Wildlife Conservation Society's Neotropical Bat Information System

Taxonomy

Species ID	050180
Name	Thomas' Bat
Other Common Names
Category	05 Mammals
Phylum
Subphylum
Class	Mammalia
Subclass	Theria
Suborder	Microchiroptera
Family	Emballonuridae
Genus	Centronycteris
Species	centralis
Subspecies
References	1, 2, 3, 6, 7
Scientific Synonyms	Centronycteris maximiliani centralis

Comments

*6 Two currently recognized subspecies; C. m. maximiliani (eastern South America) and C. m. centralis (Middle America and northwestern South America). *7 Now verified as two distinct species.

Status

Status Code	Status Translation	References
88	IUCN-1994 Least Concern	13
13	Apparently secure in Belize	5
273	Fairly Common: Likely to be seen/detected in suitable habitat.	5
27	Rare: low density, unlikely to be seen/detected, few localities.	4

Comments on Status

5* Species avoids mist nets and harp traps so it is under reported. It is common in sutiable forest habitat.

Distribution

COUNTRY	References
Belize	2, 5, 7

DISTRICT	References
Orange Walk	5
Stann Creek	5, 8, 12
Toledo	11

Administrative Unit	Occurrence	Abundance	Temporal	References
Columbia River Forest Reserve	Recorded vocalization.	Uncommon	February	11
Gallon Jug	Collected as voucher.	Common	Permanent Resident (Year-round)	5
Gallon Jug	Recorded vocalization.	Common	December	5
Gallon Jug	Recorded vocalization.	Common	February	5
Gallon Jug	Recorded vocalization.	Common	January	5
Gallon Jug	Recorded vocalization.	Common	May	5
Gallon Jug	Recorded vocalization.	Common	November	5
Gallon Jug	Recorded vocalization.	Common	October	5
Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary	Recorded vocalization.	Unknown, insufficient data	Dry season (Jan-May)	5
Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary	Recorded vocalization.	Uncommon	June	12
Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary	Recorded vocalization.	Uncommon	May	12

Hydrologic Unit Distribution	References
North Stann Creek	12

ELEVATION Association	References
1-200 m	5
601-800 m	11

QUAD Distribution	References
17 30' to 17 45'; 89 00' to 89 15'	5
17 30' to 17 45'; 88 45' to 89 00'	5
16 45' to 17 00'; 88 15' to 88 30'	5, 8, 12
16 15' to 16 30'; 89 00' to 89 15'	11

Holdridge Life Zone Distribution	References
Subtropical Lower Montane wet	11
Subtropical moist	5
Tropical moist-transition to Subtropical	5, 8, 12

Comments on Distribution

5* Two voucher specimens collected at Gallon Jug. See AMNH collection.; 2* Specimen from Double Falls see FMNH collection.

Graphics

Distribution map
Vocal signature
Vocal signature with call parameters

 

Vocal Signature Files for Download

Cencen.01# Cencen.02#

Habitat Associations

HABITAT	References
TERRESTRIAL	5

Forest Type Associations	Seral Stage	Canopy Closure	References
Lowland broadleaf moist evergreen seasonal forests over poor soils.	all stages	71-100%	5
Transitional Broadleaf Forest Poor in Lime-loving Species	all stages	71-100%	5
Disturbed scrub	all stages	71-100%	12
Broadleaf Forest Moderately Rich in Lime-loving Species; Cohune-Quamwood Forest	all stages	71-100%	12
Lowland broadleaf moist evergreen seasonal forests over poor soils.	all stages	71-100%	12
Transitional Broadleaf Forest Poor in Lime-loving Species	all stages	71-100%	12
Broadleaf hill forests over non-calcareous rocks, Negrito-Nargusta variant.	Canopy unknown	Canopy unknown	8
Broadleaf Forest with Few Lime-loving Species	Canopy unknown	Canopy unknown	8
Transitional Broadleaf Forest Poor in Lime-loving Species	all stages	71-100%	11
Broadleaf hill forests over limestone in rolling or flat terrain.	all stages	71-100%	11
Broadleaf Forest Rich in Lime-loving Species; Sapote-Mahogany	all stages	71-100%	5
Cohune Palm Forest	all stages	71-100%	5
Broadleaf Forest Rich in Lime-loving Species: Sapote-Silion forest.	all stages	71-100%	5
Broadleaf Forest Rich in Lime-loving Species: Sapote-ramon-spice forest.	all stages	71-100%	5
Marsh and Swamp Communities	all stages	71-100%	5
Marsh and Swamp Communities	all stages	71-100%	5
Lowland broadleaf moist evergreen seasonal forests over limestone, central-western variant.	all stages	71-100%	5
Riparian seasonal swamp forests	all stages	71-100%	5
Montane palm forest over volcanics.	all stages	71-100%	5
Lowland broadleaf moist evergreen seasonal forest over limestone, northwestern variant.	all stages	71-100%	5

  

Food Habits

Trophic

Insectivore-aerial

References on Trophic Level

5

Lifestage	Food Item Consumed	Part of Food Item
Adult	Insects	Adult stage

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. 1:82-83

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.46-47

5 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.

6 Koopman, Karl F. 1994. Chiroptera: Systematics. in Handbook of Zoology. W. de Gruyter. Berlin. p.46.

7 Simmons, Nancy B., Charles O. Handley. 1998. A Revision of Centronycteris (Chiroptera: Emballonuridae). American Museum Novitates.

8 Field Museum of Natural History mammal records Imported on date: 06/13/00.

9 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.

10 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.

11 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.

12 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.

13 Hutson, A. M., S.P. Mickleburgh and P.A. Racey. 2001. Microchiropteran bats: global status survey and conservation action plan. IUCN/SSC Chiroptera Specialist Group. IUCN, Galnd, Switzerland and Cambridge, U.K. 258 pp.