Molossops neglectus, S. L. Williams & Genoways, 1980

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Molossidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 598-672 : 638-639

48.

Rufous Dog-faced Bat

Molossops neglectus

French: Molossope négligé / German: Verkannte Bulldogfledermaus / Spanish: Molosops rufo

Taxonomy. Molossops (Molossops) neglectus S. L. Williams & Genoways, 1980 ,

“ 1 km S, 2 km E Powaka , Suriname, Suriname (5°25’N, 55°03’W).”

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. Disjunct populations in W & S Colombia, E Venezuela, the Guianas, NE & C Peru, N, SE & S Brazil (Para, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Parana, and Rio Grande do Sul), and NE Argentina (Misiones and Corrientes).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 55-68 mm, tail 27-40 mm, ear 11-16 mm, hindfoot 6-10 mm, forearm 33-40 mm; weight 9-16 g. Males are larger than females in cranial measurements. Dorsal pelage is short (3-4 mm) and dark brown, with pale bases; ventral pelage is short (3 mm) and paler brown, with paler bases. Ears and wing membranes are blackish brown. Free portion oftail is about one-third the length of entire tail. Ears are pointed and separated.

Antitragus is short and wide, with tragus about one-half this size. Upper incisors are separated by a gap. Dental formula for both members of Molossopsis11/1,C 1/1, P1/2,M3/3 (x2) = 26.

Habitat. Primary lowland tropical rainforest, including humid coastal forest and drier semideciduous interior forest, and savanna with secondary forest, below 300 m.

Food and Feeding. The Rufous Dog-faced Bat feeds on insects.

Breeding. Non-reproductive females were caught in January, August, and October. Pregnant females occur in January, August, and September; lactating females have been documented in July, September, and October. A subadult was captured in March.

Activity patterns. The Rufous Dog-faced Bat has been caught flying 20 m aboveground in forest canopy. Echolocation calls have three frequency alternations averaging 32-5 kHz, 38-3 kHz, and 56-2 kHz; they are QCEF, with either an upward or downward modulation.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Data Deficient on The IUCN Red List.

Bibliography. Althoff et al. (2018), Ascorra, Wilson & Handley (1991), Barquez et al. (1993), Eger (2008), Gregorin etal. (2004), Lim & Engstrom (2001), Rufray (2015), Velandia-Perilla et al. (2017), Williams & Genoways (1980b).

Figures

42. Mato Grosso Dog-faced Bat (Neoplatymops mattogrossensis), 43. Peale’s Free-tailed Bat (Nyctinomops aurispinosus), 44. Pocketed Free-tailed Bat (Nyctinomops femorosaccus), 45. Broad-eared Free-tailed Bat (Nyctinomops laticaudatus), 46. Big Free-tailed Bat (Nyctinomops macrotis), 47. Equatorial Dog-faced Bat (Cabreramops aequatorianus), 48. Rufous Dog-faced Bat (Molossops neglectus), 49. Dwarf Dog-faced Bat (Molossops temmancku), 50. Freeman's Dog-faced Bat (Cynomops freemani), 51. Mexican Dog-faced Bat (Cynomops mexicanus), 52. Southern Dog-faced Bat (Cynomops planirostris), 53. Cinnamon Dog-faced Bat (Cynomops abrasus), 54. Greenhall’s Dog-faced Bat (Cynomops greenhalli), 55. Thomas's Dog-faced Bat (Cynomops mastivus), 56. Miller's Dog-faced Bat (Cynomops milleri), 57. Waorani Dog-faced Bat (Cynomops tonkigui)

Distribution. Disjunct populations in W & S Colombia , E Venezuela , the Guianas, NE & C Peru , N, SE & S Brazil (Para, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Parana, and Rio Grande do Sul), and NE Argentina (Misiones and Corrientes).