29. Big Bonneted Bat Eumops dabbenei French: Eumope de Dabbene / German: Dabbene-Bulldogfledermaus / Spanish: Eumops de Dabbene Other common names: Great Bonneted Bat, Dabbene’s Bonneted Bat, Dabbene’'s Mastiff Bat Taxonomy. Eumops dabbenei Thomas, 1914, “ Chaco, Argentina.” Restricted by R. M. Barquez and colleagues in 1999 to “ Argentina, Chaco, Tartagal.” Eumops dabbenei is closely related to E. underwoodi based on phylogenetic analysis of morphological and molecular data. Northern and southern populations might represent different subspecies or species. Monotypic. Distribution. Disjunct populations in the N in Colombia (Rio Magdalena Valley) and Venezuela (Yaracuy, Aragua, Guarico, and Apure states), and in the S in Brazil (Mato Grosso do Sul State), Paraguay (Presidente Hayes Department), and N Argentina (Salta, Tucuman, Santiago del Estero, Chaco, Santa Fe, and Entre Rios provinces). Descriptive notes. Head-body 71-115 mm, tail 55-66 mm, ear 24-32 mm, hindfoot 12-18 mm, forearm 72-86 mm; weight 74-77 g. See general characteristics of the genus under the Black Bonneted Bat (E. auripendulus). The Big Bonneted Bat has dark brown dorsal pelage,slightly paler below, and whitish bases of hairs. Ears do not extend past nose when laid forward. Tragus has been described as both square and developed, and small and pointed. Lips are smooth, with fine fringe of hair and tuft on upper lip. Thumb has basal triangular pad. Gular gland is developed on throat of adult males. The Big Bonneted Bat is phylogenetically closely related to Underwood’s Bonneted Bat (£. underwoodi) but is larger in size. Morphologically, it is similar in size and color to the Western Bonneted Bat (E. perotis) but has shorter ears, smaller and pointed tragus, more robust skull, and shallower and less developed basisphenoid pits. Habitat. Tropical dry forests and pre-montane humid forests in Venezuela, thorn scrub savannas in the Chaco, semideciduous forests in the Pantanal, and near water and human habitation including agricultural and urban areas, from sea level to elevations of ¢. 1100 m. Food and Feeding. The Big Bonneted Bat is an aerial insectivore. Breeding. Non-reproductively active female Big Bonneted Bats were documented in April (Venezuela) and August (Argentina), and a pregnant female in October (Argentina). Juveniles or subadults were captured in December—January in Argentina. Activity patterns. The Big Bonneted Bat has been netted at sunset. It roosts in hollow dead trees and roofs of houses. Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information. Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The [UCN Red List. Bibliography. August & Baker (1982), Barquez & Lougheed (1990), Barquez et al. (1999), Bartlett et al. (2013), Eger (1977 2008), Fischer et al. (2015), McWilliams et al. (2002), Myers & Wetzel (1983), Ochoa & Ibanez (1985), Sandoval & Barquez (2013), Souza et al. (2008).

Published as part of Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Molossidae, pp. 598-672 in Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona :Lynx Edicions on pages 630-631, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6418279