Big crested mastiff bat
{{Short description|Species of bat}}
{{speciesbox
| name = Big crested mastiff bat
| image =
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| genus = Promops
| species = centralis
| authority = Thomas, 1915
| range_map = Promops centralis map.svg
| range_map_caption = Big crested mastiff bat range
}}
The big crested mastiff bat (Promops centralis) is a species of bat native to Central and South America.
Taxonomy
It was described as a new species in 1915 by British zoologist Oldfield Thomas. The holotype was collected by George F. Gaumer, and presented to Thomas by Osbert Salvin.{{cite journal|doi=10.1080/00222931508693686|url=https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/22131159|title=The Annals and magazine of natural history; zoology, botany, and geology|journal=Annals and Magazine of Natural History|volume=16|issue=91|pages=61–64|year=1915|last1=Thomas|first1=Oldfield}}
Description
It can be differentiated from the other species of Promops, the brown mastiff bat, by its longer forearm. The brown mastiff bat has a forearm length less than {{cvt|50|mm|in}}, while the big crested mastiff bat has one greater than {{cvt|51.5|mm|in}}. It has a dental formula of {{DentalFormula|upper=1.1.2.3|lower=2.1.2.3}} for a total of 30 teeth.
Biology and ecology
It is a social animal, roosting in small colonies of up to 6 individuals during the day. These roosts consist of the space underneath tree bark, the undersides of palm leaves, or tree hollows.{{cite book| last=Gardner| first=A. L.| year=2008| publisher=University of Chicago Press| volume=1| title=Mammals of South America, Volume 1: Marsupials, Xenarthrans, Shrews, and Bats|pages=434–435| isbn=978-0226282428}} Its search calls have an average duration of 20.6 ms, with a starting frequency of 23.0 kHz, an ending frequency of 25.6 kHz, and a peak frequency of 24.7 kHz.{{cite journal|doi=10.1016/j.rmb.2016.10.008|title=New records and range extension of Promops centralis (Chiroptera: Molossidae)|journal=Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad|volume=87|issue=4|pages=1407–1411|year=2016|last1=González-Terrazas|first1=Tania P.|last2=Víquez|first2=Luis R.|last3=Ibarra-Macías|first3=Ana|last4=Ruíz|first4=Adrián Tonatiuh|last5=Torres-Knoop|first5=Leonora|last6=Jung|first6=Kirsten|last7=Tschapka|first7=Marco|last8=Medellín|first8=Rodrigo A.|doi-access=free}}
Range and habitat
The big crested mastiff bat is found in Central and South America. It is found in Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela. It is found at a range of elevations, from sea level to {{cvt|1800|m|ft}}.
References
{{reflist}}
{{Molossidae}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q1829340}}
Category:Mammals described in 1915
Category:Taxa named by Oldfield Thomas