Belize Biodiversity Information System

Taxonomy

Species ID	051000
Name	Black mastiff bat
Other Common Names
Category	05 Mammals
Phylum
Subphylum
Class	Mammalia
Subclass	Theria
Suborder	Microchiroptera
Family	Molossidae
Genus	Molossus
Species	rufus
Subspecies
References	1, 2, 3, 7, 8
Scientific Synonyms	Molossus pretiosus macdougalli *8, Molossus ater*8, Molossops malagai*3, Molossus rufus *3

Comments

8* The ater/rufus confusion for this, the largest species of the genus, has been clarified by Dolan. M. pretiosus macdougalli is considered a junior synonym of

M. rufus.

3* Molossops malagai, see Jones (1965), called M. rufus by Dolan (1989) but see Husson (1962) and Hall (1981:252).

7* Three subspecies of M. ater currently recognized. M. a. nigricans (Middle America), M. a. ater (northern South America to southeastern Brazil),

M. a. castaneus (Paraguay and northern Argintina).

Molruf-IMG.JPG

Distribution

DISTRICT	References
Cayo	15
Belize	14
Cayo	2
Corozal	14
Orange Walk	14
Stann Creek	14
Toledo	14

Administrative Unit	Occurrence	Abundance	Temporal	References
Chiquibul Forest Reserve	Recorded vocalization.	Fairly common	June	15
Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary	Recorded vocalization.	Common	May	14
Gallon Jug	Recorded vocalization.	Common	October	14
Gallon Jug	Recorded vocalization.	Common	December	14
Gallon Jug	Recorded vocalization.	Common	July	14
Gallon Jug	Recorded vocalization.	Common	May	14
Gallon Jug	Recorded vocalization.	Common	March	14
Gallon Jug	Collected as voucher.	Common	June	14
Gallon Jug	Recorded vocalization.	Common	January	14
Gallon Jug	Recorded vocalization.	Common	September	14
Gallon Jug	Recorded vocalization.	Common	February	14
Gallon Jug	Recorded vocalization.	Common	August	14
Town or Village, see comments.	Recorded vocalization.	Common	December	14
Town or Village, see comments.	Recorded vocalization.	Common	February	14
Town or Village, see comments.	Recorded vocalization.	Common	March	14
Town or Village, see comments.	Recorded vocalization.	Common	July	14
Temash-Sarstoon National Park	Recorded vocalization.	Common	January	14
BFREE - Private Reserve	Recorded vocalization.	Common	October	14
Rio Bravo Conservation Area	Recorded vocalization.	Common	July	14
BFREE - Private Reserve	Recorded vocalization.	Common	November	14
Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve	Recorded vocalization.	Common	July	14
Rio Bravo Conservation Area	Recorded vocalization.	Common	November	14
Town or Village, see comments.	Recorded vocalization.	Common	October	14
Town or Village, see comments.	Recorded vocalization.	Common	June	14
Blue Hole National Park	Recorded vocalization.	Common	November	12
Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary	Recorded vocalization.	Common	July	11
Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary	Recorded vocalization.	Common	June	11
Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve	Collected as voucher.	Fairly common	April	16
Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary	Recorded vocalization.	Common	May	11
Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve	Collected as voucher.	Fairly common	August	19
Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve	Collected as voucher.	Unknown, insuffient data	January	20
Town or Village, see comments.		Unknown, insuffient data	February	14
Government land	Recorded vocalization.	Unknown, insuffient data	January	9
Town or Village, see comments.	Collected as voucher.	Unknown, insuffient data	Dry season (Jan-May)	6
Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve		Unknown, insuffient data	Permanent Resident (Year-round)	4

Hydrologic Unit Distribution	References
Macal River	14
Sibun River	14
Sarstoon River	14
Aquacate Creek	14
Belize River	14
Temash River	14
New River Lagoon	14
Rio Hondo	14
Bladen Branch	14
Blue Creek	14
New River	14
North Stann Creek	11
Mussel Creek	5

ELEVATION Association	References
401-600 m	15
801-1000 m	14
0-100 m	10
201-400 m	14
401-600 m	16
1-200 m	14,12,11,9

QUAD Distribution	References
16 30' to 16 45'; 88 45' to 89 00'	15
17 30' to 17 45'; 88 45' to 89 00'	14
17 30' to 17 45'; 89 00' to 89 15'	14
16 30' to 16 45'; 88 15' to 88 30'	14
15 50' to 16 00'; 88 50' to 89 15'	14
17 30' to 17 45'; 88 30' to 88 45'	14
17 45' to 18 00'; 88 45' to 89 00'	14
17 15' to 17 30'; 88 30' to 88 45'	14
17 45' to 18 00'; 89 00' to 89 15'	14
17 00' to 17 15'; 88 30' to 88 45'	14, 12
18 15' to 18 30'; 88 00' to 88 15'	10
16 45' to 17 00'; 88 15' to 88 30'	14,11
16 45' to 17 00'; 88 30' to 88 45'	16
18 00' to 18 15'; 88 30' to 88 45'	14
17 00' to 17 15'; 88 45' to 89 00'	14
16 00' to 16 15'; 88 45' to 89 00'	14
16 00' to 16 15'; 89 00' to 89 15'	14
16 15' to 16 30'; 89 00' to 89 15'	16
17 15' to 17 30'; 88 15' to 88 30'	19
18 15' to 18 30'; 88 15' to 88 30'	14
17 45' to 18 00'; 88 15' to 88 30'	18
16 30' to 16 45'; 88 30' to 88 45'	14,9
17 00' to 17 15'; 89 00' to 89 15'	15,14,6
16 45' to 17 00'; 88 45' to 89 00'	16, 4

Holdridge Life Zone Distribution	References
Subtropical Lower Montane moist	15
Subtropical Lower Montane wet	14
Tropical moist-transition to Subtropical	14,12,11
Tropical wet-transition to Subtropical	14
Subtropical Lower Montane moist	16
Subtropical moist	14,10
Subtropical wet	14, 9

Comments on Distribution

9* Las Sierritas, Toledo District.
6* UMMZ Murie 1931 collection.
5* shown as Molossops malagai

Graphics

Distribution map
Vocal signature
Transition to feeding buzz
Feeding buzz

Habitat Associations

Forest Type Associations	Seral Stage	Canopy Closure	References
Broadleaf hill forests over limestone in rolling or flat terrain.	mature tree	41-70%	15
Broadleaf Forest Rich in Lime-loving Species	mature tree	41-70%	15
Broadleaf Forest Rich in Lime-loving Species; Chiquebul-Bullhoof Forest	all stages	0-40%	15
Transitional Broadleaf Forest Poor in Lime-loving Species	all stages	71-100%	14
Broadleaf Forest Rich in Lime-loving Species: Sapote-ramon-spice forest.	all stages	71-100%	14
Seasonal swamp forests (marsh forests) of Northern Belize, variant 1.	all stages	71-100%	14
Broadleaf Forest Rich in Lime-loving Species; Sapote-Mahogany	all stages	71-100%	14
Broadleaf Forest Rich in Lime-loving Species: Sapote-Silion forest.	all stages	71-100%	14
Agriculture, no native vegetation.	all stages	71-100%	14
This serves to update Wright et al. for urban or agricultural areas devoid of native vegetation.	all stages	71-100%	14
Lowland broadleaf moist evergreen seasonal forest over limestone, northwestern variant.	all stages	71-100%	14
Lowland broadleaf moist evergreen seasonal forests over poor soils.	all stages	71-100%	14
Marsh and Swamp Communities	all stages	71-100%	14
Lowland broadleaf moist evergreen seasonal forests over poor soils.	all stages	71-100%	14
Broadleaf Forest w/Occasional Lime-loving Species; Cohune-Banak forest.	all stages	71-100%	14
Transitional Low Broadleaf Forest and Shrubland	all stages	71-100%	14
Montane scrub forest over volcanics.	all stages	71-100%	14
Cohune Palm Forest	all stages	71-100%	14
Seasonal swamp forests (marsh forests) of Northern Belize, variant 1.	all stages	71-100%	14
Fire-induced graminoid vegetation on hills.	all stages	71-100%	14
Broadleaf Forest Rich in Lime-loving Species	all stages	71-100%	14
Marsh and Swamp Communities	all stages	71-100%	14
Freshwater swamp forest (permanently waterlogged), typical variant.	all stages	71-100%	14
Mixed hill forests over poor soils (Mountain Pine Ridge).	all stages	71-100%	14
Tall herb wetland communities.	all stages	71-100%	14
Broadleaf Forest Rich in Lime-loving Species; Sapote-Mahogany	all stages	71-100%	14
Lowland broadleaf rain forests over moderately lime-rich alluvium.	all stages	71-100%	14
Transitional Broadleaf Forest Poor in Lime-loving Species	all stages	71-100%	14
Broadleaf hill forests over limestone in steep terrain.	all stages	71-100%	14
Broadleaf Forest Rich in Lime-loving Species	all stages	71-100%	14
Lowland broadleaf moist evergreen seasonal forest over limestone, northwestern variant.	all stages	71-100%	14
Broadleaf Forest Rich in Lime-loving Species: Sapote-ramon-spice forest.	all stages	71-100%	14
URBAN, human settlement.	all stages	71-100%	14
Lowland broadleaf moist evergreen seasonal forests over poor soils.	all stages	71-100%	11
This serves to update Wright et al. for urban or agricultural areas devoid of native vegetation.	all stages	71-100%	14,10
Dwarf mangrove scrub.	Canopy unknown	Canopy unknown	10
Coastal Formations	all stages	71-100%	14, 10
Seasonally waterlogged fire-induced shrubland of the plains.	all stages	71-100%	14
Transitional Broadleaf Forest Poor in Lime-loving Species	all stages	71-100%	11
Disturbed scrub	Canopy unknown	Canopy unknown	16
Broadleaf Forest with Few Lime-loving Species	Canopy unknown	Canopy unknown	16
Riparian seasonal swamp forests	Canopy unknown	Canopy unknown	17
Broadleaf Forest Rich in Lime-loving Species; Sapote-Mahogany Forest	Canopy unknown	Canopy unknown	19
Needle-leaf hill forests over poor soils (Mountain Pine Ridge).	Canopy unknown	Canopy unknown	19
Broadleaf Forest Rich in Lime-loving Species; Chiquebul-Bullhoof Forest	all stages	71-100%	14
Lowland broadleaf rain forest over poor or sandy soils.	Canopy unknown	Canopy unknown	19
Broadleaf Forest with Few Lime-loving Species	all stages	71-100%	14
Broadleaf Forest with few Lime-loving Species	Canopy unknown	Canopy unknown	19
Lowland needle-leaf moist open forests over poor soils.	Canopy unknown	Canopy unknown	19
Pine Forest and Orchard Savanna	all stages	71-100%	14
Marsh and Swamp Communities	Canopy unknown	Canopy unknown	19
Transitional Low Broadleaf Forest and Shrubland	Canopy unknown	Canopy unknown	18
Pine Forest and Orchard Savanna	all stages	71-100%	14
Agriculture, no native vegetation.	all stages	71-100%	14
Broadleaf Forest w/Occasional Lime-loving Species; Cohune-Banak forest.	Disturbed	41-70%	12
URBAN, human settlement.	Disturbed	41-70%	12

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. 1:252-253

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  McCarthy, T. J., W. B. Davis, J. E. Hill, J. K. Jones Jr., G. A. Cruz.
   1993.  Bat (Mammalia: Chiroptera) Records, Early Collectors, and Faunal
   Lists for Northern Central America.  Annals of Carnegie Museum. Vol. 62,
   No. 3, pp. 191-228

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

6  Murie, Adolph. 1935. Mammals from Guatemala and British Honduras.
   Univeristy of Michigan Museum of Zoology. Misc. Pub. 26.

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

8  Dolan, Patricia G. 1989.  Systematics of Middle American Mastiff Bats of
   the Genus Molossus. Special Publication, Museum of texas Tech
   University.  29: 71 pp.

9  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.

10 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.

11 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 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.

14 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.

15 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.

16 University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. 1995.  Unpublished listing of
   catalog with holdings of mammal specimens from Belize.

17 LSU Museum of Natural Science, Belize collection. August 31, 1995.
   Curator: Mark S. Hafner.

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

19 FMNH. 1997. Mammal holdings in the Field Musuem of Natural History,
   unpublished listing. Data imported pn date: 06/13/00.

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