What constitutes the menu of Trachops cirrhosus (Chiroptera)? A review of the species’ diet

Authors

  • Edson Silva Barbosa Leal Doutorando do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Animal da UFPE
  • Leonardo da Silva Chaves Doutorando do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Etnobiologia e Conservação da Natureza da UFRPE
  • João Gomes do Prado Neto IFT
  • Paulo Barros de Passos Filho IFT
  • Daniel de Figueiredo Ramalho Doutorando do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia da Universidade de Brasilia
  • Deoclécio de Queiróz Guerra Filho
  • Rachel Maria de Lyra-Neves Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco
  • Wallace Rodrigues Telino-Júnior Professor Doutor da UFRPE
  • Geraldo Jorge Barbosa de Moura Professor Doutor da UFRPE

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4013/nbc.2018.134.08

Abstract

Few data are available on the predation of amphibians, reptiles, and mammals by the fringe-lipped bat Trachops cirrhosus (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae: Phyllostominae), in particular in Brazil, where ecological studies of this species are still incipient. This study presents an overview of the data available in the literature on the composition of the diet of T. cirrhosus, including data from a semiarid region. The first records of the predation of the anurans Corythomanthis greeningi (Hylidae), Pleurodema diplolister (Leiuperidae), Proceratophrys cristiceps (Cycloramphidae), Dermatonotus muelleri (Microhylidae), Pipa carvalhoi (Pipidae), Leptodactylus sp. (Leptodactylidae), the lizards Vanzosaura rubricauda (Gymnophytalmidae), Hemidactylus mabouia (Gekknonidae), and a rodent of the family Cricetidae are reported. Insects (33%) constitute the principal component of the diet of T. cirrhosus, while anuran amphibians contributed 23% of the items recorded, followed by birds (14%), mammals (10%), lizards (8%), and invertebrates (8%). This diversity of prey is typical of a generalist predator, which is relatively unaffected by seasonal fluctuations in the availability of prey. This is especially important in the semi-arid Caatinga biome, which is subject to prolonged periods of drought that result in a shortage of feeding resources.

Keywords: fringe-lipped bat, herpetofauna, prey-predator relationship, rodents, seasonally dry tropical forest.

Author Biography

Edson Silva Barbosa Leal, Doutorando do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Animal da UFPE

Departament of Zoologia

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Published

2018-12-30

Issue

Vol. 13 No. 4 (2018): October/December

Section

Short Communication

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