Nature Field Guide
Greater Bulldog Bat
- Spanish name
- Murciélago pescador mayor
- Scientific name
- Noctilio leporinus
What Do Pico & Tati Think?
The greater bulldog bat is one of the bats that regularly catches fish.
Species overview
About the Greater Bulldog Bat
The greater bulldog bat is one of the bats that regularly catches fish. It flies close to water and uses its large clawed hind feet to catch prey near the surface. It also eats insects and some other small aquatic animals. Its folded lips give the face the bulldog-like appearance behind its English name. Coat color varies, with males often more reddish than females. Bats are mammals, even though they fly: their wings are skin supported by elongated finger bones. Observe this hunter without entering or disturbing its roost.
Explorer activity: Draw a fishing bat and a fishing bird. Compare the body parts each uses to catch food.
Your discovery notes: Record the date, place and habitat. Add a sketch or a photograph taken from a distance. Write what you observed and one question you would like to investigate. If the species is uncertain, keep that uncertainty in your notes.
Identification
Key Features of the Greater Bulldog Bat
Prominent folded lips and pointed ears.
Large clawed hind feet adapted for fishing.
Short fur that can be reddish, brown or grayish.
Habitat & range
Rivers, ponds and suitable coastal waters near roosting habitat.
Local observations
Recorded in Costa Rica. This is a country-level profile; it does not establish occurrence in every province, town or nature site.
When to observe
Usually dusk and night, when it searches over water.
Conservation & care
Observe bats from a distance with an adult or guide. Do not touch, feed or handle any bat, including one found on the ground. Leave roosts undisturbed, avoid direct flash and ask local wildlife professionals for help if an animal appears injured.
Observation activity
Draw a fishing bat and a fishing bird. Compare the body parts each uses to catch food.
Explore by location
Caribbean · Central Pacific · Guanacaste · Northern Plains · Puntarenas & the Gulf Islands · South Pacific · Heredia