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Lifespan, longevity, and ageing

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Maximum longevity: 18 years (wild)
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Behavior

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Perception Channels: tactile ; chemical

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Sorin, A. 1999. "Phyllostomus hastatus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Phyllostomus_hastatus.html
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Anna Bess Sorin, Biology Dept., University of Memphis
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Conservation Status

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No special status, but habitat destruction may be a concern.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern

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Sorin, A. 1999. "Phyllostomus hastatus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Phyllostomus_hastatus.html
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Anna Bess Sorin, Biology Dept., University of Memphis
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Benefits

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Eat some fruits (bananas) that humans would consume.

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Sorin, A. 1999. "Phyllostomus hastatus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Phyllostomus_hastatus.html
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Anna Bess Sorin, Biology Dept., University of Memphis
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Benefits

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Food habits involve the removal of pest insects and also aid in pollination of some crops.

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Sorin, A. 1999. "Phyllostomus hastatus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Phyllostomus_hastatus.html
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Anna Bess Sorin, Biology Dept., University of Memphis
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Trophic Strategy

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This species is omnivorous, eating primarily vertebrates, flowers and pollen. Radio tracking studies found that individuals will travel up to 5km to feeding sites each night.

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Sorin, A. 1999. "Phyllostomus hastatus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Phyllostomus_hastatus.html
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Anna Bess Sorin, Biology Dept., University of Memphis
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Distribution

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Honduras south to Peru, Bolivia and Paraguay.

Biogeographic Regions: neotropical (Native )

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Sorin, A. 1999. "Phyllostomus hastatus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Phyllostomus_hastatus.html
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Anna Bess Sorin, Biology Dept., University of Memphis
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Habitat

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Specimens have been collected along stream beds and other moist areas, but can also be found in dryer areas. Animals were found equally in open and forested habitat.

Terrestrial Biomes: forest ; rainforest

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Sorin, A. 1999. "Phyllostomus hastatus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Phyllostomus_hastatus.html
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Anna Bess Sorin, Biology Dept., University of Memphis
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Life Expectancy

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Average lifespan
Status: captivity:
18 years.

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Sorin, A. 1999. "Phyllostomus hastatus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Phyllostomus_hastatus.html
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Anna Bess Sorin, Biology Dept., University of Memphis
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Morphology

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P. hastatus is one of the larger American bats with a body length of 100 to 130mm and a wing span of 455 mm. Its coloration is dark brown; the ventral surface is paler with an orange tinge. It has a well developed nose leaf, widely separate ears, and short tail, and males have a well developed throat sac. The lower lip has a "V" shaped grove with numerous protuberances.

Other Physical Features: endothermic ; bilateral symmetry

Average mass: 81 g.

Average basal metabolic rate: 0.559 W.

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Sorin, A. 1999. "Phyllostomus hastatus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Phyllostomus_hastatus.html
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Anna Bess Sorin, Biology Dept., University of Memphis
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Reproduction

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Phyllostomus hastatus may be monoestrus (one reproductive bout per year) or polyestrus (multiple reproductive bouts in a year); the pattern may be geographically dependent. Lactating females have been found throughout the year. They generally have one offspring at a time. Gestation about 4 months.

Key Reproductive Features: gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual

Average gestation period: 120 days.

Average number of offspring: 1.

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Sorin, A. 1999. "Phyllostomus hastatus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Phyllostomus_hastatus.html
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Anna Bess Sorin, Biology Dept., University of Memphis
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Greater spear-nosed bat

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The greater spear-nosed bat (Phyllostomus hastatus) is a bat species of the family Phyllostomidae from South and Central America.[2] It is one of the larger bats of this region and is omnivorous.

Habitat

Phyllostomus hastatus lives in tropical regions of the Americas. The species ranges from Guatemala and Belize south to Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, northern Argentina and Brazil. It also occurs in Trinidad and Tobago and on Margarita Island (Venezuela).[2] Although most commonly found around streams and other bodies of water, these bats are also present in drier areas. They inhabit both open and forested regions.[3]

Appearance

The greater spear-nosed bat has a body length of around 100–130 mm (3.9–5.1 in), with a wing span of 455 mm (17.9 in). Despite the large size, it is very light, weighing on average 81 g (2.9 oz). Its long, thick hair is dark brown, with a slight orange tinge on the ventral side.[3][4] It has a well-developed nose shaped like a spear-head, which gives it its more common name. The ears are spread far apart and are smaller than in other phyllostomids. The lower lip has a distinctive V-shaped groove and many warts.[4] Both sexes have a throat sac just above breast bone.[4] That of the male is enlarged,[3] while the female's is much smaller and simpler.

Feeding

P. hastatus sometimes eats vertebrates (such as mice, birds and other bats),[5][3] but much less so than other phyllostomids. It is omnivorous, most commonly feeding on fruit, seeds,[5] pollen, nectar[5][3] and insects.[6] Vertebrates comprise a minor part of its diet. Norberg and Fenton (1988) speculate that this is due to its "higher aspect ratio and wing loading".[6] P. hastatus has an extremely sensitive sense of smell. When foraging for food, it can locate hidden pieces of banana amongst the leaf litter on the forest floor.[7] Other fruiting plants that are consumed by P. hastatus are species in the genera Cecropia, Piper, Solanum and Vismia.[3]

Echolocation

P. hastatus has a broad bandwidth call that enables it to resolve distances almost as small as 4 mm (0.16 in). This implies that it can distinguish echoes as little as 20 microseconds apart.[6]: 91 

Group structure

P. hastatus roosts in caves, hollows in trees, termite mounds and thatched roofs. It lives in groups of between ten and a hundred. Within this group there may be several subgroups, as one dominant male presides over a group of up to thirty females.[3] The average harem size is eighteen.[6] The dominant male may be in control of the harem for many years. The remaining 80% of males and young females form their own large bachelor group to complete the colony.[7] Studies by McCracken and Bradbury (1977) have shown that unrelated females in the colony often form stable factions.[6] Recent studies have shown, that even though females do live in stable co-operative groups or "tribes" with non-kin, and will protect unrelated pups of their own group, they attack and even kill pups from other groups living in the same cave.[8]

McCracken and Bradbury considered many possible reasons for group formation in P. hastatus. The most plausible are thought to be co-operation in foraging for food, and protection and defence while feeding. Once food is found, a successful bat forager alerts others in the feeding group to the location. This was also found by Wilkinson (1995), who noted that P. hastatus call on the other members of the group when finding food, in the absence of territorial calls. Feeding groups may be segregated by social status. Dominant males have feeding sites close to the roost, while single males may have to fly as far as 9 km in order to find a feeding site.[7]

Reproduction

The pattern of reproduction in P. hastatus may vary over its range. Although this bat generally only reproduces once a year, lactating females have been found throughout the year, suggesting that some may reproduce more often. They give birth to only one young at a time. The reproduction rate is very low. Even with a change of the dominant male, constancy is almost always maintained.[6] McCracken and Bradbury (1977, 1981) characterized the reproduction cycle of P. hastatus as follows:[6]

February – April; pregnancy
May – mid-July; lactation
Mid-July – late October; anoestrous
Late October – February; oestrous

It has been hypothesized that it is females that eat vertebrates, to provide protein for lactation.[6]

Economic importance

The activities of P. hastatus are both beneficial and costly to humans. They feed on insects and other pests that could harm crops, and they help pollinate many crops. However, they also consume some crops, such as bananas. Although they are not endangered, there is concern over destruction of their habitat.[3]

References

  1. ^ Barquez, R.; Diaz, M. (2015). "Phyllostomus hastatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T17218A22135955. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T17218A22135955.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b Simmons, N.B. (2005). "Order Chiroptera". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 410. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Sorin A (1999). "Phyllostomus hastatus". Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved October 11, 2008.
  4. ^ a b c Dobson GE (1878). Catalogue of the Chiroptera in the collection of the British Museum, London.
  5. ^ a b c Sampson, Mia C. (2016). "Phyllostomus hastatus (Greater Spear-nosed Bat)" (PDF). The Online Guide to the Animals of Trinidad and Tobago. University of the West Indies.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h Altringham JD (1996). Bats Biology and Behaviour. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-850322-4.
  7. ^ a b c Neuweiler G (2000). The Biology of Bats. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-509950-8.
  8. ^ Walker, Matt (June 10, 2009). "When two bat tribes go to war". BBC. BBC. Retrieved September 3, 2015.
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Greater spear-nosed bat: Brief Summary

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The greater spear-nosed bat (Phyllostomus hastatus) is a bat species of the family Phyllostomidae from South and Central America. It is one of the larger bats of this region and is omnivorous.

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