Lesser sac-winged bat

The lesser sac-winged bat or lesser white-lined bat (Saccopteryx leptura) is a bat species of the family Emballonuridae from South and Middle America.

Description
The lesser white-lined bat belongs to the genus Saccopteryx. The bat is characterized by white stripes that run longitudinally down its back starting at the shoulders. Its pelage is typically brown and the bats are roughly 45 mm in length. It is similar in appearance to Rhynchonycteris naso but is slightly smaller and with paler fur. Additionally, R. naso has white fur on its antebrachium which S. leptura does not.

The lesser white-lined bat also has a characteristic odiferous gland on the distal portion of its arm. The gland opens up to the dorsal part of the wing. This opening is larger in the males than in the females. This species is sexually dimorphic, the female being larger than the male.

Habitat
The lesser white-lined bat is indigenous to northern South America as well as parts of Central America. The bat is found in heavily forested areas and typically roosts in trees. The lesser white-lined bat prefers open areas to roost and while they prefer trees they have also been known to roost inside buildings. They do not seem to have a preference of tree type but gravitate towards areas with heavy canopy cover. They do not need to roost near a body of water.

Most bats of this species are located in low-elevation areas but can exist in areas up to 900 meters in elevation. The lesser white-lined bat may be found in areas with other bat species but they usually do not exist in the same foraging area. R. naso is found to forage above water at low elevations while the S. leptura forages higher around the tree canopy.

Diet and behavior
The lesser white-lined bat feeds primarily on aerial insects in the order Hymenoptera. This includes flying ants and other formicids. The bats forage in areas under tree canopies and use echolocation to hunt the flying insects. The bats don't change their calling frequency or their mouth size when using echolocation while hunting. When roosting, the bats usually form small groups anywhere from 2 to a 9. Additionally, the bats are thought to be monogamous. Females typically only produce one or two young per year. The young cannot fly for about the first twelve days after birth and are taken care of by the female for up to 18 months. Female bats in this species are known to defend their foraging areas but males are not.