| Wrinkle-faced bat | |
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Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Chiroptera |
| Family: | Phyllostomidae |
| Genus: | Centurio Gray, 1842 |
| Species: | C. senex |
| Binomial name | |
| Centurio senex Gray, 1842 | |
| Subspecies[2] | |
C. senex senex | |
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Thewrinkle-faced bat (Centurio senex) is a species ofbat in the familyPhyllostomidae and the only identified member of the genusCenturio. This bat is found in various countries in and aroundCentral America. It eats fruit but is not classified within thefruit bats, and is instead classified as aleaf-nosed bat even though it does not have a leaf nose.[2] It has an unusually shaped skull which is thought to allow it to eat a wider range of foods than other bats.[3]
Centurio senex is tail-less, medium-sized, and generally has apelage of a drab brown to yellowish-brown color.[2] It weighs around 17g.[3] Its face is hairless and is covered by convoluted outgrowths of skin (hence the namewrinkle-faced). These skin flaps are more pronounced in males than females. Males also possess a skin mask that can be used to cover their face. The wrinkle-faced bat has storage pouches in its mouth to allow it to store fruit.C. senex subsp.greenhalli differs from the more commonC. senex subsp.senex by being larger and in having a more domed braincase, better developedsagittal crest, and relatively shortermaxillary toothrow.[2] Their skulls are extremely short and wide, which is thought to allow them to produce bite forces up to 20% higher than other bats of a similar size. They are able to generate the largest biting force, relative to their size, of any of the leaf-nosed bats.[3]
The species is entirelyfrugivorous (fruit-eating) although it is not known which types of fruit it consumes.[2] Elizabeth Dumont from the University of Massachusetts believes that the strong biting force of the bat allows them to survive through times when soft fruit (such as softbananas,mangoes,papayas, etc.)[4][5] is scarce as they are able to eat tougher fruit than other bats.[3] Seed predation has been recorded in Mexican populations, which has been suggested as another function of the bite force.[6]
Females are thought to be bothpolyestrous and asynchronous, pregnant females have been recorded every month between January and August except May. Males emit a musky odour from the chin area to attract females. Theirsperm morphology is unique in that the sperm headhas a roundednucleus and extremely pointedacrosome.[2]
Recent research on the bats inCosta Rica suggests that the bats exhibitLek mating.[7]
Centurio senex subsp.senex is found inBelize,Colombia,Costa Rica,El Salvador,Guatemala,Honduras,Mexico,Nicaragua,Panama andVenezuela.[1]C. senex subsp.greenhalli is only found inTrinidad and Tobago.[2]
Thebinomial nameCenturio senex is formed from the Latincenturio meaning division into hundreds andsenex referring to old people. This name was chosen as it was thought that the face of the bat looked like that of a one-hundred-year-old man.[2]
Authority control databases: National |
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