Incan little mastiff bat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Incan little mastiff bat |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Mormopterus
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| Species: |
phrudus
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The Incan little mastiff bat (Mormopterus phrudus) is a small bat. It belongs to a group of bats called free-tailed bats. These bats get their name because part of their tail sticks out from the tail membrane.
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About the Incan Little Mastiff Bat
This bat was first described as a new species in 1956. An American zoologist named Charles O. Handley gave it its scientific name. The very first example of this bat was found in 1915 by Edmund Heller.
How It Got Its Name
The bat's species name, "phrudus", comes from an old Greek word. It means "gone" or "disappeared." Handley chose this name because the bat was found near Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu is often called the "Lost City." This bat is one of only two Mormopterus species found in the Americas.
What It Looks Like
The Incan little mastiff bat is quite small. Its head and body together are about 50 mm (2.0 in) long. Its tail is about 29 mm (1.1 in) long. Its forearm, which is part of its wing, is about 34 mm (1.3 in) long.
Its fur is dark brown. Its ears are thin and rounded. They are not joined together like some other bats' ears. It has a tiny tragus, which is a small flap in front of the ear canal. It also has a very small antitragus, which is another part of the ear. Its lips are a bit wrinkled. Male bats of this species have a special gland on their throat. This bat has 30 teeth in total.
Its Life and Habits
Scientists do not know much about the daily life of the Incan little mastiff bat. It has been seen resting in caves. These caves are located at high places, around 3,000 m (9,800 ft) above sea level. This bat might be a microendemic species. This means it lives only in a very small area.
Where It Lives
This bat is only found in a very small area. This area is about 20 km2 (7.7 sq mi) in size. It lives at high elevations, from 1,800–3,000 m (5,900–9,800 ft) above sea level. It can be found in lowland subtropical forests.
Protecting This Bat
The Incan little mastiff bat lives only in Peru. It is known from just one place, which is Machu Picchu. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) says this bat is a vulnerable species. This means it faces a high risk of becoming endangered. Peru considers it a critically endangered species. Even though it is rare, it lives in a protected area.
