Belize Biodiversity Information System

Wildlife Conservation Society
11/24/01

Taxonomy

Species ID

051010

Name

Pallas' mastiff bat

Other Common Names

Aztec Mastiff Bat

Category

05 Mammals

Phylum

Subphylum

Class

Mammalia

Subclass

Theria

Suborder

Microchiroptera

Family

Molossidae

Genus

Molossus

Species

molossus

Subspecies

References

1, 2, 3, 6, 8

Scientific Synonyms

Molossus aztecus, Saussure, UMMZ, 1935
Comments

7* Dolan (1989) differentiates M. molossus from M. aztecus. Although difficult to seperate M. molossus and M. aztecus when alive M. aztecus has clearly identifiable characters that seperate it. 3* Hall (1981:255) inc. aztecus in molossus, but see Dolan (1989). 6* Twelve subspecies. M.m. aztecus (most of tropical Mexico and Central America south to Costa Rica), M.m. lambi (Pacific coastal Chiapas and Guatemala), M.m. coibensis (Panama), M.m. daulensis (western Ecuador), M.m. pygmaeus (Curacao, Bonaire), M.m. crassicaudatus (southern Columbia and Guyana to Uraguay), M.m. barnesi (French Guiana), M.m. molossus (=debilis) (central Columbia to Trinidad and north through Lesser Antilles to St. Croix in the Virgin Islands), M.m. fortis (Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands except St. Croix), M.m. verrilii (Hispaniola), M.m. milleri (Jamaica), M.m. tropidorhynchus (Cuba).

Status

Status Code

Status Translation

References

271

Common: high density, likely to be seen in many places

4

Distribution

DISTRICT

References

Orange Walk

13

Corozal

13

Belize

13

Cayo

13

Stann Creek

13

Toledo

13

Administrative Unit

Occurrence

Abundance

Temporal

References

Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary

Recorded vocalization.

Unknown, insuffient data

May

13

Gallon Jug

Recorded vocalization.

Common

June

13

Gallon Jug

Recorded vocalization.

Common

September

13

Gallon Jug

Recorded vocalization.

Common

November

13

Gallon Jug

Recorded vocalization.

Common

October

13

Gallon Jug

Recorded vocalization.

Common

January

13

Gallon Jug

Recorded vocalization.

Common

March

13

Gallon Jug

Recorded vocalization.

Common

July

13

Gallon Jug

Recorded vocalization.

Common

December

13

Gallon Jug

Recorded vocalization.

Common

February

13

Gallon Jug

Recorded vocalization.

Common

May

13

Gallon Jug

Recorded vocalization.

Common

August

13

Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve

Recorded vocalization.

Fairly common

July

13

Town or Village, see comments.

Recorded vocalization.

Fairly common

December

13

Town or Village, see comments.

Recorded vocalization.

Fairly common

June

13

BFREE - Private Reserve

Recorded vocalization.

Fairly common

October

13

BFREE - Private Reserve

Recorded vocalization.

Fairly common

November

13

Town or Village, see comments.

Recorded vocalization.

Unknown, insuffient data

October

13

Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary

Recorded vocalization.

Common

June

11

Columbia River Forest Reserve

Recorded vocalization.

Unknown, insuffient data

February

10

Government land

Recorded vocalization.

Unknown, insuffient data

January

9

Government land

Collected as voucher.

October

5

Hydrologic Unit Distribution

References

Macal River

13

Sibun River

13

Blue Creek

13

New River

13

Bladen Branch

13

Aquacate Creek

13

North Stann Creek

11

ELEVATION Association

References

201-400 m

13

401-600 m

13

0-100 m

12

601-800 m

10

1-200 m

13, 11, 9

601-800 m

9

QUAD Distribution

References

17 30' to 17 45'; 88 45' to 89 00'

13

17 30' to 17 45'; 89 00' to 89 15'

13

18 00' to 18 15'; 88 30' to 88 45'

13

18 15' to 18 30'; 88 15' to 88 30'

13

16 00' to 16 15'; 89 00' to 89 15'

13

16 45' to 17 00'; 88 15' to 88 30'

13, 11

18 15' to 18 30'; 88 00' to 88 15'

12

16 15' to 16 30'; 89 00' to 89 15'

9

17 30' to 17 45'; 88 15' to 88 30'

14

17 00' to 17 15'; 89 00' to 89 15'

13

17 15' to 17 30'; 88 30' to 88 45'

13

16 30' to 16 45'; 88 30' to 88 45'

13, 9

17 00' to 17 15'; 88 45' to 89 00'

13, 5

Holdridge Life Zone Distribution

References

Subtropical Lower Montane wet

13

Subtropical Lower Montane wet

9

Tropical moist-transition to Subtropical

13, 11

Subtropical wet

13, 9

Subtropical moist

13, 12, 5

Comments on Distribution

 

9* Las Sierritas, Toledo District.
5* ROM Listowel Institute, from building; Baking Pot.
2* Specimen from Mountain Pine Ridge

Graphics

Distribution map

Vocal signature- search phase

Approach phase moving into feeding buzz

Feeding buzz

Habitat Associations

Forest Type Associations

Seral Stage

Canopy Closure

References

Broadleaf Forest Rich in Lime-loving Species; Chiquebul-Bullhoof Forest

all stages

71-100%

13

Transitional Broadleaf Forest Poor in Lime-loving Species

all stages

71-100%

13

Seasonal swamp forests (marsh forests) of Northern Belize, variant 1.

all stages

71-100%

13

Broadleaf Forest Rich in Lime-loving Species; Sapote-Mahogany

all stages

71-100%

13

Broadleaf Forest Rich in Lime-loving Species: Sapote-ramon-spice forest.

all stages

71-100%

13

Agriculture, no native vegetation.

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

Broadleaf Forest Rich in Lime-loving Species: Sapote-Silion forest.

all stages

71-100%

13

Lowland broadleaf moist evergreen seasonal forest over limestone, northwestern variant.

all stages

71-100%

13

Lowland broadleaf moist evergreen seasonal forests over poor soils.

all stages

71-100%

13

Marsh and Swamp Communities

all stages

71-100%

13

Broadleaf Forest Rich in Lime-loving Species; Chiquebul-Bullhoof Forest

all stages

71-100%

13

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

URBAN, human settlement.

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

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

Broadleaf Forest Rich in Lime-loving Species

all stages

71-100%

13

Agriculture, no native vegetation.

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

Transitional Broadleaf Forest Poor in Lime-loving Species

all stages

71-100%

11

Broadleaf Forest with Few Lime-loving Species

all stages

71-100%

11

Dwarf mangrove scrub.

Canopy unknown

Canopy unknown

12

Coastal Formations

Canopy unknown

Canopy unknown

12

Broadleaf Forest Rich in Lime-loving Species; Ramon-Chiquebul forest.

Old Growth

0-40%

10

Broadleaf hill forests over limestone in rolling or flat terrain.

Old Growth

0-40%

10

Lowland needle-leaf moist open forests over poor soils.

Canopy unknown

Canopy unknown

14

Pine Forest and Orchard Savanna

Canopy unknown

Canopy unknown

14

Agriculture, no native vegetation.

all stages

71-100%

11

Lowland broadleaf moist evergreen seasonal forests over poor soils.

all stages

71-100%

13

Broadleaf Forest w/Occasional Lime-loving Species; Cohune-Banak forest.

all stages

71-100%

13

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. 1:255-256

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.93

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

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

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

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

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 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.

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.

12 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.

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