Thomas's shaggy bat


The Thomas's shaggy bat is a bat species from South America. It was previously included in the shaggy bat but Simmons and Handley showed that the species were distinct.

Taxonomy and etymology

It was described as a new species in 1912 by British mammalogist Oldfield Thomas.
The holotype had been collected by H. J. Watson in 1898 in Panama.
Its species name "" is Latin for "in the middle."

Description

The fur of its back is gray while the fur around its eyes and near its uropatagium is reddish.
Its ventral fur is yellowish.
Despite being in the sac-winged bat family, it lacks wing sacs.
It is a small species, with individuals weighing only.
Its forearm length is approximately.
Its dental formula is for a total of 32 teeth.

Biology and ecology

It is nocturnal, roosting in sheltered places during the day such as hollow trees.
It forages for its insect prey with a "slow and maneuverable" flight.

Range and habitat

It is found in several countries in Central and South America.
Its range includes: Belize, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela.
It is usually found at low elevations of above sea level, but has been documented at up.