Wildlife Conservation Society's Neotropical Bat Information System

Taxonomy

Species ID	050240
Name	Greater White-lined Bat
Other Common Names
Category	05 Mammals
Phylum
Subphylum
Class	Mammalia
Subclass	Theria
Suborder	Microchiroptera
Family	Emballonuridae
Genus	Saccopteryx
Species	bilineata
Subspecies
References	1, 2, 3, 14, 16
Scientific Synonyms	Saccopteryx bilineata centralis, Thomas,, UMMZ, 1935

Comments

14* Two subspecies recognized. S. b. bilineata entire range except northern Venezuela, Trinidad and Tabago where S. b. perspicillifer occurs.

Click on link below for images. Use reverse button to return to species account.

Sacbil1_IMG.jpg

Sacbil2_IMG.jpg

Status

Status Code	Status Translation	References
88	IUCN-1994 Least Concern	32
271	Common: high density, likely to be seen/detected in suitable habitat.	4

 

Distribution

COUNTRY	References
Belize	2,4

DISTRICT	References
Belize	2, 12, 22, 24, 25
Cayo	2, 12, 19, 20, 22, 24, 27, 28
Corozal	18, 22
Orange Walk	22, 25
Stann Creek	2, 21, 22, 23, BMNH
Toledo	2, 22, 24, 25, 26, 29

Administrative Unit	Occurrence	Abundance	Temporal	References
Honey Camp (Proposed)	Collected as voucher.	Unknown, insufficient data	August	24
Honey Camp (Proposed)	Collected as voucher.	Unknown, insufficient data	May	24
Honey Camp (Proposed)	Collected as voucher.	Unknown, insufficient data	November	24
El Pilar	Recorded vocalization.	Unknown, insufficient data	March	22
Commerce Bight Forest Reserve	Collected as voucher.	Unknown, insufficient data		22
Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve	Collected as voucher.	Unknown, insufficient data	August	24
Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve	Collected as voucher.	Unknown, insufficient data	February	24
Chiquibul Forest Reserve	Recorded vocalization.	Common	June	27
Columbia River Forest Reserve	Collected as voucher.	Unknown, insufficient data	March	26
BFREE - Private Reserve	Captured or Mist netted and released	Unknown, insufficient data	October	22
BFREE - Private Reserve	Recorded vocalization.	Unknown, insufficient data	November	22
Temash-Sarstoon National Park	Recorded vocalization.	Unknown, insufficient data	January	22
Shipstern Nature Reserve	Recorded vocalization.	Unknown, insufficient data	April	22
Shipstern Nature Reserve	Unknown	Unknown, insufficient data	Permanent Resident (Year-round)	7
Rio Bravo Conservation Area	Captured or Mist netted and released		Dry season (Jan-May)	13
Rio Bravo Conservation Area	Recorded vocalization.	Unknown, insufficient data	July	22
Rio Bravo Conservation Area	Recorded vocalization.	Unknown, insufficient data	November	22
Gallon Jug	Captured or Mist netted and released	Common	April	22, 25
Gallon Jug	Captured or Mist netted and released	Common	August	22, 25
Gallon Jug	Captured or Mist netted and released	Common	December	25
Gallon Jug	Captured or Mist netted and released	Common	February	22, 25
Gallon Jug	Captured or Mist netted and released	Common	January	22, 25
Gallon Jug	Captured or Mist netted and released	Common	July	22, 25
Gallon Jug	Captured or Mist netted and released	Common	June	22, 25
Gallon Jug	Captured or Mist netted and released	Common	March	22, 25
Gallon Jug	Captured or Mist netted and released	Common	May	22, 25
Gallon Jug	Captured or Mist netted and released	Common	November	22, 25
Gallon Jug	Captured or Mist netted and released	Common	October	22, 25
Gallon Jug	Captured or Mist netted and released	Common	September	22, 25
Bladen Nature Reserve	Captured or Mist netted and released	Unknown, insufficient data	May	5
Bladen Nature Reserve		Unknown, insufficient data	May	22
Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary	Captured or Mist netted and released	Unknown, insufficient data	July	21
Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary	Captured or Mist netted and released	Unknown, insufficient data	May	21
Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary	Captured or Mist netted and released	Unknown, insufficient data	Permanent Resident (Year-round)	23
Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary	Recorded vocalization.	Unknown, insufficient data	June	21
Blue Hole National Park	Captured or Mist netted and released	Common	November	20
Altun Ha Archaeological Reserve	Collected as voucher.		March	12
Altun Ha Archaeological Reserve		Unknown, insufficient data	March	12
Mussel Creek Drainage (Proposed)			Dry season (Jan-May)	8
Slate Creek Preserve				9
Private land, see comments	Collected as voucher.	Unknown, insufficient data	April	18
Private land, see comments	Collected as voucher.		Dry season (Jan-May)	11
Private land, see comments	Collected as voucher.		January	12
Private land, see comments	Sighting		Dry season (Jan-May)	10
Private land, see comments		Unknown, insufficient data	June	22
Government land	Collected as voucher.		October	12
Government land	Recorded vocalization.	Unknown, insufficient data	January	17

Hydrologic Unit Distribution	References
Macal River	27
Sarstoon River	22
Rio Hondo	22
Blue Creek	22
Temash River	22
Bladen Branch	22
North Stann Creek	21
Cox's Lagoon	8
Mussel Creek	6

ELEVATION Association	References
1-200 m	12, 17, 19, 20, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29
201-400 m	22, 24, 26
401-600 m	27
0-100 m	22, 28
101-200 m	5, 22

QUAD Distribution	References
17 45' to 18 00'; 88 15' to 88 30'	12, 22, 25
17 30' to 17 45'; 89 00' to 89 15'	22, 25
17 30' to 17 45'; 88 45' to 89 00'	22, 25
17 30' to 17 45'; 88 30' to 88 45'	22
17 15' to 17 30'; 88 30' to 88 45'	9, 22, 24, 25
17 00' to 17 15'; 89 00' to 89 15'	8, 12, 22, 24, 27, 28
17 00' to 17 15'; 88 45' to 89 00'	7, 12, 24
17 00' to 17 15'; 88 30' to 88 45'	19, 20, 22
18 15' to 18 30'; 88 15' to 88 30'	24
16 45' to 17 00'; 88 15' to 88 30'	21, 23
16 30' to 16 45'; 88 45' to 89 00'	5, 22
16 30' to 16 45'; 88 45' to 89 00'	27
16 30' to 16 45'; 88 30' to 88 45'	17, 22
16 30' to 16 45'; 88 15' to 88 30'	22
16 15' to 16 30'; 89 00' to 89 15'	26
16 15' to 16 30'; 88 45' to 89 00'	10, 24, 26
18 15' to 18 30'; 88 00' to 88 15'	18, 22
16 00' to 16 15'; 89 00' to 89 15'	22
16 00' to 16 15'; 88 45' to 89 00'	24, 29
15 50' to 16 00'; 88 50' to 89 15'	22
18 00' to 18 15'; 88 30' to 88 45'	26
18 00' to 18 15'; 88 15' to 88 30'	24
17 45' to 18 00'; 89 00' to 89 15'	22
17 45' to 18 00'; 88 45' to 89 00'	22

Holdridge Life Zone Distribution	References
Subtropical Lower Montane moist	27
Subtropical moist	18, 22, 25
Subtropical wet	17
Subtropical wet	5, 22, 24, 26, 29
Tropical moist-transition to Subtropical	19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Tropical wet-transition to Subtropical	22

Comments on Distribution

17* Las Sierritas, Toledo District.; 13* Hillbank; La Milpa; 12* ROM Rockstone Pond; Spanish Lookout; Esperanza; 10* Chaa Creek Cottages; 2* specimen from Kate's Lagoon; 5* Quebrado de Oro

Graphics

Belize distribution map
Vocal signature
Feeding buzz
Vocal signature with call parameters
Spectral analysis showing lower harmonic detail
Power spectrum showing maximum energy at 45 kHz

Acoustic information

An important character for distinguishing among species of Emballonurids appears to be the maximum frequency (34). Echolocation sequences of S. bilineata exhibit a paired or stepped series of calls (33, 34, 35). Both signals in a pair slowly increase in frequency, forming a quasi-CF (QCF) component and terminate with a short, downward FM sweep. The initial call of a pair ranged from 44.5 to 46.6 kHz and the second ranged from 46.6 to 48.7 kHz (33, 34).

 

Vocal signature files in Anabat foramt that can be downloaded as reference files.

Sacbil.01# Sacbil.02#

Habitat Associations

HABITAT	References
TERRESTRIAL

Forest Type Associations	Seral Stage	Canopy Closure	References
Broadleaf Forest Rich in Lime-loving Species	mature tree	41-70%	27
Broadleaf hill forests over limestone in rolling or flat terrain.	mature tree	41-70%	27
This serves to update Wright et al. for urban or agricultural areas devoid of native vegetation.	Disturbed	not applicable	27
Broadleaf Forest Rich in Lime-loving Species; Chiquebul-Bullhoof Forest	Disturbed	0-40%	27
Transitional Broadleaf Forest Poor in Lime-loving Species	Canopy unknown	Canopy unknown	23
Broadleaf Forest Rich in Lime-loving Species: Sapote-Silion forest.	Canopy unknown	Canopy unknown	22, 25
Transitional Low Broadleaf Forest and Shrubland	Canopy unknown	Canopy unknown	22, 23
Lowland broadleaf moist evergreen seasonal forests over poor soils.	Canopy unknown	Canopy unknown	22, 25
Broadleaf Forest w/Occasional Lime-loving Species; Cohune-Banak forest.	Canopy unknown	Canopy unknown	22
Montane scrub forest over volcanics.	Canopy unknown	Canopy unknown	22
Cohune Palm Forest	Canopy unknown	Canopy unknown	22, 25
Broadleaf Forest Rich in Lime-loving Species	Canopy unknown	Canopy unknown	22
Lowland broadleaf moist evergreen seasonal forest over limestone, northwestern variant.	Canopy unknown	Canopy unknown	22, 25
Broadleaf Forest Rich in Lime-loving Species: Sapote-ramon-spice forest.	Canopy unknown	Canopy unknown	22, 25
Broadleaf hill forests over limestone in steep terrain.	Canopy unknown	Canopy unknown	22
Broadleaf Forest Rich in Lime-loving Species	Canopy unknown	Canopy unknown	22
Broadleaf Forest Rich in Lime-loving Species; Sapote-Mahogany	Canopy unknown	Canopy unknown	22, 25
Freshwater swamp forest (permanently waterlogged), typical variant.	Canopy unknown	Canopy unknown	22
This serves to update Wright et al. for urban or agricultural areas devoid of native vegetation.	Canopy unknown	Canopy unknown	22, 25
Broadleaf Forest with Few Lime-loving Species	all stages	71-100%	21
Disturbed scrub	all stages	71-100%	21
Broadleaf Forest Moderately Rich in Lime-loving Species; Cohune-Quamwood Forest	all stages	71-100%	21
Transitional Broadleaf Forest Poor in Lime-loving Species	all stages	71-100%	21
Broadleaf hill forests over limestone in rolling or flat terrain.	Disturbed	71-100%	20
Broadleaf Forest Rich in Lime-loving Species	Disturbed	41-70%	19
Lowland broadleaf moist semi-evergreen scrub forest.	Canopy unknown	Canopy unknown	18, 22
Broadleaf Forest Rich in Lime-loving Species; Sapote-Mahogany Forest	Canopy unknown	Canopy unknown	18, 22
Tall herb wetland communities.	Disturbed	41-70%	19
Broadleaf hill forests over limestone in steep terrain.	Disturbed	41-70%	20, 24
Needle-leaf hill forests over poor soils (Mountain Pine Ridge).	Canopy unknown	Canopy unknown	24
Broadleaf hill forests over non-calcareous rocks, Santa Maria variant.	Canopy unknown	Canopy unknown	26
Broadleaf Forest with few Lime-loving Species	Canopy unknown	Canopy unknown	24, 26
Riparian seasonal swamp forests	Canopy unknown	Canopy unknown	26
Marsh and Swamp Communities	Canopy unknown	Canopy unknown	22, 25, 26
Seasonal swamp forests (marsh forests) of Northern Belize, variant 1.	Canopy unknown	Canopy unknown	22, 24, 25
Broadleaf Forest Rich in Lime-loving Species; Sapote-Mahogany	all stages	71-100%	21, 25
Lowland broadleaf moist evergreen seasonal forests over poor soils.	all stages	71-100%	21, 24
Broadleaf Forest with Occasional Lime-loving Species; Negrito-Cohune Palm Forest.	Canopy unknown	Canopy unknown	24, 26
Marsh and Swamp Communities	Canopy unknown	Canopy unknown	24
Transitional Broadleaf Forest Poor in Lime-loving Species	Canopy unknown	Canopy unknown	25
Broadleaf Forest with Few Lime-loving Species	Canopy unknown	Canopy unknown	22, 29
Seasonally waterlogged fire-induced shrubland of the plains.	Canopy unknown	Canopy unknown	22
Pine Forest and Orchard Savanna	Canopy unknown	Canopy unknown	22
Broadleaf hill forests over non-calcareous rocks, Negrito-Nargusta variant.	Canopy unknown	Canopy unknown	22
Transitional Broadleaf Forest Poor in Lime-loving Species	Canopy unknown	Canopy unknown	22
Broadleaf Forest Rich in Lime-loving Species; Chiquebul-Bullhoof Forest	Disturbed	41-70%	12, 20, 24, 28
Lowland broadleaf moist evergreen seasonal forests over limestone, central eastern variant.	Canopy unknown	Canopy unknown	22
Broadleaf Forest w/Occasional Lime-loving Species; Cohune-Banak forest.	Disturbed	71-100%	12, 20, 22, 25, 26, 28, 29
Agriculture, no native vegetation.	Canopy unknown	Canopy unknown	12, 22, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29
Transitional Low Broadleaf Forest and Shrubland	Canopy unknown	Canopy unknown	12, 25
Transitional Broadleaf Forest Poor in Lime-loving Species	Canopy unknown	Canopy unknown	22, 25
Lowland broadleaf rain forests over moderately lime-rich alluvium.	Canopy unknown	Canopy unknown	22, 25
Lowland broadleaf rain forests over moderately lime-rich alluvium.	stage unknown	Canopy unknown	5
Transitional Broadleaf Forest Poor in Lime-loving Species	stage unknown	Canopy unknown	5

 

Food Habits

Trophic

Insectivore-aerial

References on Trophic Level

15

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

Comments on General Food Habits

15* In Belize, S. bilineata begins foraging slightly later than its congener, S. leptura (McCarthy, 1987). Foraging flights of S. bilineata are a mixture of straight-line chasing in open sites at 3-8 m above the ground and sharp turns within 1-5 m of obstruction. S. bilineata flies at speeds averaging 5.75 m/sec (Morrison, 1980). Foraging is conducted within a beat for 20-30 minutes before the bat moves to an adjacent beat, although some bats may forage around trees for many minutes. After two or three hours of foraging, S. bilineata leaves its foraging beat to roost in a nearby tree. Nearly all foraging is conducted over and around vegetation, and foraging sites are positively correlated with phenacology in an area (Bradbury and Vehrencamp, 1976a). The food supply of S. bilineata is highly seasonal (Bradbury and Vehrencamp, 1977b) due to temporal variations in prey densities, and individuals must utilize new foraging patches about every 5-10 weeks (Bradbury and Vehrencamp, 1976b).

Life History

Life History Narrative

15* Common resident of buildings and other structures throughout its range (Polanco et al., 1992; Rick, 1968). S. Bilineata also roosts in well-lighted caves, among trees and other vegetation, and under bridges (Goodwin and Greenhall, 1961), and may utilize ruins as daytime roosts (Polanco et al., 1992; Rick, 1968). This species also has been discovered roosting in trees during the daytime in Veracruz, Mexico (Hall and Dalquest, 1963), Ecuador (Webster and Jones, 1984), Costa Rica, and Trinidad (Bradbury and Vehrencamp, 1976a). In addition, S. bilineata has been observed at entrances of apertures in the face of limestone cliffs in Veracruz, Mexico (Hall and Dalquest, 1963). Greater white-lined bats may form colonies of up to 50 individuals, but rarely does a colony consist of more than 15 bats (Goodwin and Greenhall, 1961). The mean sizes of two colonies of S. bilineata in Costa Rica were 5.5 and 6.3 individuals, whereas the mean colony size on Trinidad was 8.1. Some colonies from Costa Rica and Trinidad have been reported to harbor as many as 50 individuals (Bradbury and Vehrencamp, 1976a). In Costa Rica, colonies are spaced an average of 60 m apart (Bradbury and Vehrencamp, 1976b). In Costa Rica and Trinidad, females comprise 62% of the adult population.

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. 1:79-80

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.45-46

5 McCarthy, T. J., M. Blake. 1987. Noteworthy bat records from the Maya Mountains Forest Reserve, Belize. Mammalia v. 51, No. 1, pp.161-164

6 Weyer, D. 1994. Proposal to Establish the Mussel Creek Drainage as a Wildlife Sanctuary. p.18

7 Meerman, J. C. 1993. Mammals of the Shipstern Nature Reserve. Occasional Papers of the Belize Natural History Society. 2:11, pp.83-85

8 Hunt, H. R., J. Tamarack. 1992. Cox Lagoon Crocodile Preserve. Unpub. report. pp.3-4

9 Meerman, J. C. 1994. Unpublished data, Slate Creek Preserve.

10 Merriman, T. 1993. List of bats caught and observed with Dr. Merlin D. Tuttle, BCI Founder's Circle Trip, May 8-17, 1993. In lit.

11 Cartwright, Anne McKnight Furnish. 1977. Patterns of Neotropical Chiroptera Reproduction Including Histological and Ecological Aspects of Bats Collected In Belize. Dissertation for Doctor of Education. Ball State University. Muncie, Indiana.

12 ROM. 1995. Collections data from mammal department, Royal Ontario Museum.

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

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

15 Yancey, F.D., J.R. Goetze, and C. Jones. 1998. Saccopteryx bilineata. American Society of Mammalogists. Mammalian Species No. 581:1-5.

16 University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. 1935. Mammals from Guatemala and British Honduras. Miscellaneous Publication No. 26. Ann Arbor, Michigan.

17 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.

18 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.

19 Miller, B.W. 1996. Preliminary reconaisance of the bats of Five Blues Lake National Park. Survey at Tamandua Farm south of Five Blues Lake N.P. Wildlife Conservation Society, Tropical Forest and Reserve Planning Project, Belize. Unpublished data.

20 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.

21 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.

22 Miller, B.W. 2000. Miscellaneous unpublished data records from surveys conducted in Belize for which no specific report was written. Data includes results of mist-netting, harp trapping and acoustic surveys. Wildlife Conservation Society, Tropical Forest and Reserve Planning Project, Belize.

23 Silver, S.C. and L.E.T. Ostro. 2001. Cockscomb Basin Mammal Survey, final report to the Species Survival Fund of the Wildlife Conservation Society. Pp.21.

24 FMNH. 1997. Mammal holdings in the Field Musuem of Natural History, unpublished listing.

25 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.

26 CM. 1997. Carnegie Musuem, Division of mammals. Data imported on date: 06/13/00.

27 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.

28 UF. Florida Sate Musuem Mammal Deptartment, Belize holdings. University of Florida, Gainesville. Imported on date: 09/20/00.

29 MSU. 2000. Collection data from the museum of Michigan State University Imported 06/13/00.

30 University of Kansas Natural History Museum. 1995. Belize Mammal holdings. Unpublished listing of catalog.

31 AMNH. 1996. Bat holdings provided by Nancy Simmons, unpublished listing of catalog.

32 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.

33 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.

34 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.

35 Barclay, R. M. R. 1983. Echolocation Calls of Emballonurid Bats from Panama. Journal of Comparative Physiology B 151:515-520.