Macrophyllum macrophyllum (Schinz, 1821)

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Phyllostomidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 444-583 : 501

24.

Long-legged Bat

Macrophyllum macrophyllum

French: Macrophylle pécheur / German: Langbeinfledermaus / Spanish: Macrofilo de patas largas

Taxonomy. Phyllostoma macrophyllum Schinz, 1821 ,

“In den Waldern von Brasilien.” Restricted by M. P. zu Wied-Neuwied in 1826 as “Flusse Mucuri [= Mucuri River],” Bahia, Brazil.

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. Extreme S Mexico (Tabasco and E Chiapas), S through Central America and South America E of Andes to N & E Bolivia, Paraguay, most of Brazil, and extreme NE Argentina.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 40-6 cm, tail 38-49 mm, ear 17-20 mm, hindfoot 13-16 mm, forearm 33-40 mm; weight 6-11 g. The Long-legged Bat is small and slender compared with other phyllostomines. Color is uniformly dark brown to blackish brown, with very little contrast between dorsum and venter. Fur is very long and dense. Legs and feet are markedly elongated, reminiscent of those of Greater Bulldog Bat (Noctilio leporinus). Wings are short and broad, and uropatagium is very broad, with distinctive rows of warts resembling an inverted menorah candelabrum. Tail is long and extends to edge of uropatagium, which almost has a straight edge. Face is very distinctive and impossible to confuse with any other bat. Broad, tall, and pointed noseleaf is very prominent, proportionately broadest of any phyllostomid. Lower edge of noseleaf is large and evidently free and unfused with upper lip. Chin has large central wart surrounded by several smaller circular warts. Eyes are brown. Face is hairy, and inside of earsis sparsely covered with hairs. Tragus is long, narrow, and triangular. Dental formulais12/2,C1/1,P2/3,M 3/3 (x2) = 34. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 32 and FN = 56.

Habitat. Humid tropical forests and tropical deciduous forests always associated with water bodies, usually small streamsin forests. Usually inhabits areas with little or no human disturbance, although one colony in Barro Colorado Island, Panama, roosts in a partially submerged boat some distance from the coast but shaded under forest.

Food and Feeding. Morphology has long hinted at a diet dominated by water-associated animals, predominantly insects. In Panama, Long-legged Bats feed on gerrid water striders, pyralid moths, and other volant insects associated with water bodies. They might be among the few examples of phyllostomids that are obligate insectivores because no evidence exists that they eat fruit or pollen. They always forage less than 1 m over water at relatively high speeds (15-30 km/h). Like other “fishing” bats, such as the Common Bulldog Bat and the Fish-eating Bat ( Myotis vivesi ), Long-legged Bats skim insects off the water surface with their hindclaws, being the only phyllostomids known to do this. L.onglegged Bats combine gleaning insects from the water surface with aerial pursuit of volant insects. They forage in groups of 3-10 individuals in small coves less than 1-5 m in diameter very close to shore. Foraging flights can last up to one hour. They remain in flight for long periods, resulting in total flight distance of as much of 35-47 km,although they remain relatively close to day roosts. Foraging areas can be as large as 41-5 ha.

Breeding. Female Long-legged Bats carry one embryo. Seasonality of births likely follows insect availability to optimize survival of young.

Activity patterns. Long-legged Bats leave their roost c.20 minutes after sunset and return ¢.30 minutes before sunrise. They remain active most of the night but stop all activity during heavy rain. Most individuals return to day roosts for short periods at night, but one female tended to remain in her foraging areas away from the roost all night until she returned at ¢.05:00 h. They seem to maintain several night roosts and live in caves, culverts under roads, and abandoned buildings.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. [Long-legged Bats have relatively large home ranges compared with other phyllostomids. Median home range was 23-9 ha in Panama (range 7-3-150-3 ha). Home ranges tend to be distinctly elongated because individuals remain close to shore and always feed over water. Long-legged Bats form harems in their roosts, butlittle is known about their social organization beyond this. They can share roosts with several other bat species including the Common Vampire Bat ( Desmodus rotundus ), the Common Mustached Bat ( Pteronotus parnellii ), short-tailed bats ( Carollia spp.), and Pallas’s Long-tongued Bat ( Glossophaga soricina ). Colonies have 2-60 individuals.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The [UCN Red List. Nevertheless, because the Long-legged Bat relies on relatively undisturbed interface between water and well-preserved forest, is rare acrossits distribution, and seems to disappear from disturbed areas, some countries such as Mexico have listed it as threatened.

Bibliography. Gray (1838), Harrison (1975a), Meyer etal. (2005), Weinbeer & Kalko (2007), Weinbeer, Kalko & Jung (2013), Weinbeer, Meyer & Kalko (2006), Wied-Neuwied (1826).

Figures

24. Long-legged Bat (Macrophyllum macrophyllum), 25. Fringe-lipped Bat (Trachops cirrhosus), 26. Striped Hairy-nosed Bat (Gardnerycteris crenulatum), 27. Keenan's Hairy-nosed Bat (Gardnerycteris keenani), 28. Koepcke’s Hairy-nosed Bat (Gardnerycteris koepckeae), 29. Kalko’s Round-eared Bat (Lophostoma kalkoae), 30. Pygmy Round-eared Bat (Lophostoma brasiliense), 31. Carriker’s Round-eared Bat (Lophostoma carrikeri), 32. Schulz’s Round-eared Bat (Lophostoma schulzi), 33. Western Round-eared Bat (Lophostoma occidentale), 34. Davis's Round-eared Bat (Lophostoma evotis), 35. White-throated Round-eared Bat (Lophostoma silvicola), 36. Greater Round-eared Bat (Tonatia bidens), 37. Stripe-headed Round-eared Bat (Tonatia saurophila), 38. Pale-faced Bat (Phylloderma stenops), 39. Pale Spear-nosed Bat (Phyllostomus discolor), 40. Lesser Spear-nosed Bat (Phyllostomus elongatus), 41. Greater Spear-nosed Bat (Phyllostomus hastatus), 42. Guianan Spear-nosed Bat (Phyllostomus latifolius), 43. Woolly False Vampire Bat (Chrotopterus auritus), 44. Southern Golden Bat (Mimon bennettii), 45. Cozumelan Golden Bat (Mimon cozumelae), 46. Spectral Bat (Vampyrum spectrum)

Distribution. Extreme S Mexico (Tabasco and E Chiapas), S through Central America and South America E of Andes to N & E Bolivia , Paraguay , most of Brazil , and extreme NE Argentina .