User:Jessiehorrorx/sandbox

Heart-Nosed Bat

Currently on the Wikipedia page:


 * bat species
 * where it's found
 * brief mention of vocalization

what i want to add:


 * more information on where it's found/habitats/predators/ecosystem roles (all info from animaldiversity)
 * range is from eastern sudan to north tanzania and sometimes south zambia
 * dry lowlands, coastal strip habitats, river valleys, no higher than 940 m, live together in large colonies, but not with other species
 * what they look like (all info from animaldiversity)
 * no known predators, snakes, small cats, and owls will prey on young
 * regulates insect populations and crop pests
 * carriers of Borrelia which can cause fever in human
 * low threat to extinction
 * mass of 21 to 35 g, body length of 70 to 77 mm, fur color: blue-gray, long, loose, no tail, heart-shaped nose
 * mating (all info from animaldiversity)
 * monogamous, territorial breeding sight, mates stay together if possible as long as possible, rainy season, march-june and october-december, only has one pup, carries for 3 months, weaned around 3 months, females produce milk
 * lifespan/behavior/food (all info from animaldiversity)
 * nocturnal, use "hawking" strategy to collect bugs, "sit-and-wait" strategy in low vegetation, will groom themselves and other bats to stay clean, insectivore:
 * wet seasons: terrestrial bettles
 * supplement diet with locust, katydids, moths, other small bats and brogs
 * dry season: terrestrial beetles: Scarabeidae, Tenebrionidae, Carabidae, leaf gleaning
 * more information on vocalization/singing (all info found on oaktrust)
 * one of first bat species to be heard singing
 * unlike other species, comes together during the day but breaks up at night
 * 2 known songs, the most common being a loud song and the least common being a soft song
 * soft song is sung more during the dry seasons
 * songs vary between individual but all similar enough to be the "same" song
 * singing behavior is in line with territory defense and variations can be pointed towards social interactions

Habitat

The heart-nosed bat is typically found in eastern Sudan, north Tanzania, and south Zambia. They occupy areas that are in dry lowlands, coastal strips, and river valleys. Places of interest that the bats tend to gather in the daylight hours are abandoned buildings, dry caves, or Baobab trees. They are also found living no higher than 940 meter or 3094 feet. Heart-nosed bats live in large colonies together, but they are very territorial and do not mingle with other bat species.

Appearance

Heart-nosed bats are bigger than your average bat species. They only weigh about 21 to 35 grams. They are 70 to 77 mm in length. Heart-nosed bats have blueish/grayish fur. Their fur also hangs off of their body and many consider it long and loose. These bats have no tails, unlike most other species of bats. The size of the bat is larger than other bats, so features such as the eyes and the ears, are also much larger. One big factor that makes this bats recognizable as the heart-nosed bats is by their teeth and skull. Another big factor is the nose. There noses are heart shaped which is where the name heart-nosed bat comes from.

Mating and Children

Heart-nosed bats are a monogamous group. If possible, mates will stay together during multiple mating seasons. Breeding sights are extremely territorial and are typically protected by the males. These sites are set up during the breeding season itself and afterwards it will be taken down. A new breeding site will be found for the next mating season. Females period of gestation is three months. Baby bats are referred to as pups. Heart-nosed bats can only have one pup at a time. Females, like all mammals, also lactate as a way to produce food for her young. Females will carry around their newborns until two months of age. After the third month, the pup is weaned from it's mother and will then follow the mother around. The pup learns from it's mother about foraging and territories that will allow them to be successful later in their life. The father of the young bat's behavior is mostly unknown but it is thought that the songs and territorial protection is protection of the mother and her young. The prime reproduction months happen between March and June and then again between October and December. These months are the rainy season months and make the best mating months for heart-nosed bats.

Behavior and Diet

Heart-nosed bats are nocturnal creatures. Depending on when the sun sets, they will wake up and start making their way to their feeding zones. They will typically do this a couple minutes before the sun actually sets. These bats have a strategy called "hawking" that allows them to collect bugs. They also use a "sit-and-wait" strategy. The sit-and-wait strategy involves hanging from a perch and waiting until an insect comes along to be preyed upon. The sit-and-wait strategy is usually used during the dry season. Hawking is usually used when the wet seasons are happening. During the dry season, the heart-nosed bats diet primarily consists of terrestrial beetles and leaf gleaning. The most common beetles that are fed on are the Scarabeidae, Tenebrionidae, and the Carabidae. During the wet season, the heart-nosed bats diet primarily consists of big breeds of terrestrial beetles, locust, katydids, moths, small bats, and frogs. These bats mainly stick to themselves and don't mingle with other species. The cause of this is because there are no known predators that actively seek out heart-nosed bats. Common predators such as snakes, cats, and owls will however prey on the young bats if the opportunity arises. Heart-nosed bats also take time out of the day to groom themselves and others. It is unknown if this helps increase the social bond between the bats as it would in other species.

Ecosystem

Heart-nosed bats are extremely beneficial for the ecosystem and environment. They primarily feed on bugs, which allows for insect and pest regulations. Crops that could be easily damaged by pests will be taken care of by the bats. Insect populations that are growing too quickly will also be taken care of. While they are mostly beneficial, there is one negative aspect to the bats role in the ecosystem. The heart-nosed bat is a carrier of Borrelia. Borrelia is a bacteria that can cause Lyme disease. This can be transferred to humans and give them fevers as well.

Vocalization

Heart-nosed bats are one of the first bat species to be heard singing, or vocalizing. Many behaviors of this bat are still unknown but it was found with studies that the heart-nosed bats will cluster together in the daylight hours but then go their separate ways during the night hours. The night hours is when the singing takes place. It was observed that there are two known songs. The more common of the two songs is what is described as a loud song. The less common of the two songs is referred to as a soft song. This soft song is sung more during the dry season than the loud song. Each bat has their own variation of both songs, especially the soft song. While these songs were being observed, although each of them varied, all the songs had a similar pattern to them. It was clear which song was being sung. One theory to the heart-nosed bats singing and songs are linked to how territorial they are. Another theory is the singing corresponds to social interactions between each bat, which is why the songs themselves are unique to the individual.