),
Promops nasutus fosteri
(Paraguay),
Promops nasutus pamana
(western Brazil),
Promops nasutus ancilla
(northwestern Argentina), and
Promops nasutus downsi
(island of Trinidad).
Additional Links
Contributors
Alicia Fox (author), University of Manitoba, Jane Waterman (editor), University of Manitoba, Tanya Dewey (editor), University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.
- Neotropical
-
living in the southern part of the New World. In other words, Central and South America.
- native range
-
the area in which the animal is naturally found, the region in which it is endemic.
- tropical
-
the region of the earth that surrounds the equator, from 23.5 degrees north to 23.5 degrees south.
- terrestrial
-
Living on the ground.
- desert or dunes
-
in deserts low (less than 30 cm per year) and unpredictable rainfall results in landscapes dominated by plants and animals adapted to aridity. Vegetation is typically sparse, though spectacular blooms may occur following rain. Deserts can be cold or warm and daily temperates typically fluctuate. In dune areas vegetation is also sparse and conditions are dry. This is because sand does not hold water well so little is available to plants. In dunes near seas and oceans this is compounded by the influence of salt in the air and soil. Salt limits the ability of plants to take up water through their roots.
- tropical savanna and grassland
-
A terrestrial biome. Savannas are grasslands with scattered individual trees that do not form a closed canopy. Extensive savannas are found in parts of subtropical and tropical Africa and South America, and in Australia.
- savanna
-
A grassland with scattered trees or scattered clumps of trees, a type of community intermediate between grassland and forest. See also Tropical savanna and grassland biome.
- temperate grassland
-
A terrestrial biome found in temperate latitudes (>23.5° N or S latitude). Vegetation is made up mostly of grasses, the height and species diversity of which depend largely on the amount of moisture available. Fire and grazing are important in the long-term maintenance of grasslands.
- forest
-
forest biomes are dominated by trees, otherwise forest biomes can vary widely in amount of precipitation and seasonality.
- scrub forest
-
scrub forests develop in areas that experience dry seasons.
- urban
-
living in cities and large towns, landscapes dominated by human structures and activity.
- suburban
-
living in residential areas on the outskirts of large cities or towns.
- agricultural
-
living in landscapes dominated by human agriculture.
- polygynous
-
having more than one female as a mate at one time
- female parental care
-
parental care is carried out by females
- crepuscular
-
active at dawn and dusk
- motile
-
having the capacity to move from one place to another.
- social
-
associates with others of its species; forms social groups.
- acoustic
-
uses sound to communicate
- chemical
-
uses smells or other chemicals to communicate
- scent marks
-
communicates by producing scents from special gland(s) and placing them on a surface whether others can smell or taste them
- tactile
-
uses touch to communicate
- acoustic
-
uses sound to communicate
- ultrasound
-
uses sound above the range of human hearing for either navigation or communication or both
- echolocation
-
The process by which an animal locates itself with respect to other animals and objects by emitting sound waves and sensing the pattern of the reflected sound waves.
- chemical
-
uses smells or other chemicals to communicate
- causes disease in humans
-
an animal which directly causes disease in humans. For example, diseases caused by infection of filarial nematodes (elephantiasis and river blindness).
- causes or carries domestic animal disease
-
either directly causes, or indirectly transmits, a disease to a domestic animal
- carnivore
-
an animal that mainly eats meat
- insectivore
-
An animal that eats mainly insects or spiders.
- endothermic
-
animals that use metabolically generated heat to regulate body temperature independently of ambient temperature. Endothermy is a synapomorphy of the Mammalia, although it may have arisen in a (now extinct) synapsid ancestor; the fossil record does not distinguish these possibilities. Convergent in birds.
- bilateral symmetry
-
having body symmetry such that the animal can be divided in one plane into two mirror-image halves. Animals with bilateral symmetry have dorsal and ventral sides, as well as anterior and posterior ends. Synapomorphy of the Bilateria.
- sexual
-
reproduction that includes combining the genetic contribution of two individuals, a male and a female
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