There are three subspecies of M.crenulatum. These are M. crenulatum crenulatum, M. crenulatum longifolium, and M. crenulatum keenani.
Although M. crenulatum spans a large geographic range, its population has a low density in any particular area. This rarity is possibly the reason for the little information that is known regarding M. crenulatum. The same is true for its closest relative M. bennettii.
There is no known information regarding the communication behavior of M. crenulatum. Members of the family Phyllostomidae, along with most bats, use low frequency sounds for social interactions and high frequency sounds for echolocation. These low frequency sounds are important in mother-offspring interactions. Echolocation is its primary mode of collecting sensory information, and therefore this could play some role in communication.
Communication Channels: acoustic
Perception Channels: tactile ; acoustic ; echolocation ; chemical
Although M. crenulatum spans a large geographical area, its population is not very dense in any single location. However, its local rarity does not make M. crenulatum an endangered species.
US Federal List: no special status
CITES: no special status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern
M. crenulatum does not pose a negative economic threat for humans.
M. crenulatum is of little economic importance to humans. It does, however, control some pest populations.
Positive Impacts: controls pest population
M. crenulatum has a minimal role in the ecosystem. It functions to regulate the level of insect populations since it is an insectivore.
M. crenulatum is primarily an insectivore. Its diet includes beetles, spiders, small lizards, flies and moths. M. crenulatum catches insects from vegetation by gleaning.
Animal Foods: reptiles; insects; terrestrial non-insect arthropods
Primary Diet: carnivore (Insectivore )
M. crenulatum is native to Southern Mexico, Panama, Trinidad, and the northern and central regions of South America. In South America, its range extends from Columbia and Venezuela southward to Bolivia and east into southeastern Brazil. Its geographic range is part of the Neotropical region. There have been no reported attempts to introduce M. crenulatum into other regions or continents of the world.
Biogeographic Regions: neotropical (Native )
M. crenulatum is a terrestrial mammal, found at elevations of up to 600 m above sea level. The species inhabits the tropical region of Southern Mexico, Central America and northern South America. It lives within forests. M. crenulatum is riparian and can frequently be found near streams and other moist places of these forests. It prefers the multistratal evergreen forests of the tropics, but can also be found in dry deciduous forests. These bats roost within hollow trees, and has been spotted in decayed tree stumps within the forests of Ecuador and Panama.
Range elevation: 600 (high) m.
Habitat Regions: tropical ; terrestrial
Terrestrial Biomes: forest ; rainforest
Other Habitat Features: riparian
Little is known regarding the lifespan of M. crenulatum. Members of the Phyllostomidae have a lifespan of approximately 20 years in the wild. It is not known how long members of either M. crenulatum or Phyllostomidae can survive in captivity.
Average lifespan
Status: wild: 20 years.
M. crenulatum can be identified based upon its color pattern. When young young, its dorsal fur ranges in color from mahogany-brown to blackish-brown. As it gets older, its dorsal fur develops yellow, orange, and red tones. The exact age at which this color change occurs is not known. The ventral fur of M. crenulatum ranges from white to a rusty shade. Usually M. crenulatum has a whitish or yellow-orange patch of fur behind its ear, as well as a pale-colored line of fur along its spine. However, these features are occasionally absent. The fur of M. crenulatum is medium in its length.
The facial features of M. crenulatum can also be used in identification. It has a v-shaped notch in front of its lower lip, which is bordered by wart-like bumps. Like other members of the genus Mimon, M. crenulatum has an elongated nose leaf. Additionally its ears are separated, pointy, and directed forward.
Thee small bats weigh around 12 g. The head to body length of M. crenulatum ranges from 50 to 75 mm. Its tail length ranges from 10 to 25 mm and its forearm length ranges from 48 to 57 mm.
Average mass: males, 12.8 g ; females 12 g.
Range length: 50 to 75 mm.
Other Physical Features: endothermic ; heterothermic ; bilateral symmetry
Sexual Dimorphism: sexes alike
No predators have been identified for M. crenulatum or its close relative M. bennettii.
Little information is available regarding the mating system of M. crenulatum. These bats are thought to form monogamous pairs during the mating season. These male-female pairs have also been identified foraging together.
Mating System: monogamous
Little is known regarding the reproductive behavior of M. crenulatum. Members of M. crenulatum form monogamous pairs that reproduce together as well as forage together. They breed during the dry season of northern South America which ranges from December to April. Field studies have identified geographical variation in timing of pregnancy. In Costa Rica pregnant females were recorded during the month of April, in Venezuela they were recorded during March, in Surinam in July, and in Peru in July. No explanation has been identified for this variation.
Close relatives of the species M. bennettii give birth to a single offspring at the beginning of the wet season, which immediately follows the end of the dry season. It is likely that M. crenulatum is similar.
Members of the family Phyllostomidae give birth to live young. Mothers nurse their young until they are weaned, which takes at most 9 months. Both male and female offspring will reach sexual maturity in 1 to 2 years.
The gestation period of M. crenulatum and close relatives is not known.
Breeding interval: M. crenulatum breeds once per year.
Breeding season: M. crenulatum breeds during the dry season of northern South America which ranges from December until April.
Average number of offspring: 1.
Range weaning age: 9 (high) months.
Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 1 to 2 years.
Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 1 to 2 years.
Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; fertilization ; viviparous
Little is known regarding parental investment in M. crenulatum. Male-female mating pairs are frequently identified foraging together, which suggests some pre-mating courtship. Other investments in pre-mating rituals have not been identified.
Mothers give birth to live young. Once the offspring is born, the mother nurses it until it is weaned. It is usually weaned in 9 months or less. The role of the father during this period is not known. It is also not known if any parental investment continues after weaning of the young. The offspring will reach sexual maturity within 1 to 2 years of its birth.
Parental Investment: no parental involvement; altricial ; female parental care ; pre-fertilization (Protecting: Female); pre-hatching/birth (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female); pre-weaning/fledging (Provisioning: Female)
