Hobbies And Interests
Classification and Habitat
The greater bulldog bats, Noctilio leporinus, is of the family Noctilionidae, of the order Chiroptera, belonging to the class Mammalia. The lesser bulldog bat is a member of the same family. The bats are native to Central and South America, and they range from Southern Veracruz in Mexico to southern Brazil, and northern Argentina. It is found in the Bahamas, as well as in the Greater and Lesser Antilles
Nesting Habits
Bulldog bats can often be found in colonies of up to 75 bats, preferring caves, sea caves, rock fissures, and hollow trees. They can usually be found nesting in the vicinity of water and streams, below an elevation of 200 meters. It is possible to locate bulldog bat nests by their strong and musky odor.
Types of Bulldog Bat
Two varieties of bulldog bat exist: the greater bulldog bat and the lesser bulldog bat. Both bats share similar ranges, habitats and nesting habits. The lesser bulldog bat is smaller than the greater bulldog bat and is primarily insectivorous, although it will occasionally hunt and kill small minnows. Greater bulldog bats also eat insects, but they primarily consume fish.
Characteristics
Greater bulldog bats range from 98 mm to 132 mm in length, with females being slightly smaller. They weightbetween 50 grams to 90 grams, with males averaging 67 grams, and females slightly smaller at 56 grams. They are covered with short hair that dries quickly when soaked. They have full and swollen lips. The lower lips contain a semi-circular fold of skin that continues down to the chin and gives the bats the bulldog-like appearance from which their name derives. They possess large ears and long, narrow wings, which are stiff and comparatively slow moving when it is in flight. They can swim well when submerged in water. Lesser bulldog bats are similar in appearance, although smaller. They are sexually dimorphic, with males often bright red and females a drab brown.