#mexican desert

[colorsoutofearth]

Desert rainbow with Boojum tree (Fouquieria columnaris) & giant cardon cactus (Pachycereus pringlei)

Photos by Jeff Foot

[desert-love]

[pangeen]

" Mexico Border " //© Marc Adamus

[phaseofourlife]

[uncharismatic-fauna]

Fly Free with the Mexican Free-tailed Bat

Also known as the Brazilian free-tailed bat, guano bat, or Tadarida brasiliensis, this member of the order Chiroptera is one of the most widely-distributed New World bat species. They are common throughout the southern United States, Central America, and western South America. In many parts of the southern United States, the species is migratory and moves to Central America for the winter. They roost primarily in caves, but can also build nests in buildings; because of this, they can be found in a range of habitats including tropical and deciduous forests, mountains, deserts, and urban areas.

Like most bats, the Mexican free-tailed bat is nocturnal, emerging at sunset to hunt. They are primarily insectivores, and will travel great over 31 km (50 mi) to find food. In fact, this species holds the record for both the highest recorded flight altitude-- at 3.3 km (2 mi) high-- and the fastest flight speed-- an astounding 160 kph (99.4 mph)! That makes the Brazilian free-tailed bat the fastest mammal on Earth, although they can only achieve those top speeds in short bursts and with a good tail wind. Moving that fast can be useful, not only for covering great distances or catching insects, but for avoiding predators like raptors and owls. Young bats that can't fly may also be susceptible to opossums, skunks, and snakes.

The roosts of T. brasiliensis can be quite large; many contain several thousand individuals, while some have been recorded as housing more than a million. For this reason, communication is very important. Mexican free-tailed bats use echolocation to navigate and, for mothers, to locate their young. This species has over 15 distinct calls just for socialization. In addition, they can use their vocalizations to 'jam' the echolocation of other rival species and steal their prey.

Mating for the Brazilian free-tailed bat occurs once a year in the spring. Females gather in large maternity groups, while males mark out a territory by urinating and emitting loud vocalizations. Once a pair mates, the two separate- often to seek out another partner. Gestation lasts 11-12 weeks, and once females give birth they leave their offspring in a group of pups known as a creche, that is cared for communally. The pups take 4-7 weeks to be weaned, and after they learn to fly they join the larger roost as independent adults. However, females take up to 9 months to become sexually mature, while males may take as long as 2 years. In the wild, an individual may live as long as 8 years.

Size-wise, T. brasiliensis is on the smaller side of the bat group. Most individuals are around 9 cm (3.5 in) in length and weigh around 7–12 g (0.25–0.42 oz), with a wingspan of 28 cm (11 in). Females tend to be slightly heavier, but not larger otherwise. The tail of the Mexican free-tailed bat accounts for nearly half its total body length, and is unconnected by the thin membrane that makes up its wings (the uropatagium)-- hence the name 'free-tailed'. The ears are large and rounded, to assist with echolocation, and the muzzle is heavily wrinkled to give them a wider gape when catching bugs in mid-air. The Brazilian free-tailed bat's fur is dark brown or gray, with no distinguishing features save the long, white bristles around their feet.

Conservation status: The IUCN has classified the Mexican free-tailed bat as Near Threatened. However, populations are declining due to habitat destruction and susceptibility to a fungus known as white nose syndrome. Governments in the southern United States and Mexico, as well as private NGOs like Bat Conservation International, have established laws and conservation areas to protect the species.

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Photos

Michael Durham

Merlin D. Tuttle

Carlos Russi

[horror-aesthete]

Simon of the Desert (Simón del Desierto) , 1965, dir. Luis Buñuel

[dailydoseofrios]

[fatchance]

Untitled.

[dancesingay]

Hi, I'm native American and instead of spirit animals, I propose we buy Otomi hand embroidered masks to see which animal represents us. They're $17 and the money goes towards the Otomi tribe and supports the women who make these beautiful pieces of wearable art. It's free trade, despite it being so cheap, and each design is original and unique. The animal you get is random, I got a Turkey, which I loved so much, but I lost it in San Francisco, so I just got a new one...

It's a deer... are you kidding me? I'm in love 💗

[woelfin-sheeps-clothing]

Line art for a gallery competition! The theme was "Southwest".

I pulled from my Lenormand deck for inspiration and got "house" as the card.

[breserker]

more animals from my childhood, this time from nuevo león, mexico. might squeeze in one more later but im arted out for the day

[desert-love]

[dbtucson-blog]

Yesterday

[sabistarphotos]

November 9, 2018

Desert Botanical Garden

Phoenix, AZ

[colorsoutofearth]

Mexican poppies (Eschscholtzia californica)

Photo by Jack Dykinga

[tilbageidanmark]

A quote from Buñuel's 'Simon of the desert'.