Black mastiff bat


The black mastiff bat is a bat species. It ranges from the northern region of South America, most of Central America and parts of southern Mexico.

Taxonomy

The black mastiff bat was described as a new species in 1805 by French naturalist Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire. The holotype had been collected in Cayenne, French Guiana.

Description

Males have a forearm length ranging from and females' forearm lengths are. The fur of its back is usually shorter than. Individuals weight. It has a dental formula of for a total of 26 teeth.

Range and habitat

The black mastiff bat is a widespread species, occurring throughout much of Central and South America. Its range includes the following countries: Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, and Uruguay. Its habitat includes forests and shrublands, with human structures used as roosts.

Conservation

As of 2015, it is evaluated as a least-concern species by the IUCN. It meets the criteria for this classification because it has a wide geographic range; its population is presumably large; and it is unlikely to be experiencing rapid population decline. The species is known to be impacted by the parasite Hesperoctenes fumarius.