Nyctinomops femorosaccus Merriam 1889
Creators: name: Wilson, Don E.
name: Mittermeier, Russell A.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2019
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Mammalia
Chiroptera
Molossidae
Nyctinomops
Nyctinomops femorosaccus

description: 44. Pocketed Free-tailed Bat <i>Nyctinomops femorosaccus</i> <b>French:</b> Nyctinomope a poche / <b>German:</b> Taschen-Bulldogfledermaus / Spanish: Nycténimo de bolsillos <b>Taxonomy.</b> Nyctinomus femorosaccus Merriam, 1889, “Agua Caliente [= Palm Springs], Colorado Desert [Riverside County], California,” USA. This species is monotypic. <b>Distribution.</b> SW USA (S California, C &amp; S Arizona, extreme S New Mexico, and SW Texas) S to W Mexico (Guerrero, Morelos, and Puebla). <b>Descriptive notes.</b> Head—body 60-75 mm, tail 31-47 mm, ear 19-24 mm, hindfoot 8-12 mm, forearm 44-49 mm; weight 11-18 g. Females are slightly smaller than males in cranial dimensions. Furis short; dorsal pelage is brown with white bases, and ventral pelage is slightly paler. Ears are large, thick, and leathery, and anteriorly united at bases of inner margins. A small rectangular tragus is present. Wings are long and narrow. A membranous sac is present between uropatagium and leg; it is also present to varying degrees in other species in the genus. Tail extends well beyond edge of uropatagium. Gular gland is well developed in adult males. Crown of M' has anterior width nearly equal to posterior width. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 48 and FN = 58. <b>Habitat.</b> Dry tropical and subtropical habitats of deciduous forest, thorny forest, and scrubland, from sea level to 2250 m elevation. <b>Food and Feeding.</b> Primary food item of the Pocketed Free-tailed Bat in June and July is moths (Lepidoptera), but in March and September is bugs (Hemiptera). Beetles (Coleoptera) are also common in its diet. To a lesser extent, terrestrial insects such as orthopterans are probably captured at roost sites. <b>Breeding.</b> Pregnant females have been documented from the USA in April, June, and July, which suggests that there is only one young born per year. Lactating females were found in July, and subadults in August, in Texas. <b>Activity patterns.</b> Pocketed Free-tailed Bats typically leave their roosts well after dark, an average of 45 minutes after sunset. They roost in rock crevices, in granite boulders, cliffs, and caves, and also in buildings and under rooftiles. Owls and snakes are known to prey on this species. <b>Movements, Home range and Social organization.</b> The Pocketed Free-tailed Bat roosts in colonies of up to 60 individuals. In California, it has been reported occupying the narrower upper end of a large granite boulder crevice while Western Bonneted Bats (Eumops perotis) were found in the wider lower end. <b>Status and Conservation.</b> Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red Lust. <b>Bibliography.</b> Arita (2014c), Easterla &amp; Whitaker (1972), Kumirai &amp; Jones (1990), Matthews et al. (2010), Warner et al. (1974).
description: Published as part of <i>Don E. Wilson &amp; Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Molossidae, pp. 598-672 in Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona :Lynx Edicions</i> on page 637, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6418279