Mato Grosso dog-faced bat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mato Grosso dog-faced bat |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Chiroptera |
| Family: | Molossidae |
| Genus: | Neoplatymops Peterson, 1965 |
| Species: |
N. mattogrossensis
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| Binomial name | |
| Neoplatymops mattogrossensis Vieira, 1942
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| Synonyms | |
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The Mato Grosso dog-faced bat (Neoplatymops mattogrossensis) is a small and unique type of bat that lives in South America. It's special because it's the only species in its group, called Neoplatymops. This bat is known for its interesting looks and how it lives.
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Discovering the Mato Grosso Dog-Faced Bat
This special bat was first described as a new species in 1942. A scientist named C. O. C. Vieira gave it its official name. The very first bat of this kind that scientists studied was found near the Juruena River. This river is located north of the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso, which is how the bat got its name.
What Does This Bat Look Like?
The Mato Grosso dog-faced bat is a type of free-tailed bat, which means its tail sticks out a bit from its tail membrane. It's quite small! Its forearm, which is like its arm bone, is about 29 to 30 millimeters long. That's about the length of a small paperclip. This bat weighs only about 7 to 7.5 grams, which is less than two pennies!
Size Differences Between Males and Females
Interestingly, male Mato Grosso dog-faced bats are usually bigger than the females. This is called sexual dimorphism. Their skulls also look a bit flat.
Fur Color and Special Glands
The fur on their backs is brown, helping them blend in with their surroundings. But the fur on their bellies is lighter, either white or gray. Both male and female bats of this species have special glands on their throats. These are called gular glands, and they might be used for communication or marking territory.
How This Bat Lives and What It Eats
The Mato Grosso dog-faced bat might live in groups that are like a "harem." This means one male bat lives with a few female bats. In places like Venezuela, scientists have seen colonies with just one male and two to four females.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
These bats are seasonal breeders, meaning they only have babies at certain times of the year. Females usually give birth once a year. This happens at the beginning of the wet season, when there is plenty of food available for the new babies.
What's on the Menu?
The Mato Grosso dog-faced bat is an insectivore, which means it loves to eat insects! They fly around at night, catching bugs to fill their tummies.
Where Does This Bat Live?
You can find the Mato Grosso dog-faced bat in several countries in South America. These include Brazil, Colombia, Guyana, and Venezuela. They live in different habitats across these regions.
Protecting the Mato Grosso Dog-Faced Bat
As of 2008, the Mato Grosso dog-faced bat is listed as a least-concern species by the IUCN. This means that scientists believe it is not currently at high risk of disappearing. It's the lowest conservation priority, which is good news for this unique bat!
 | Janet Taylor Pickett |
 | Synthia Saint James |
 | Howardena Pindell |
 | Faith Ringgold |
