| Gray Short-tailed Bat | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Chiroptera |
| Family: | Phyllostomidae |
| Genus: | Carollia |
| Species: | C. subrufa |
| Binomial name | |
| Carollia subrufa (Hahn, 1905) |
|
The gray short-tailed bat, or Hahn's short-tailed bat (Carollia subrufa), is a species of bat in the family Phyllostomidae, and is native to Mexico and Central America.
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The gray short-tailed bat is a relatively small member of its family, measuring 6.4 to 7.3 centimetres (2.5 to 2.9 in) in length, and weighing 12 to 19 grams (0.42 to 0.67 oz). The species is sexually dimorphic, with females being significantly larger than males. It has grey to grey-brown fur over its upper body, with pale grey underparts and grey-brown wing and tail membranes. It has triangular ears, a short muzzle, and a pointed triangular nose leaf. As the common name implies, the tail is short, and it does not extend to the edge of the uropatagium.[2]
The bat inhabits dry tropical forests up to 1,200 metres (3,900 ft) elevation, from southern Tabasco in Mexico, along the Pacific coast of Central America, through Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua, to northern Costa Rica.[1] There are also less certain reports from as far north as Jalisco, and as far south as Panama. There are no recognised subspecies, and the bat was itself until recently thought to be a subspecies of chestnut short-tailed bat.[2]
The gray short-tailed bat is omnivorous, feeding on insects, fruit, and nectar. Studies have shown that its preferred fruits include breadnut, pumpwood, figs, Jamaican cherry, and pepper.[3] They are gregarious animals, living in communal roosts in caves, empty trees or other available shelter, often sharing its roosts with other species of bat, such as Pallas's long-tongued bat and the long-legged bat.[4] The species breeds throughout the year.[2]