Resumo

SAMPEDRO MARIN, ALCIDES C. et al. Refuges, reproductive period and social composition of the populations of Desmodus rotundus (Geoffroy, 1810) (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae), in rural areas of the department of Sucre, Colombia. Caldasia [online]. 2008, vol.30, n.1, pp.127-134. ISSN 0366-5232.

This investigation was carried out in the rural areas of Toluviejo, San Onofre and San Antonio de Palmito, in the Department of Sucre, Colombia, during November 2004 and November 2005. The purpose of the survey was to determine the type of refuge used by Desmodus rotundus in these towns, to know more about the social composition of the groups, and their reproduction times. Using various resources such as fog nets, the captures were made in the holes of trees trunks, caves, and human constructions that showed evidence of their characteristic bloody feces. The animals were forced to leave with the smoke and once captured they were preserved in alcohol 70%. The number of animals in those places is small (4 at 93), and the proportion of sexually active males was always smaller than that of females with different reproductive stadiums (1:6, 1:7, 1:3, 1:2, 1:2) for the different refuges. Several inactive males and neonates were also found. The analyzed data shows that the social composition and number affects their reproductive efficiency, the stability of the group, and its mutual feeding cooperation conduct. In spite of its feeding difficulties, this monotocous specie guarantees its survival by been able to reproduce all through the year.

Palavras-chave : Chiroptera; Desmodus rotundus; Phyllostomidae; hematofagous.

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