Lesser bulldog bat

The lesser bulldog bat is a sexually dimoprhic species with males significantly larger than females and with a more pronounced sagittal crest.^[2] Furthermore, coloration varies between individuals among the same sex, and between different populations.^[3] They have a length of about three inches (7.5 cm), a forearm length of 2+1⁄2 inches (6.4 cm), and weight of about one ounce (30 grams).^[3] The bats plump lips and chin that has well-developed cross ridges give rise to the bats "bulldog-like" appearance.^[3] The lesser bulldog bat has large feet that are claw-like and can be used to capture prey.^[3]

The bats prefer terrestrial habitats and they live near water or damp locations, residing in hollow trees or domestic dwellings.^[1] The locations that they can be found in includes: Argentina; Belize; Bolivia, Plurinational States of; Brazil; Costa Rica; Ecuador; El Salvador; French Guiana; Guatemala; Guyana; Honduras; Mexico; Nicaragua; Panama; Paraguay; Peru.^[1]

Most lesser bulldog bats rest on one main roost during the day time which shows highly loyalty to their habitats. Individuals usually fly out the roots after 30 minutes when the sun goes down. Each individual night flies around 1-4 times every night, with an average of 118 minutes of flying time every night; mostly lesser bulldog bats tend to fly at night as a group instead of individually.^[4]

The lesser bulldog bat predominantly feed on insects, but they are also known to consume tree pollen, fruit and fish.^[5][6]

Multiple hunting strategies have been observed. Individuals catch insects in flight above both terrestrial and aquatic habitats through aerial hawking. Some bats have also been seen to engage in pointed dips from high or low search flight to snatch prey using their enlarged hind feet or tail membranes.^[6] In areas with high prey density, bats may also rake the water surface with their hind claws in a behavior called gaffing.^[7]

Lesser bulldog bats are known to forage in groups. Individuals that emerge from their roost together forage together, and they are able to distinguish between their roost mates and other lesser bulldog bats that may be foraging in the same area.^[8]

The lesser bulldog bat echolocates to navigate and locate insects to eat.^[9] As they skim across the water, they will bombard the water with their vocalization and when they detect a disturbance of the vocalization they move to the disturbance.^[9] Additionally, since the lesser bulldog bat prefers to forage in small groups, they also use echolocation to communicate during foraging.^[9]

Lesser bulldog bats are seasonally reproductive, with breeding occuring primarily in late November and December.^[2] They are likely polygynous, with males mating with multiple females. The litter size typically a single pup, with one study reporting a single set of twins from 72 pregnant females.^[3]

Pups begin eating solid food at around six weeks and are often fed with pre-masticated food by their mothers. Newborn pups are unable to emit echolocation signals or detect auditory stimuli until they are a week old, after which they are recognized by their mother from unique voice signatures. Juveniles fledge at about one month of age and typically leave the roost at around three months old.^[2][7]

Predation on bats is uncommon; however large birds are known predators.^[10] The great rufous woodcreeper has been documented invading roost sites and preying upon individuals by pecking them with their sharp beaks.^[10] Other predators of the bat include hawks, falcons, owls, and motmots.^[11]

• 
  Diagram from Alcide Dessalines d'Orbigny
• 
  With parasites, showing its teeth, caught at the Tiputini Biodiversity Station

• Bulldog bat
• Microchiroptera