The Incan little mastiff bat (Mormopterus phrudus) is a species of bat in the family Molossidae, the free-tailed bats. It belongs to the subgenus Micronomus.
It was described as a new species by American zoologist Charles O. Handley. Although the holotype had been collected in 1915 by Edmund Heller, it was not scientifically described until 1956.[1] Its species name "phrudus" comes from Ancient Greek "phroudos," meaning "gone" or "disappeared." Handley chose this name "with allusion to their type locality, the 'Lost City' of Machu Picchu..."[1] Along with Kalinowski's mastiff bat, it is one of only two species of Mormopterus in the New World.[2]
Its head and body length is 50mm; its tail length is 29mm; its forearm length is 34mm.[1] Its fur is dark brown.[2] Its ears are thin, rounded, and not conjoined as in some other free-tailed bats. It has a small tragus with a pointed tip and an inconspicuous antitragus.Its lips are slightly wrinkled. Males, at least, have a gular gland. Its dental formula is, for a total of 30 teeth.[1]
Little is known about the biology of the bat. It has been observed roosting in caves at an altitude of 3000m (10,000feet). It may be a microendemic species.
It is only known for its very small occupancy area of 20km2. It is documented at relatively high elevations, from NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) above sea level. It occurs in lowland subtropical forest.[2]
This bat is endemic to Peru, where it is known only from one location; its type locality is Machu Picchu. It is considered a vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and a critically endangered species by the nation of Peru; though it is rare, it lives in a protected area.