FIELD BOOK OF MAMMALS 



Subfamily Phyllostominae 

 Genus Macrotus 



Dentition: Incisors, |; Canines, J-; Premolars, f; Molars, f =34. 



California Leaf-nosed Bat. — Macrotus californicus 

 Baird 



General Description. — A medium-sized Bat with tall, 

 upright leaf on nose; very large, papery ears which are con- 

 nected at their bases by a band which crosses the forehead; 

 tragus long, slender, pointed; interfemoral membrane not 

 very extensive. 



Color. — Sexes colored alike; no noticeable seasonal vari- 

 ation. 



Upperparts. — Pelage light-colored, almost white, at base; 

 hairs tipped with brown; membranes brownish. 



Underparts. — Like upperparts but slightly paler. 



Measurements. — Total length, 3.8 inches; tail vertebrae, 

 1.6 inches; hind foot, .45 inch; ear from crown, i.i inches; 

 wing expanse, 13 inches. 



Geographical Distribution. — Arid sections of the south- 

 western United States south into Lower California and Mexico. 



Food. — Insects. 



Enemies. — Owls. 



Only one species of the genus Macrotus reaches the United 

 States, although other species have a wide distribution in 

 tropical America. Writing of the California Leaf-nosed Bat, 

 Stephens {California Mammals, p. 276) says: "In California 

 they frequent valleys and foothills. They are probably 

 migratory. I know of no instance of their occurrence in 

 California in winter, and I have failed to find them at all in 

 January in a place where I can nearly always find them in 

 spring and summer. They probably spend the day in caves, 

 crevices in rocks and similar dark places. I have not seen 

 them on the wing until all the twilight has faded away. The 

 young are bom in June. More than half of the females bear 

 two young, the remainder but one." 



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