Mato Grosso dog-faced bat

The Mato Grosso dog-faced bat (Neoplatymops mattogrossensis), is a bat species found in South America.^[1][2] It is the only species in the genus Neoplatymops.

Mato Grosso dog-faced bat
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Chiroptera
Family:	Molossidae
Genus:	Neoplatymops Peterson, 1965
Species:	N. mattogrossensis
Binomial name
Neoplatymops mattogrossensis Vieira, 1942
Synonyms
Molossops mattogrossensis Vieira, 1942

Taxonomy and etymology

It was described as a new species in 1942 by C. O. C. Vieira. The holotype was collected along the Juruena River north of the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso.^[3]

Description

It is a small species of free-tailed bat, with a forearm length of 29–30 mm (1.1–1.2 in) and weighing 7–7.5 g (0.25–0.26 oz). It is sexually dimorphic, with males larger than the females. Its skull has a flattened appearance. Its dorsal fur is brown, while its ventral fur is white or gray.^[4] Both males and females have gular glands. Its dental formula is 1.1.2.32.1.2.3 for a total of 30 teeth.^[3]

Biology and ecology

The Mato Grosso dog-faced bat possibly has a harem social structure. In Venezuela, colonies consist of a single male and two to four females. It is a seasonal breeder, with females giving birth once per year at the beginning of the wet season. It is insectivorous.^[3]

Range and habitat

It is found in several countries in South America, including Brazil, Colombia, Guyana, and Venezuela.^[1]

Conservation

As of 2008, it is evaluated as a least-concern species by the IUCN—its lowest conservation priority.^[1]

References

1. Solari, S. (2019). "Molossops mattogrossensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T13640A22109057. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T13640A22109057.en.
2. Simmons, Nancy B. (2005), "Chiroptera", in Wilson, Don E.; Reeder, DeeAnn M. (eds.), Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.), Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, pp. 312–529, ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0, retrieved 12 September 2009
3. Gardner, A. L. (2008). Mammals of South America, Volume 1: Marsupials, Xenarthrans, Shrews, and Bats. Vol. 1. University of Chicago Press. pp. 428–430. ISBN 978-0226282428.
4. John F. Eisenberg; Kent H. Redford (2000). Mammals of the Neotropics, Volume 3: Ecuador, Bolivia, Brazil. University of Chicago Press. p. 455. ISBN 978-0-226-19542-1.