About Noctilio albiventris Desmarest, 1818
The lesser bulldog bat, scientifically named Noctilio albiventris Desmarest, 1818, is a sexually dimorphic species. Males are significantly larger than females, and have a more pronounced sagittal crest. Coloration varies between individuals of the same sex, and between different populations. Adult individuals reach a total length of approximately 3 inches (7.5 cm), a forearm length of 2+1⁄2 inches (6.4 cm), and an average weight of about 1 ounce (30 grams). This species has plump lips and a chin marked by well-developed cross ridges, which give the bat its characteristic "bulldog-like" appearance. Lesser bulldog bats have large, claw-like feet that they use to capture prey. The species prefers terrestrial habitats, and lives near water or damp locations, roosting in hollow trees or human domestic dwellings. Confirmed distribution locations include Argentina, Belize, the Plurinational State of Bolivia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, and Peru.
