Lunar Phobia in the Greater Fishing Bat Noctilio leporinus (Chiroptera: Noctilionidae)

54 Rev. Biol. Trop. 1117 (2006)

Posted: 18 May 2018

Date Written: Aug 9, 2006

Abstract

The nightly activity patterns of Noctilio leporinus, a piscivorous neotropical bat, were documented by visual observation over one lunar cycle at a large dock in Golfito, Costa Rica. The activity patterns were compared to the intensity of the moonlight, and a strong correlation between darkness and activity was observed (n = 776, r2 = 0.96). This correlation has been observed in many species of mammals and may indicate adaptation by potential prey species to avoid predation by visually oriented nighttime predators and/or an adaptation by predators to maximize hunting success.

Keywords: Noctilio, lunar phobia, moon, bat

Suggested Citation

Bork, Karrigan, Lunar Phobia in the Greater Fishing Bat Noctilio leporinus (Chiroptera: Noctilionidae) (Aug 9, 2006). 54 Rev. Biol. Trop. 1117 (2006), Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3173692

Karrigan Bork (Contact Author)

UC Davis School of Law ( email )

Martin Luther King, Jr. Hall
Davis, CA CA 95616-5201
United States
202-271-9392 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://https://law.ucdavis.edu/faculty/bork/

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