Natalus major

Systematics of Funnel-Eared Bats (Chiroptera: Natalidae)

“…Goodwin (1970) found N. jamaicensis in close association with Chilonatalus micropus but forming separate groups. Similarly, Hoyt and Baker (1980) noticed that these two species were spatially segregated with N. jamaicensis occupying the first 50 m of the hot passage and being replaced in deeper areas by a larger colony of C. micropus. St. Clair cave is located in an area of semideciduous forest (1472 mm annual precipitation) at 100 m above sea level.…”

“…The size of St. Clair's colony appears to be very small. Observers have usually found it to be much less numerous than that of C. micropus (Hoy and Baker, 1980;Genoways et al, 2005). The only numeric estimate is that of Goodwin (1970) who reports only about 50 bats of this species in St. Clair.…”

“…Its flight has been described as fluttery and mothlike (Goodwin, 1970). Natalus jamaicensis dehydrates very rapidly when taken outside the caves where they roost (Hoyt and Baker, 1980). Natalus jamaicensis may be the most critically endangered species of all natalids and one of the world's mammals in greatest risk of extinction.…”

“…From the second locality, Wallingford Cave, St. Elizabeth, it is known by a single subfossil mandible. In St. Clair Cave, N. jamaicensis has been found at the entrance of a hot passage (Hoyt and Baker, 1980) through which runs a permanent stream and in a protected lateral recess 3.7 m above the floor of the hot passage (Goodwin, 1970). The bats usually hang from one foot and keep a distance between individuals of about 10 cm (Goodwin, 1970).…”

“…The bats usually hang from one foot and keep a distance between individuals of about 10 cm (Goodwin, 1970). A total of nine other bat species are found in St. Clair: Artibeus jamaicensis, Chilonatalus micropus, Erophylla sezekorni, Monophyllus redmani, Mormoops blainvillei, Phyllonycteris aphylla, Pteronotus macleayi, Pteronotus parnellii, and Pteronotus quadridens (Hoyt and Baker, 1980). Goodwin (1970) found N. jamaicensis in close association with Chilonatalus micropus but forming separate groups.…”