Dobson's Lesser Mustached Bat

activity

Activity patterns. Dobson’s Lesser Mustached Bat is reportedly crepuscular. On average, it uses the first four hours of the night to emerge and forage, returning immediately to its roost. Echolocation calls during search phase consist of short CF-FM pulses of 4 - 7 milliseconds. Second harmonic, which is most intense, is composed by initial short CF component at ¢. 83 kHz, followed by downward FM sweep, and terminal short CF component of 65 - 68 kHz. Dobson’s Lesser Mustached Bats seem able to perform DSC.

Mormoopidae

biology_ecology

Habitat. Woodlands of tropical deciduous and semideciduous forest, rainforest, and vegetation with well-developed canopies. Dobson’s Lesser Mustached Bat is usually associated with streams and rivers. Similar to Thomas’s Naked-backed Bat, Dobson's Lesser Mustached Bat has a narrow thermal tolerance for roosting; it prefers roosting in hot and humid caves or mines, which probably restricts habitats that it can use.

Mormoopidae

biology_ecology

Movements, Home range and Social organization. In Mexico, Dobson’s Lesser Mustached Bats are found in colonies that can exceed 10,000 individuals and in association with other mormoopids, particularly Thomas’s Naked-backed Bat, phyllostomids, and natalids. Colonies exhibit seasonal changes in size, with larger numbers of individuals most commonly reported during dry seasons. Fluctuations in colony size are probably related to seasonal movements for reproduction. Individuals were reported to maintain specific flyways in arroyos and canyon bottoms, foraging in areas 3 - 5 km from roosts.

Mormoopidae

breeding

Breeding. Dobson's Lesser Mustached Bat is seasonally monoestrous, with females usually giving birth at beginning of rainy season. Males seem to form bachelor colonies during at least part of the year, with maternity colonies almost exclusively comprised of females. In Mexico, pregnant females have been reported in April-July, lactating females in July-September, and most records of young in August-December.

Mormoopidae