Neonatal Vocalizations in Bats of Eight Genera

Abstract

Ultrasonics of eight species of infant bats are described and related to adaptations of precocial and altricial conditions at birth. Species include Antrozous pallidus, Eptesicus fuscus, Myotis lucifugus, Leptonycteris sanborni, Carollia perspicillata, Phyllostomus hastatus, Macrotus californicus , and Molossus ater . Newborn Antrozous and Eptesicus are relatively immature; they emit but one type of vocalization; eyes and ears are closed; the body is naked. This condition is termed altricial. Newborn Carollia and Macrotus are relatively mature; they emit more than one type of vocalization; eyes and ears are open; the body is covered with fur. This condition is termed precocial. Newborns of most species of bats (that is Myotis, Leptonycteris, Phyllostomus , and Molossus ) probably fall somewhere between precocial and altricial; these are termed intermediate.