dcsimg

Behavior

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Perception Channels: tactile ; chemical

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Ellis, E. 1999. "Megaderma spasma" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Megaderma_spasma.html
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Eric J. Ellis, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Conservation Status

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The Asian False Vampire Bat is not considered threatened or endangered.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern

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Ellis, E. 1999. "Megaderma spasma" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Megaderma_spasma.html
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Eric J. Ellis, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Benefits

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No documented examples.

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bibliographic citation
Ellis, E. 1999. "Megaderma spasma" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Megaderma_spasma.html
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Eric J. Ellis, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Benefits

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No documented examples. May help control harmful insect pests.

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The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors
bibliographic citation
Ellis, E. 1999. "Megaderma spasma" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Megaderma_spasma.html
author
Eric J. Ellis, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Trophic Strategy

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Primarily an insectivore but can be carnivorous, feeding on lizards, other small reptiles, and small rodents.

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The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors
bibliographic citation
Ellis, E. 1999. "Megaderma spasma" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Megaderma_spasma.html
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Eric J. Ellis, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Distribution

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India and Sri Lanka to Indochina, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

Biogeographic Regions: oriental (Native )

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The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors
bibliographic citation
Ellis, E. 1999. "Megaderma spasma" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Megaderma_spasma.html
author
Eric J. Ellis, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Habitat

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This species can live in a variety of habitats including hollow trees, caves, buildings, and any other large, sheltered structure. They are usually found in wet areas.

Terrestrial Biomes: forest ; rainforest

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bibliographic citation
Ellis, E. 1999. "Megaderma spasma" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Megaderma_spasma.html
author
Eric J. Ellis, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Morphology

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The total body length is from 65-95mm. There is no external tail. The fur is bluish-gray along the back and brownish-gray along the underside.

Other Physical Features: endothermic ; bilateral symmetry

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The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors
bibliographic citation
Ellis, E. 1999. "Megaderma spasma" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Megaderma_spasma.html
author
Eric J. Ellis, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Animal Diversity Web

Reproduction

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Males and females live together throughout the year. The mating season is from November to January. The young (usually 1, rarely 2) are born between April and June after a 150-160 day gestation period. The birth of the young is timed to occur before the monsoon season sets in. The young grow very rapidly and are carried by the mother for 2-3 months.

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

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The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors
bibliographic citation
Ellis, E. 1999. "Megaderma spasma" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Megaderma_spasma.html
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Eric J. Ellis, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Biology

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The in-flight agility and sophisticated echolocation calls of the lesser false vampire bat allow them to enjoy an astoundingly varied diet. They have been recorded eating large insects such as grasshoppers, cockroaches, beetles and moths, as well as vertebrates including frogs, mice (2), fish, birds and even smaller bats (5). They are 'gleaners': bats that hunt by snatching their prey from tree trunks, branches, leaves, walls or the forest floor using the interfemoral membrane that stretches between the hind legs. They return to their roost to consume their prey (6). A gentle and sociable bat, the lesser false vampire roosts in small, mixed-sex groups throughout the year. They mate between November and January, giving birth in April or June to a single pup after a 150 – 160 day gestation. The pup is carried in flight by its mother for two to three months, before it is weaned and learns to fly alone (7). The bats communicate with social calls that differ considerably from their complex hunting calls, which sweep from frequencies of 130 kHz to 10 kHz extremely rapidly (8). This style of echolocation is very effective in cluttered environments but is not easily detected by prey. The large ears of the lesser false vampire bat can, however, pick up sounds from the prey as well as very weak returning echoes (9).
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Conservation

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Deforestation of primary forest for oil palm plantations, including within protected areas, is an issue of major concern and one that relies on both governmental action and consumer concern. Some large retailers have agreed, in collaboration with the WWF, to source products containing palm oil from plantations that are not on deforested land (10). Many scientific and charitable groups contribute to bat monitoring and local education programmes that can help to reduce persecution and raise awareness of the natural assets of the land (11).
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Description

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The lesser false vampire bat is one of only two species belonging to the genus Megaderma (Megaderma spasma and Megaderma lyra). Paradoxically, whilst they are voracious carnivores, they do not resemble the vampire bats of South America, but are instead so-named due to their large teeth which caused confusion before the true vampire bats were confirmed as the only blood-drinkers. They have large, rabbit-like ears that are joined at their base and enclose a long tragus (inner ear) that is split in two. The noseleaf, which is used for echolocation, is an oval-shaped lobe with a central bar that carries flaps on either side. The Megadermatidae do not have tails, but do possess a large area of membrane between the hind legs, known as the interfemoral membrane, which is used for scooping prey from leaf surfaces. The fur is very long and fluffy, and varies in colour from grey to brown. Juveniles are consistently grey (2).
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Habitat

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Feeding in the understorey of the rainforest, this bat species roosts in small groups in caves, large tree hollows, tunnels, and abandoned buildings (2) (4).
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Range

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The lesser false vampire bat is widely distributed across Southern and Southeast Asia, from India to Indonesia and the Philippines. There are a large number of recorded subspecies: Megaderma spasma horsfieldii (India); Megaderma spasma ceylonese (Sri Lanka); Megaderma spasma majus (Burma); Megaderma spasma minus (Cambodia, Thailand, Indochina); Megaderma spasma medium (Singapore Island, southern Burma, Tarutua Island, the Riau Islands, northern Sumatra); Megaderma spasma abditum (Aor Island, Johore Island); Megaderma spasma lasiae (western Sumatra); Megaderma spasma niasense (Mentawai Islands); Megaderma spasma siumatatis (Sumatis Island); Megaderma spasma trifolium (Borneo and offshore islands); Megaderma spasma pangandarana (Java); Megaderma spasma natunae (Natuna Island); Megaderma spasma carimatae (Karimata Island off Borneo); Megaderma spasma kinabalu (Mount Kinabalu on Borneo); Megaderma spasma philippinensis (the Philippines); Megaderma spasma celebensis (Sulawesi); Megaderma spasma spasma (Ternate Island) (3).
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Status

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Classified as Lower Risk – least concern (LR/lc) on the IUCN Red List 2004 (1).
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Threats

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The rapid increase in land devoted to growing oil palm has resulted in extensive loss of primary forest. Together, Malaysia and Indonesia export 88% of the world's palm oil, for use in products such as margarine, lipstick and detergent. Deforestation continues at a steady rate for agricultural land and building communities, and despite the contribution of many bats in the control of insect crop pests, persecution of bats is also a threat (10).
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