Belize Biodiversity Information System

Taxonomy

Species ID	050280
Name	Davy's Naked-backed Bat
Other Common Names	Lesser Naked-backed Bat
Category	05 Mammals
Phylum
Subphylum
Class	Mammalia
Subclass	Theria
Suborder	Microchiroptera
Family	Mormoopidae
Genus	Pteronotus
Species	davyi
Subspecies
References	1, 2, 3, 11
Scientific Synonyms	Pteronotus suapurensis calvus Goodwin 1958

Comments

11* Three subspecies: P. d. fulvus (Sonora and Nuevo Leon to Honduras), P. d. davyi (Nicaragua to Trinidad and Lesser Antilles), P. d. incae (northwestern Peru). The northeastern Brazilian populations have not been allocated subspecifically. *12 Chilonycteris gymnonotus Natterer, 1843 was for many years considered a junior synonym of Pteronotus davyi Gray, 1838. Smith (1977), upon examination of the type specimen of C. gymnonotus, found that the specimen actually represented the larger congener P. suapurensis. The name C. gymnonotus predates P. suapurensis by 61 years, and is now accepted (Honacki et al., 1982) as the correct name of the big naked- backed bat. The subgenus Pteronotus is most closely related and most similar to the subgenus Chilonycteris; Phyllodia represents an earlier evolutionary divergence in the Pteronotus lineage (Smith, 1972). Within the subgenus Pteronotus, Smith (1972) considered P. davyi to have diverged less in an evolutionary sense than P. gymnonotus. A number of other vernacular names have been applied to P. davyi; the little naked-backed bat and Davy's naked backed bat are most common (Hall, 1981; Smith, 1972). In Spanish literature this bat is more appropriately called "murcilago de falsas espaldas desnudas," meaning false naked-backed bat (Villa-A., 1967:180). In Trinidad it has been called the Trinidadian naked-backed bat (Goodwin and Greenhall, 1961).

  Pteronotus davyi.JPG

Pteronotus davyii01.JPG

 Status

Status Code	Status Translation	References
271	Common: high density, likely to be seen in many places	4

Distribution

DISTRICT	References
Belize	13
Cayo	14
Corozal	13
Orange Walk	13,20
Stann Creek	13
Toledo	13

Administrative Unit	Occurrence	Abundance	Temporal	References
Chiquibul Forest Reserve	Captured or Mist netted and released	Common	June	14
Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary	Captured or Mist netted and released	Common	Dry season (Jan-May)	13
Gallon Jug	Captured or Mist netted and released	Common	August	13
Gallon Jug	Captured or Mist netted and released	Common	September	13
Gallon Jug	Captured or Mist netted and released	Common	January	13
Gallon Jug	Captured or Mist netted and released	Common	May	13
Gallon Jug	Captured or Mist netted and released	Common	July	13
Gallon Jug	Captured or Mist netted and released	Common	October	13
Gallon Jug	Captured or Mist netted and released	Common	March	13
Gallon Jug	Captured or Mist netted and released	Common	February	13
Gallon Jug	Captured or Mist netted and released	Common	December	13
Gallon Jug	Captured or Mist netted and released	Common	APRIL	13
Gallon Jug	Captured or Mist netted and released	Common	November	13
Gallon Jug	Captured or Mist netted and released	Common	June	13
Town or Village, see comments.	Recorded vocalization, tape or Anabat.	Common	March	13
Town or Village, see comments.	Recorded vocalization, tape or Anabat.	Common	October	13
Town or Village, see comments.	Recorded vocalization, tape or Anabat.	Common	APRIL	13
Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve	Recorded vocalization, tape or Anabat.	Common	March	13
Shipstern Nature Reserve	Captured or Mist netted and released	Common	APRIL	13
El Pilar	Recorded vocalization, tape or Anabat.	Common	March	13
Slate Creek Preserve	Recorded vocalization, tape or Anabat.	Common	October	13
Private land, see comments	Recorded vocalization, tape or Anabat.	Common	February	13
Temash-Sarstoon National Park	Recorded vocalization, tape or Anabat.	Common	January	13
Rio Bravo Conservation Area	Recorded vocalization, tape or Anabat.	Common	November	13
Columbia River Forest Reserve	Recorded vocalization, tape or Anabat.	Common	February	13
BFREE - Private Reserve	Captured or Mist netted and released	Common	November	13
BFREE - Private Reserve	Recorded vocalization, tape or Anabat.	Common	October	13
Blue Hole National Park	Recorded vocalization, tape or Anabat.	Common	November	19
Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary	Recorded vocalization, tape or Anabat.	Common	June	18
Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary	Recorded vocalization, tape or Anabat.	Common	July	18
Columbia River Forest Reserve	Captured or Mist netted and released	Fairly common	February	17
Vaca Forest Reserve	Captured or Mist netted and released	Common	May	16
Vaca Forest Reserve	Captured or Mist netted and released	Common	APRIL	16
Columbia River Forest Reserve	Captured or Mist netted and released	Fairly common	February	9
Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary	Recorded vocalization, tape or Anabat.	Common	May	18
Government land	Recorded vocalization, tape or Anabat.	Uncommon	January	14
Government land	Captured or Mist netted and released			6
Rio Bravo Conservation Area	Captured or Mist netted and released		Permanent Resident (Year-round)	4
Gallon Jug	Captured or Mist netted and released		Dry season (Jan-May)	7
Shipstern Nature Reserve	Captured or Mist netted and released		Dry season (Jan-May)	8
Rio Bravo Conservation Area	Captured or Mist netted and released		Dry season (Jan-May)	10

Hydrologic Unit Distribution	References
Rio Hondo	13
Belize River	13
Sarstoon River	13
Sibun River	13
Macal River	14,13
Temash River	13
Blue Creek	13
Aquacate Creek	13
Bladen Branch	13
North Stann Creek	18
New River	10

ELEVATION Association	References
401-600 m	14,13
201-400 m	13
0-100 m	13,15
1-200 m	14,13,20,19,18,16,14
601-800 m	13,17,9

QUAD Distribution	References
16 30' to 16 45'; 88 45' to 89 00'	14
16 15' to 16 30'; 89 00' to 89 15'	9
17 30' to 17 45'; 88 45' to 89 00'	13
17 45' to 18 00'; 88 45' to 89 00'	13
16 30' to 16 45'; 88 15' to 88 30'	13
16 45' to 17 00'; 89 00' to 89 15'	13
15 50' to 16 00'; 88 50' to 89 15'	13
17 45' to 18 00'; 89 00' to 89 15'	13
17 15' to 17 30'; 88 30' to 88 45'	13
17 00' to 17 15'; 88 30' to 88 45'	13,19
16 45' to 17 00'; 88 15' to 88 30'	13,18
16 15' to 16 30'; 89 00' to 89 15'	13,17,9
16 45' to 17 00'; 88 30' to 88 45'	21
16 00' to 16 15'; 88 45' to 89 00'	20
16 30' to 16 45'; 88 30' to 88 45'	13,14
17 30' to 17 45'; 89 00' to 89 15'	13,4
17 30' to 17 45'; 88 30' to 88 45'	13,6
17 00' to 17 15'; 89 00' to 89 15'	14,13,16,6
17 00' to 17 15'; 88 45' to 89 00'	13,6
18 15' to 18 30'; 88 00' to 88 15'	13,15,6
16 15' to 16 30'; 89 00' to 89 15'	6
18 00' to 18 15'; 88 30' to 88 45'	20,7
16 00' to 16 15'; 89 00' to 89 15'	13,8
16 15' to 16 30'; 89 00' to 89 15'	9

Holdridge Life Zone Distribution	References
Subtropical Lower Montane wet	9
Subtropical Lower Montane wet	13
Subtropical Lower Montane moist	14,13,17,9
Tropical wet-transition to Subtropical	13
Subtropical moist	13,20,16,15,14
Subtropical moist	8
Subtropical wet	13
Tropical moist-transition to Subtropical	13,20,19,18,13

Comments on Distribution

14* Las Sierritas, Toledo District.
10* Hill Bank; La Milpa
8*  Harp trapped at cave west of Sarteneja airstrip,in second growth.
6*  Central Farm; Ontario; Teakettle; Unitedville; Tower Hill BSI;
    Aguacate; San Antonio, Toledo.

Graphics

Map of known distribution
Vocal signature with fundamental harmonic
Vocal signature with feeding buzz
Vocal signature with call paramters shown

Habitat Associations

Forest Type Associations	Seral Stage	Canopy Closure	References
Broadleaf hill forests over limestone in rolling or flat terrain.	all stages	71-100%	14
Broadleaf Forest Rich in Lime-loving Species; Ramon-Chiquebul Forest.	all stages	71-100%	14
Broadleaf Forest Rich in Lime-loving Species; Chiquebul-Bullhoof Forest	Disturbed	0-40%	14
Transitional Broadleaf Forest Poor in Lime-loving Species	all stages	71-100%	13
Transitional Broadleaf Forest Poor in Lime-loving Species	all stages	71-100%	9
Broadleaf Forest Rich in Lime-loving Species; Ramon-Chiquebul forest.	all stages	71-100%	9
Broadleaf hill forests over limestone in rolling or flat terrain.	all stages	71-100%	9
Riparian seasonal swamp forests	all stages	71-100%	13
Marsh and Swamp Communities	all stages	71-100%	13
Lowland broadleaf moist evergreen seasonal forests over limestone, central-western variant.	all stages	71-100%	13
Marsh and Swamp Communities	all stages	71-100%	13
Seasonal swamp forests (marsh forests) of Northern Belize, variant 1.	all stages	71-100%	13
Montane scrub forest over volcanics.	all stages	71-100%	13
Cohune Palm Forest	all stages	71-100%	13,20
Inland well-drained shrubland over poor soils.	all stages	71-100%	13
Transitional Low Broadleaf Forest and Shrubland	all stages	71-100%	13
Marsh and Swamp Communities	all stages	71-100%	13,20
Broadleaf Forest Rich in Lime-loving Species	all stages	71-100%	13,20
Lowland broadleaf moist evergreen seasonal forests over poor soils.	all stages	71-100%	13,20
Broadleaf Forest w/Occasional Lime-loving Species; Cohune-Banak forest.	all stages	71-100%	13
Freshwater swamp forest (permanently waterlogged), typical variant.	all stages	71-100%	13
Marsh and Swamp Communities	all stages	71-100%	13
This serves to update Wright et al. for urban or agricultural areas devoid of native vegetation.	all stages	71-100%	13,20
Agriculture, no native vegetation.	all stages	71-100%	13,20
Broadleaf hill forests over limestone in steep terrain.	all stages	71-100%	13
Broadleaf Forest Rich in Lime-loving Species	all stages	71-100%	13,20
Lowland broadleaf moist evergreen seasonal forest over limestone, northwestern variant.	all stages	71-100%	13,20
Broadleaf Forest Rich in Lime-loving Species: Sapote-ramon-spice forest.	all stages	71-100%	13,20
Broadleaf hill forests over limestone in rolling or flat terrain.	all stages	71-100%	13
Needle-leaf hill forests over poor soils (Mountain Pine Ridge).	all stages	71-100%	13
Pine Forest and Orchard Savanna	all stages	71-100%	13
Lowland broadleaf rain forests over moderately lime-rich alluvium.	all stages	71-100%	13
Transitional Broadleaf Forest Poor in Lime-loving Species	all stages	71-100%	13
This serves to update Wright et al. for urban or agricultural areas devoid of native vegetation.	all stages	71-100%	13
Seasonally waterlogged fire-induced shrubland of the plains.	all stages	71-100%	13
Pine Forest and Orchard Savanna	all stages	71-100%	13
Broadleaf Forest Rich in Lime-loving Species: Sapote-Silion forest.	all stages	71-100%	13,20
Agriculture, no native vegetation.	all stages	71-100%	13
Broadleaf Forest with Occasional Lime-loving Species; Negrito-Cohune Palm Forest.	all stages	71-100%	13
URBAN, human settlement.	Disturbed	0-40%	19
Lowland broadleaf moist evergreen seasonal forests over poor soils.	all stages	71-100%	18
Transitional Broadleaf Forest Poor in Lime-loving Species	all stages	71-100%	18
Transitional Broadleaf Forest Poor in Lime-loving Species	Old Growth	Canopy unknown	17
Broadleaf hill forests over limestone in rolling or flat terrain.	Old Growth	Canopy unknown	17
Broadleaf Forest Rich in Lime-loving Species; Ramon-Chiquebul forest.	Old Growth	Canopy unknown	17
Transitional Broadleaf Forest Poor in Lime-loving Species	all stages	41-70%	16
Lowland broadleaf moist semi-evergreen scrub forest.	all stages	71-100%	13,15
Broadleaf Forest Rich in Lime-loving Species; Sapote-Mahogany Forest	all stages	71-100%	13,15
Broadleaf Forest Rich in Lime-loving Species; Chiquebul-Bullhoof Forest	all stages	71-100%	13
Broadleaf Forest with few Lime-loving Species	Canopy unknown	Canopy unknown	20
Broadleaf Forest Rich in Lime-loving Species; Sapote-Mahogany	all stages	71-100%	13,20
Broadleaf Forest w/Occasional Lime-loving Species; Cohune-Banak forest.	Disturbed	41-70%	19
Broadleaf Forest Rich in Lime-loving Species	all stages	71-100%	13
Disturbed scrub	all stages	71-100%	13
Broadleaf Forest with Few Lime-loving Species	Canopy unknown	Canopy unknown	21
Broadleaf Forest Moderately Rich in Lime-loving Species; Cohune-Quamwood Forest	all stages	41-70%	16
Agriculture, no native vegetation.	Disturbed	0-40%	16
Broadleaf Forest with Few Lime-loving Species	all stages	71-100%	13
Broadleaf Forest Rich in Lime-loving Species; Sapote-Mahogany Forest	mature tree	41-70%	8

Land Use/Land Cover Associations	References
Protection	8

Food Habits

Trophic

INSECTIVORE

References on Trophic Level

12

Lifestage	Food Item Consumed	Part of Food Item
Adult	Lepidoptera	Adult stage
Adult	Dermaptera	Adult stage
Adult	Diptera	Adult stage

Comments on General Food Habits

12* The diet of lesser naked-backed bats includes many species of Lepidoptera (Howell and Burch, 1974), some dipterans, and occasionally earwigs (Forficulidae, Sphingolabis sp.; Villa-R., 1967), P. davyi drinks on the wing (Hill and Smith, 1984). Lesser naked-backed bats do not adapt well to drinking from a dish in the lab, but quickly learn to pursue and catch flying insects in an enclosed room. P davyi may capture 25 fruitflies/min (Novick, 1963). The species probably is not in much direct danger from man's development, due to the undesirability of the unusually hot, humid caves favored by P. davyi (Birney et al., 1974), though destruction of foraging areas could endanger some populations.

References/Lifestage	Reference Numbers

Environmental Associations

References/Lifestage	Reference Numbers

Life History

Life History Narrative

12* Lesser naked-backed bats occur in moist to seasonally dry habitats (Bateman and Vaughman, 1974; Birney et al., 1974; Matson and Patten, 1975; Smith, 1972; Wilson, 1983). P. davyi incae occurs in mesic habitats on both sides of the Andes in Peru (Koopman, 1978). Within these habitats, P. davyi selects the darker recesses of hot, humid caves and mines (Bateman and Vaughan, 1974; Birney et al., 1974; Goodwin and Greenhall, 1961; Villa-R., 1967). Manmade structures, such as chicken pens, are sometimes utilized as roosts (Goodwin and Greenhall, 1961). Daytime roosts are shared with numerous other species of bats, but most notably other mormoopids, Natalus, Artibeus jamaicensis, Macrotus, Tadarida brasiliensis, and Desmodus rotundus. Lesser naked-backed bats often are the dominant species in a roost (Bateman and Vaughman, 1974; Birney et al., 1974), but they rarely roost alone (Villa-R., 1967). Long-range movements of lesser naked-backed bats have not been recorded, but P. davyi is the only mormoopid to have invaded the Lesser Antilles (Jones and Phillips, 1970). Of 117 bat species on adjacent continental South America, only 12 have succeeded in colonizing the Antilles (Koopman, 1982). Birth is coincident with the onset of the rainy season, which increases number and availability of insect resources (Bateman and Vaughan, 1974). Lactation may continue through July. Maturation of young is rapid, enhanced by the seasonal abundance of insects (Smith, 1972).

Management Practices

References/Result	Reference Numbers

References

1  McCarthy, T. J. 1993. Checklist: Mammals of Belize. BAS Newsletter
   25 (2-3).

2  Hall, E. R. 1981. Mammals of North America. Second ed. John Wiley &
   Sons. New York. 1:94-95

3  Koopman, Karl F. 1993. Chiroptera. in  Wilson, D. E., and D. M. Reeder,
   eds, Mammalian species of the world, 2nd ed, Smithsonian Institution
   Press, Washington, D.C., pp. 137-241.

4  Emmons, L. H. 1990.  Neotropical Rainforest Mammals, a field guide.
   University of Chicago Press.  Chicago and London. p.52-53

5  Anonymous. Rio Bravo Mammal List Update. 1994.  Unpublished list. pp.1-2

6  McCarthy, T. J. 1987. Distributional records of bats from the Caribbean
   lowlands of Belize and adjacent Guatemala and Mexico. In: Studies in
   Neotropical Mammalogy: Essays in Honor of Philip Hershkovitz (B.D.
   Patterson and R.M. Timm, eds.). Fieldiana:n.s. No. 39:137-162.

7  Miller, C.M., B.W. Miller. 1994 (Nov.). Working Checklist: Mammals of
   Gallon Jug and Chan Chich Lodge Area. Unpublished list.

8  Quigley, H. B., B. W. Miller, C. M. Miller. 1995.  Mammal Survey,
   Shipstern Nature Reserve, April 4-13, 1995. Unpublished report for ITCF.

9  Miller, B.W.  1997. Columbia River Forest Reserve Expedition 17-23
   February, 1997, Bat Survey.  Wildlife Conservation Society Tropical
   Forest and Reserve Planning Project Belize. Technical Report. 19 pp.

10 Smith, Rosemary L. 1994.  Neotropical Bats as Indicators of
   Environmental Disturbance.  Masters Thesis. Durrell Institute of
   Conservation and Ecology. pp.64.

11 Koopman, Karl F. 1994. Chiroptera: Systematics in Handbook of Zoology. W
   de Gruyter. Berlin-NY. p. 71.

12 Adams, James K., 1989. Pteronotus davyi.  Mammalian Species No. 346.
   pp.1-5.  American Society of Mammalogists.

13 Miller, B.W. 2001. Community Ecology of the Non-phyllostomid bats of
   Northwestern Belize, with a landscape level assessment of the bats of
   Belize.  PhD. Dissertation. University of Kent, Durrell Institute of
   Conservation and Ecology.

14 Miller, B.W. and C.M. Miller. 1998. Las Sierritas, Toledo District,
   Belize. Rapid Environmental Appraisal Report for Mott MacDonald, Ltd.
   6-10 January 1998.

15 Bartschi, D. 1998. Chiropteres de al Reserva Naturelle de Shipstern et
   de ses environs (Nord du Belize): Inventaire et biologie. Masters Thesis
   University of Neuchatel, Switzerland. 101 pp.

16 Miller, B.W. and C.M. Miller. 1999. Harp trap and acoustic bat survey,
   April 11, 1996 and May 16, 1999, upper entrance of Actun Chapot Cave.
   Vaca Forest Reserve. Wildlife Conservation Society Tropical Forest and
   Reserve Planning Project Belize. Unpublished report.

17 Miller, B.W. 1996. Report on the non-phyllostomid bats of Columbia
   River Forest Reserve.  Joint expedtion with Forest Department. Wildlife
   Conservation Society, Tropical Forest and Reserve Planning Project,
   Belize. Unpublished data.

18 Miller, B.W. and C.M. Miller. 1999. Results of a survey of bats of the
   Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary. Wildlife Conservation Society,
   Tropical Forest and Reserve Planning Project, Belize. Technical Report
   for Belize Audubon Society. 16 pp.

19 Miller, B.W. 2000. Survey of the bats of Blue Hole National Park and
   adjacent Jaguar Creek.  Wildlife Conservation Society, Tropical Forest
   and Reserve Planning Project, Belize. Technical Report for Belize
   Audubon Society.

20 FMNH. 1997. Mammal holdings in the Field Musuem of Natural History,
   unpublished listing. Imported on 06/13/00.

21 USNM. 1995. Collections data from mammal department, United States
   National Museum. Imported on date: 06/13/00.

22 O'Farrell, M. J. and B. W. Miller. 1999. Use of Vocal Signatures for the
   Inventory of Free-flying Neotropical Bats. Biotropica 31(3):507-516.

23 O'Farrell, M. J. and B. W. Miller. 1997. A New Examination of
   Echolocation Calls of Some Neotropical Bats (Emballonuridae and
   Mormoopidae). Journal of Mammalogy 87(3):954-963.

24 Miller, B.W. 2001. Preliminary survey of the bats of Las Cuevas BM Field
   Station, and Ek Tun lodge property on Macal River. June 16-20, 2001. WCS Tropcial Forest and
   Reserve Planning Project Technical Report.