The New World leaf-nosed bats (Phyllostomidae) are found from southern
North America
North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and th ...
to
South America
South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern tip of the continent. It can also be described as the sou ...
, specifically from the
Southwest United States
The Southwestern United States, also known as the American Southwest or simply the Southwest, is a geographic and cultural region of the United States that generally includes Arizona, New Mexico, and adjacent portions of California, Colorado ...
to northern
Argentina
Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the List of South American countries by area, second-largest ...
. They are ecologically the most varied and diverse
family
Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...
within the
order
Order, ORDER or Orders may refer to:
* Categorization, the process in which ideas and objects are recognized, differentiated, and understood
* Heterarchy, a system of organization wherein the elements have the potential to be ranked a number of ...
Chiroptera. Most species are
insectivorous
A robber fly eating a hoverfly
An insectivore is a carnivorous animal or plant that eats insects. An alternative term is entomophage, which can also refer to the human practice of eating insects.
The first vertebrate insectivores were ...
, but the phyllostomid bats include within their number true predatory species and
frugivore
A frugivore is an animal that thrives mostly on raw fruits or succulent fruit-like produce of plants such as roots, shoots, nuts and seeds. Approximately 20% of mammalian herbivores eat fruit. Frugivores are highly dependent on the abundance and ...
s (subfamily Stenodermatinae and Carolliinae). For example, the
spectral bat
The spectral bat (''Vampyrum spectrum''), also called the great false vampire bat or Linnaeus's false vampire bat, is a large, carnivorous leaf-nosed bat found in Mexico, Central America, and South America. It is the only member of the genus '' ...
(''Vampyrum spectrum''), the largest bat in the
Americas
The Americas, which are sometimes collectively called America, are a landmass comprising the totality of North America, North and South America. The Americas make up most of the land in Earth's Western Hemisphere and comprise the New World. ...
, eats vertebrate prey, including small,
dove
Columbidae () is a bird family consisting of doves and pigeons. It is the only family in the order Columbiformes. These are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills that in some species feature fleshy ceres. They primarily ...
-sized birds. Members of this family have evolved to use food groups such as fruit, nectar, pollen, insects, frogs, other bats, and small vertebrates, and in the case of the
vampire bat
Vampire bats, species of the subfamily Desmodontinae, are leaf-nosed bats found in Central and South America. Their food source is blood of other animals, a dietary trait called hematophagy. Three extant bat species feed solely on blood: the ...
s, even
blood
Blood is a body fluid in the circulatory system of humans and other vertebrates that delivers necessary substances such as nutrients and oxygen to the cells, and transports metabolic waste products away from those same cells. Blood in the cir ...
.
Both the scientific and common names derive from their often large, lance-shaped noses, greatly reduced in some of the nectar- and pollen-feeders. Because these bats
echolocate nasally, this "nose-leaf" is thought to serve some role in modifying and directing the echolocation call. Similar
nose leaves are found in some other groups of bats, most notably the
Old World leaf-nosed bats.
New World leaf-nosed bats are usually brown, grey, or black, although five species are white. They range in size from in head-body length, and can weigh from . Most roost in fairly small groups within caves, animal burrows, or hollow trees, although some species aggregate in colonies of several hundred individuals. They do not
hibernate, although some species have been reported to
aestivate
Aestivation ( la, aestas (summer); also spelled estivation in American English) is a state of animal dormancy, similar to hibernation, although taking place in the summer rather than the winter. Aestivation is characterized by inactivity and a ...
.
Evolution
The Phyllostomidae, also known as New World leaf-nosed bats, are among the most ecologically diverse mammal families, displaying more morphological variation than any other mammalian family. This variation is measured by diversity in skull morphology and diet-related characteristics: Phyllostomidae consists of species that have evolved physical modifications for
insectivory
A robber fly eating a hoverfly
An insectivore is a carnivorous animal or plant that eats insects. An alternative term is entomophage, which can also refer to the human practice of eating insects.
The first vertebrate insectivores wer ...
,
frugivory,
hematophagy,
nectarivory
In zoology, a nectarivore is an animal which derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of the sugar-rich nectar produced by flowering plants.
Nectar as a food source presents a number of benefits a ...
, and
omnivory
An omnivore () is an animal that has the ability to eat and survive on both plant and animal matter. Obtaining energy and nutrients from plant and animal matter, omnivores digest carbohydrates, protein, fat, and fiber, and metabolize the nut ...
.
The
nose-leaf—a distinctive characteristic of the family—is thought to have evolved to reflect dietary and foraging behavior of different species of Phyllostomidae.
With an evolutionary history tracing back to the
Oligocene
The Oligocene ( ) is a geologic epoch of the Paleogene Period and extends from about 33.9 million to 23 million years before the present ( to ). As with other older geologic periods, the rock beds that define the epoch are well identified but t ...
, fossil and phylogenetic evidence suggests the family originated about 30 million years ago.
Leaf nosed bats evolved from
Yangochiroptera
Yangochiroptera, or Vespertilioniformes, is a suborder of Chiroptera that includes most of the microbat families, except the Rhinopomatidae, Rhinolophidae, Hipposideridae, and Megadermatidae. These other families, plus the megabats, are seen as ...
and
Miniopteridae
''Miniopterus'', known as the bent-winged or long winged bats, is the sole genus of the family Miniopteridae. They are small flying insectivorous mammals, micro-bats of the order Chiroptera, with wings over twice the length of the body. The gen ...
with sister groups also evolving from this group. The Phyllostomidae consist of 55 genera and about 180 species.
Description
New World leaf-nosed bats are bilaterally symmetrical and endothermic mammals
characterized by an elaborate outgrowth of skin on their noses, called a nose-leaf, which is believed to aid in echolocation.
The nose-leaf can be adorned with a vertical leaf, a concave upward leaf, or multiple accessory leaves; varying by species. Leaf-nosed bats lack a tail,
have triangular-shaped ears that can have pointed or rounded tips,
range in body size from 4 cm to 13.5 cm, and a wingspan up to 90 cm or more.
Biology and ecology
Like other bats, leaf-nosed bats are nocturnal foragers that use echolocation to locate food sources, though the food sources vary between species. Many bats in the family Phyllostomidae appear to have limited reliance on echolocation, likely because
frugivorous
A frugivore is an animal that thrives mostly on raw fruits or succulent fruit-like produce of plants such as roots, shoots, nuts and seeds. Approximately 20% of mammalian herbivores eat fruit. Frugivores are highly dependent on the abundance an ...
bats do not need to quickly identify flying insects like many other bats.
Instead, species of leaf-nosed fruit bats appear to use scent to identify their preferred food sources.
When they are not foraging, leaf-nosed bats roost in abandoned buildings, caves, and beneath folded leaves depending on the species. Nearly every roosting option present among bats is represented within this family, including species that prefer to roost alone, as well as species that roost with thousands of other individuals every day.
Diet
The Phyllostomidae demonstrate the most diverse dietary habits of any family of bats across the globe.
Because of this, general dietary patterns are categorized for each species. Leaf-nosed bats generally specialize in a particular type of diet which leads to classification in one of these groups:
frugivore
A frugivore is an animal that thrives mostly on raw fruits or succulent fruit-like produce of plants such as roots, shoots, nuts and seeds. Approximately 20% of mammalian herbivores eat fruit. Frugivores are highly dependent on the abundance and ...
,
nectarivore
In zoology, a nectarivore is an animal which derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of the sugar-rich nectar produced by flowering plants.
Nectar as a food source presents a number of benefits ...
,
insectivore
A robber fly eating a hoverfly
An insectivore is a carnivorous animal or plant that eats insects. An alternative term is entomophage, which can also refer to the human practice of eating insects.
The first vertebrate insectivores were ...
,
omnivore
An omnivore () is an animal that has the ability to eat and survive on both plant and animal matter. Obtaining energy and nutrients from plant and animal matter, omnivores digest carbohydrates, protein, fat, and fiber, and metabolize the nu ...
, or
haematophagous
Hematophagy (sometimes spelled haematophagy or hematophagia) is the practice by certain animals of feeding on blood (from the Greek words αἷμα ' "blood" and φαγεῖν ' "to eat"). Since blood is a fluid tissue rich in nutritious p ...
.
However, categorizations are based only on primary consumption habits, therefore observing species that occasionally consume food items outside of their particular classifications is not uncommon.
Usually, when leaf-nosed bats consume outside of their primary dietary categorization, it is to ensure sufficient intake of nutrients that their primary food source may not provide. For example, nectar and ripe fruits provide sufficient amounts of carbohydrates and water, but are lacking in protein and fat.
[Elangovan, V., Marimuthu, G., Kunz, T.H. Temporal patterns of resource use by the short-nosed fruit bat, Cynopterus sphinx (Megachiroptera: Pteropodidae) (2001) Journal of Mammalogy, 82 (1), pp. 161-165.] To meet basic nutritional requirements, leaf-nosed bats that primarily feed on fruit and nectar must also ensure sufficient protein and fat intake by consuming insects or leaves.
Most leaf-nosed bats are classified as insectivores and feed on a variety of small insects. Certain species with this classification capture their prey either while in flight or from foliage in trees or on the ground. Carnivorous species feed on a variety of animals ranging from frogs to other bats. The
Desmodontinae fall into this general carnivorous category, but are further distinguished by feeding exclusively on blood. In contrast, some species in this family feed on exclusively plants, gaining needed nutrients from fruits and leaves.
Life cycle
Leaf-nosed bats are gonochoric (separate sexes) that partake in sexual copulation.
These bats can live for 20–30 years
and females become sexually active at two years of age.
Female ovulation occurs from October through September, after the female mates, the gestation period ranges from 8–9 months with an initial 3- to 5-month diapause period when the fetus growth is slowed; this diapause period is controlled by hormones.
The female gives birth to a single pup, which has open ears, open eyes,
and the first set of deciduous teeth, and is fully furred at birth.
Social systems
Among species that roost in groups, some evidence exists for a
social hierarchy
Social stratification refers to a society's categorization of its people into groups based on socioeconomic factors like wealth, income, race, education, ethnicity, gender, occupation, social status, or derived power (social and political). As ...
with higher-ranking individuals gaining access to preferred areas of the site. Solitary roosting bats, though, live alone and maintain a strict fidelity to a single roosting site.
In some cases, males live alone or with harems, while females prefer to roost with other individuals and their pups. In nearly every species that has been studied, mothers and pups maintain a social bond that lasts beyond nursing.
Apparently, young bats can learn food preferences from their mothers and when they are reluctant to leave the nest, mothers literally nudge the infants out of the roost.
Range
New World leaf-nosed bats range from the United States, in southern
Arizona
Arizona ( ; nv, Hoozdo Hahoodzo ; ood, Alĭ ṣonak ) is a state in the Southwestern United States. It is the 6th largest and the 14th most populous of the 50 states. Its capital and largest city is Phoenix. Arizona is part of the Fou ...
and the West Indies to northern Argentina.
The family inhabits a diverse array of environments and habitats ranging from forests to deserts.
Human impact
Species of New World leaf-nosed bats that make their homes in forested areas are greatly affected by agricultural intensification.
[Williams‐Guillén, K., & Perfecto, I. (2010). Effects of Agricultural Intensification on the Assemblage of Leaf-Nosed Bats (Phyllostomidae) in a Coffee Landscape in Chiapas, Mexico. Biotropica, 42(5), 605–613.] Specifically, it has been found that increased agricultural activity by humans causes negative conservation effects on these habitats and as a result reduces abundance and diversity of leaf-nosed bats that live there.
California leaf-nosed bats in particular are susceptible to human disruption. This species is known to create large roosts in closed mine shafts due to their potential to provide warmth and isolation. When humans enter the shafts or rework old mines, this disrupts the roosts of the leaf-nosed bats and has the potential to be detrimental to the population as a whole.
Classification
The 192 described
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriat ...
within 56
genera
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nomenclat ...
are:
FAMILY PHYLLOSTOMIDAE
* Genus †''
Notonycteris''
*Subfamily:
Brachyphyllinae
**Genus: ''
Brachyphylla''
***
Cuban fruit-eating bat, ''B. nana''
***
Antillean fruit-eating bat
The Antillean fruit-eating bat (''Brachyphylla cavernarum'') is one of two leaf-nosed bat species belonging to the genus ''Brachyphylla''. The species occurs in the Caribbean from Puerto Rico to St. Vincent and Barbados. Fossil specimens have a ...
, ''B. cavernarum''
*Subfamily:
Carolliinae
Carolliinae is a subfamily of bats.
Classification
Subfamily Carolliinae
*Genus: ''Carollia'' - Short-tailed Leaf-nosed Bats
** Benkeith's short-tailed Bat, ''Carollia benkeithi''
** Silky Short-tailed Bat, ''Carollia brevicauda''
** Chestnut S ...
**Genus: ''
Carollia
''Carollia'' is a genus of bats often referred to as the short-tailed fruit bats. Along with the genus '' Rhinophylla'', ''Carollia'' makes up the subfamily Carolliinae of family Phyllostomidae, the leaf-nosed bats. Currently, nine species of ...
'' - short-tailed leaf-nosed bats
***
Benkeith's short-tailed bat, ''C. benkeithi''
***
Silky short-tailed bat
The silky short-tailed bat (''Carollia brevicauda'') is a bat species found in Bolivia
, image_flag = Bandera de Bolivia (Estado).svg
, flag_alt = Horizontal tricolor (red, yellow, and green from top to bottom) ...
, ''C. brevicauda''
***
Chestnut short-tailed bat, ''C. castanea''
***
Colombian short-tailed bat
The silky short-tailed bat (''Carollia brevicauda'') is a bat species found in Bolivia
, image_flag = Bandera de Bolivia (Estado).svg
, flag_alt = Horizontal tricolor (red, yellow, and green from top to bottom) ...
, ''C. colombiana''
***
Manu short-tailed bat, ''C. manu''
***
Mono's short-tailed bat
Mono's short-tailed bat (''Carollia monohernandezi'') is a leaf-nosed bat
The New World leaf-nosed bats (Phyllostomidae) are found from southern North America to South America, specifically from the Southwest United States to northern Argenti ...
, ''C. monohernandezi''
***
Seba's short-tailed bat, ''C. perspicillata''
***
Sowell's short-tailed bat, ''C. sowelli''
***
Gray short-tailed bat, ''C. subrufa''
**Genus: ''
Rhinophylla''
***
Hairy little fruit bat, ''R. alethina''
***
Fischer's little fruit bat, ''R. fischerae''
***
Dwarf little fruit bat, ''R. pumilio''
*Subfamily:
Desmodontinae - vampire bats
**Genus: ''
Desmodus''
***''D. archaeodaptes'',
†
A dagger, obelisk, or obelus is a typographical mark that usually indicates a footnote if an asterisk has already been used. The symbol is also used to indicate death (of people) or extinction (of species). It is one of the modern descendan ...
***
Giant vampire bat, ''D. draculae''
†
A dagger, obelisk, or obelus is a typographical mark that usually indicates a footnote if an asterisk has already been used. The symbol is also used to indicate death (of people) or extinction (of species). It is one of the modern descendan ...
,
[Turvey, S.T. (2009). Holocene mammal extinctions. In: Turvey, S.T. (editor) (2009). ''Holocene Extinctions''. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK.][Turvey, S. 2008]
''Desmodus draculae''.
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 02 March 2016.
***
Cuban vampire bat, ''D. puntajudensis''
†
A dagger, obelisk, or obelus is a typographical mark that usually indicates a footnote if an asterisk has already been used. The symbol is also used to indicate death (of people) or extinction (of species). It is one of the modern descendan ...
***
Common vampire bat
The common vampire bat (''Desmodus rotundus'') is a small, leaf-nosed bat native to Latin America. It is one of three extant species of vampire bat, the other two being the hairy-legged and the white-winged vampire bats. The common vampire bat ...
, ''D. rotundus''
[Don E. Wilson & DeeAnn M. Reeder (editors). 2005. ''Mammal Species of the World. A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference'' (3rd ed), Johns Hopkins University Press, 2,142 pp.][Barquez, R., Perez, S., Miller, B. & Diaz, M. 2015]
''Desmodus rotundus''.
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 02 March 2016.
***
Stock's vampire bat
''Desmodus stocki'', or Stock's vampire bat, is an extinct species of vampire bat native to Pleistocene Florida, farther north than any living vampire bats.
It weighed about 50% more than the common vampire bat
The common vampire bat (''Desmo ...
, ''D. stocki''
†
A dagger, obelisk, or obelus is a typographical mark that usually indicates a footnote if an asterisk has already been used. The symbol is also used to indicate death (of people) or extinction (of species). It is one of the modern descendan ...
,
[Knox Jones JR, J. (1958). Pleistocene Bats from San Josecito Cave, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. University of Kansas Publications, Museum of Natural History, Volume 9, No. 14, pp. 389-396, December 19, 1958.]
Available online
**Genus: ''Diaemus''
***
White-winged vampire bat
The white-winged vampire bat (''Diaemus youngi''), a species of vampire bat, is the only member of the genus ''Diaemus''. They are found from Mexico to northern Argentina and are present on the islands of Trinidad and Margarita.
Etymology and ta ...
, ''D. youngi''
**Genus: ''Diphylla''
***
Hairy-legged vampire bat, ''D. ecaudata''
*Subfamily:
Glossophaginae
Glossophaginae is a subfamily of leaf-nosed bats.
List of species
Subfamily: Glossophaginae
* Tribe Glossophagini
**Genus: '' Anoura'' - Geoffroy's long-nosed bats
***''Anoura aequatoris''
***Cadena's tailless bat, ''Anoura cadenai''
***Tailed ...
** Tribe
Glossophagini
***Genus: ''
Anoura
''Anoura'' is a genus of leaf-nosed bats from Central and South America. ''Anoura'' members lack or have a short tail, and are nectarivorous bats of small to medium size among the Phyllostomidae.
Etymology
The genus ''Anoura'' was described i ...
'' - Geoffroy's long-nosed bats
****''
Anoura aequatoris''
****
Cadena's tailless bat, ''A. cadenai''
****
Tailed tailless bat, ''A. caudifera''
****
Handley's tailless bat, ''A. cultrata''
****
Tube-lipped nectar bat, ''A. fistulata''
****
Geoffroy's tailless bat, ''A. geoffroyi''
****
Broad-toothed tailless bat, ''A. latidens''
****
Luis Manuel's tailless bat, ''A. luismanueli''
****''
Anoura peruana''
***Genus: ''
Choeroniscus''
****
Godman's long-tailed bat
Godman's long-tailed bat (''Choeroniscus godmani'') is a species of bat in the family Phyllostomidae. It is found in Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Suriname, and Venezuela
Venezuela ( ...
, ''C. godmani''
****
Greater long-tailed bat, ''C. periosus''
****
Lesser long-tongued bat, ''C. minor''
***Genus: ''
Choeronycteris''
****
Mexican long-tongued bat (hog-nosed bat), ''C. mexicana''
***Genus: ''
Dryadonycteris''
****
Dryades bat, ''D. capixaba''
***Genus: ''
Glossophaga
''Glossophaga'' (long-tongued bat) is a genus of bats in the leaf-nosed bat family, Phyllostomidae. Members of the genus are native to the American Neotropics.
Species
*''G. antillarum'' (Rehn, 1902): Jamaican long-tongued bat, Jamaica.
*'' ...
''
****
Commissaris's long-tongued bat, ''G. commissarisi''
****
Gray long-tongued bat, ''G. leachii''
****
Miller's long-tongued bat, ''G. longirostris''
****
Western long-tongued bat, ''G. morenoi''
****
Pallas's long-tongued bat
Pallas's long-tongued bat (''Glossophaga soricina'') is a South and Central American bat with a fast metabolism that feeds on nectar.
Metabolism
It has the fastest metabolism ever recorded in a mammal, similar to those of hummingbirds. Although ...
, ''G. soricina''
***Genus: ''
Hylonycteris
Underwood's long-tongued bat (''Hylonycteris underwoodi'') is a species of bat in the family Phyllostomidae. It is the only species within the genus ''Hylonycteris''. It is found in Belize, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Panama. Hylonycteris ...
''
****
Underwood's long-tongued bat, ''H. underwoodi''
***Genus: ''
Leptonycteris'' - Saussure's long-nosed bats
****
Southern long-nosed bat, ''L. curasoae''
****
Greater long-nosed bat or Mexican long-nosed bat, ''L. nivalis''
****
Lesser long-nosed bat or Mexican long-nosed bat, ''L. yerbabuenae''
***Genus: ''
Lichonycteris''
****
Dark long-tongued bat, ''L. obscura''
***Genus: ''
Monophyllus
''Monophyllus'', the Antillean long-tongued bats or single leaf bats , is a genus of bats in the family Phyllostomidae. They are distributed on the Antilles
The Antilles (; gcf, label= Antillean Creole, Antiy; es, Antillas; french: Antill ...
''
****
Insular single leaf bat
The insular single leaf bat or Lesser Antillean long-tongued bat (''Monophyllus plethodon'') is a species of bat in the family Phyllostomidae. It is found on the Lesser Antilles, on Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Guadeloupe, ...
, ''M. plethodon''
****
Leach's single leaf bat, ''M. redmani''
***Genus: ''
Musonycteris''
****
Banana bat (Colima long-nosed bat), ''M. harrisoni''
***Genus: ''
Scleronycteris''
****
Ega long-tongued bat, ''S. ega''
** Tribe
Lonchophyllini
***Genus: ''
Lionycteris''
****
Chestnut long-tongued bat, ''L. spurrelli''
***Genus: ''
Lonchophylla
''Lonchophylla'' is a genus of bats in the family Phyllostomidae.
List of species
Genus ''Lonchophylla''
* Bokermann's nectar bat, ''Lonchophylla bokermanni''
* Cadena's long-tongued bat, ''Lonchophylla cadenai''
* Chocoan long-tongued bat, ''L ...
''
****
Bokermann's nectar bat
Bokermann's nectar bat (''Lonchophylla bokermanni'') is a bat species from South America. It is endemic to Brazil. It feeds on nectar, and is listed as an endangered species.
Etymology
This species was discovered by Ivan Sazima and Marlies Sazi ...
, ''L. bokermanni''
****
Cadena's long-tongued bat, ''L. cadenai''
****
Chocoan long-tongued bat
The Chocoan long-tongued bat (''Lonchophylla chocoana'') is a species of bat found in South America. It was described as a new species in 2004.
Taxonomy and etymology
It was species description, described as a new species in 2004. Its specific e ...
, ''L. chocoana''
****''
Lonchophylla concava''
****
Dekeyser's nectar bat
Dekeyser's nectar bat (''Lonchophylla dekeyseri'') is a bat species found in Brazil and Bolivia.Griffiths, T.A. and Gardner, A.L. 2008. Subfamily Glossophaginae Bonaparte, 1845. In: A.L. Gardner (ed.), Mammals of South America. Volume 1, pp. 224 ...
, ''L. dekeyseri''
****
Arched nectar bat, ''L. fornicata''
****
Handley's nectar bat, ''L. handleyi''
****
Western nectar bat, ''L. hesperia''
****
Goldman's nectar bat, ''L. mordax''
****
Orcés’s long-tongued bat, ''L. orcesi''
****''
Lonchophylla orienticollina''
****
Patton's long-tongued bat, ''L. pattoni''
****''
Lonchophylla peracchii
Peracchi's nectar bat (''Lonchophylla peracchii'') is a species of nectar-feeding bat in the family Phyllostomidae. It was first described from the Atlantic Forest in southeastern Brazil.
Description
The discovery of this species as distinct f ...
''
****
Orange nectar bat
The orange nectar bat (''Lonchophylla robusta'') is a species of bat in the family Phyllostomidae. It is found in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela.
Orange nectar bats in Costa Rica were observed util ...
, ''L. robusta''
****
Thomas's nectar bat, ''L. thomasi''
***Genus: ''
Platalina''
****
Long-snouted bat, ''P. genovensium''
***Genus: ''
Xeronycteris''
****
Vieira's long-tongued bat, ''X. vieirai''
*Subfamily:
Phyllonycterinae
**Genus: ''
Erophylla'' - brown flower bats
***
Brown flower bat, ''E. bombifrons''
***
Buffy flower bat
The buffy flower bat (''Erophylla sezekorni'') is a species of bat in the leaf-nosed bat family, Phyllostomidae. It is found in the Bahamas, the Cayman Islands, Cuba, and Jamaica.
Description
The buffy flower bat is considered a medium-sized ...
, ''E. sezekorni''
**Genus: ''
Phyllonycteris'' - Jamaican flower bats
***
Jamaican flower bat
The Jamaican flower bat (''Phyllonycteris aphylla'') is a critically endangered species of bat in the family Phyllostomidae. It is endemic to Jamaica.
Taxonomy and etymology
It was described by American zoologist Gerrit Smith Miller Jr. in 18 ...
, ''P. aphylla''
***
Puerto Rican flower bat, ''P. major''
***
Cuban flower bat, ''P. poeyi''
*Subfamily:
Phyllostominae
** Tribe
Micronycterini
***Genus: ''
Glyphonycteris''
****
Behn's bat, ''G. behnii''
****
Davies's big-eared bat, ''G. daviesi''
****
Tricolored big-eared bat, ''G. sylvestris''
***Genus: ''
Lampronycteris''
****
Yellow-throated big-eared bat, ''L. brachyotis''
***Genus: ''
Macrotus'' - leaf-nosed bats
****
California leaf-nosed bat, ''M. californicus''
****
Waterhouse's leaf-nosed bat, ''M. waterhousii''
***Genus: ''
Micronycteris
''Micronycteris'' is a genus of leaf-nosed bat
The New World leaf-nosed bats (Phyllostomidae) are found from southern North America to South America, specifically from the Southwest United States to northern Argentina. They are ecologically t ...
'' - little big-eared bats
****
Brosset's big-eared bat, ''M. brosseti''
****
Giovanni's big-eared bat, ''M. giovanniae''
****
Hairy big-eared bat, ''M. hirsuta''
****
Pirlot's big-eared bat, ''M. homezi''
****
Matses's big-eared bat, ''M. matses''
****
Little big-eared bat
The little big-eared bat (''Micronycteris megalotis'') is a bat species in the order Chiroptera and family Phyllostomidae. It is from South and Central America particularly Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, French Guiana, Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Bo ...
, ''M. megalotis''
****
Common big-eared bat
The common big-eared bat (''Micronycteris microtis'') is a bat species from South and Central America. It is a member of the family Phyllostomidae.
Recent research has demonstrated this bat's ability to find motionless food within clutter. Echo ...
, ''M. microtis''
****
White-bellied big-eared bat
The white-bellied big-eared bat (''Micronycteris minuta'') is a bat species from South and Central America, as well as Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean
The Caribbean (, ) ( es, El Caribe; french: la Caraïbe; ht, Karayib; nl, De Cara ...
, ''M. minuta''
****
Sanborn's big-eared bat
Sanborn's big-eared bat (''Micronycteris sanborni'') is a bat species found in Bolivia
, image_flag = Bandera de Bolivia (Estado).svg
, flag_alt = Horizontal tricolor (red, yellow, and green from top to bottom) ...
, ''M. sanborni''
****
Schmidts's big-eared bat, ''M. schmidtorum''
***Genus: ''
Neonycteris''
****
Least big-eared bat, ''N. pusilla''
***Genus: ''
Trinycteris''
****
Niceforo's big-eared bat, ''T. nicefori''
** Tribe
Vampyrini
***Genus: ''
Chrotopterus
The big-eared woolly bat or (Peters's) woolly false vampire bat (''Chrotopterus auritus'') is a species of bat, belonging to the family Phyllostomidae.
The name ''Chrotopterus'' is derived from Greek roots ''ch''ariots (skin, color), and ''pte ...
''
****
Big-eared woolly bat, ''C. auritus''
***Genus: ''
Lophostoma
''Lophostoma'' is a genus of Central and South American bat
Bats are mammals of the order Chiroptera.''cheir'', "hand" and πτερόν''pteron'', "wing". With their forelimbs adapted as wings, they are the only mammals capable of true ...
''
****
Pygmy round-eared bat
The pygmy round-eared bat (''Lophostoma brasiliense'') is a bat species from South and Central America.
Description
Its ears are large with rounded tips. Its upper lip has several small warts. The fur is dark brown or black in color. Its forearm ...
, ''L. brasiliense''
****
Carriker's round-eared bat, ''L. carrikeri''
****
Davis's round-eared bat, ''L. evotis''
****
Western round-eared bat
The western round-eared bat (''Lophostoma occidentalis'') is a bat species found only on the Pacific coast of northwestern Ecuador.
Taxonomy and etymology
It was described as a new subspecies of the white-throated round-eared bat in 1978 by Da ...
, ''L. occidentalis''
****
Schultz's round-eared bat
Schultz's round-eared bat (''Lophostoma schulzi'') is a species of bat
Bats are mammals of the order Chiroptera.''cheir'', "hand" and πτερόν''pteron'', "wing". With their forelimbs adapted as wings, they are the only mammals capabl ...
, ''L. schulzi''
****
White-throated round-eared bat
The white-throated round-eared bat (''Lophostoma silvicolum'') is a bat species found from Honduras to Bolivia, Paraguay and Brazil. It creates roosts inside the nests of the termite, ''Nasutitermes corniger''. It thrives on a mainly insect-based ...
, ''L. silvicolum''
****
Yasuni round-eared bat, ''L. yasuni''
***Genus: ''
Tonatia
''Tonatia'' is a small genus of South and Central America
Central America ( es, América Central or ) is a subregion of the Americas. Its boundaries are defined as bordering the United States to the north, Colombia to the south, the C ...
'' - round-eared bats
****
Greater round-eared bat
The greater round-eared bat (''Tonatia bidens'') is a bat species found in northeastern and southern Brazil, northern Argentina, Paraguay and Bolivia
, image_flag = Bandera de Bolivia (Estado).svg
, flag_alt = ...
, ''T. bidens''
****
Stripe-headed round-eared bat
The stripe-headed round-eared bat (''Tonatia saurophila'') is a species of bat from family Phyllostomidae. It can be found on forests in Central
Central is an adjective usually referring to being in the center of some place or (mathematical) ...
, ''T. saurophila''
***Genus: ''
Trachops
The fringe-lipped bat (''Trachops cirrhosus'') is a leaf-nosed bat from southern Mexico to Bolivia and southern Brazil. It has three subspecies and no known fossils. It is the only species within its genus.
Morphology
The fringe-lipped bat has ...
''
****
Fringe-lipped bat
The fringe-lipped bat (''Trachops cirrhosus'') is a leaf-nosed bat from southern Mexico to Bolivia and southern Brazil. It has three subspecies and no known fossils. It is the only species within its genus.
Morphology
The fringe-lipped bat has ...
, ''T. cirrhosus''
***Genus: ''
Vampyrum''
****
Spectral bat
The spectral bat (''Vampyrum spectrum''), also called the great false vampire bat or Linnaeus's false vampire bat, is a large, carnivorous leaf-nosed bat found in Mexico, Central America, and South America. It is the only member of the genus '' ...
, ''V. spectrum''
** Tribe
Lonchorhinini
***Genus: ''
Lonchorhina'' - sword-nosed bats
****
Tomes's sword-nosed bat, ''L. aurita''
****
Fernandez's sword-nosed bat
Fernandez's sword-nosed bat (''Lonchorhina fernandezi'') is a species of bat in the family Phyllostomidae. It is the smallest species of the '' Lonchorhina'' genus. It is endemic to Venezuela. In 2013, Bat Conservation International listed this ...
, ''L. fernandezi''
****
Northern sword-nosed bat, ''L. inusitata''
****
Marinkelle's sword-nosed bat, ''L. marinkellei''
****
Orinoco sword-nosed bat, ''L. orinocensis''
***Genus: ''
Macrophyllum
The long-legged bat (''Macrophyllum macrophyllum'') is a member of the Phyllostomidae family in the order Chiroptera. Both males and females of this species are generally small, with wingspans reaching 80mm with an average weight ranging betwee ...
''
****
Long-legged bat
The long-legged bat (''Macrophyllum macrophyllum'') is a member of the Phyllostomidae family in the order Chiroptera. Both males and females of this species are generally small, with wingspans reaching 80mm with an average weight ranging betwee ...
, ''M. macrophyllum''
***Genus: ''
Mimon'' - Gray's spear-nosed bats
****
Golden bat, ''M. bennettii''
****
Cozumelan golden bat, ''M. cozumelae''
****
Striped hairy-nosed bat, ''M. crenulatum''
****
Koepcke's hairy-nosed bat, ''M. koepckeae''
** Tribe
Phyllostomatini
***Genus: ''
Phylloderma
The pale-faced bat (''Phylloderma stenops'') is a bat species from South and Central America
Central America ( es, América Central or ) is a subregion of the Americas. Its boundaries are defined as bordering the United States to the no ...
'' - Peters's spear-nosed bat
****
Pale-faced bat, ''P. stenops''
***Genus: ''
Phyllostomus'' - spear-nosed bats
****
Pale spear-nosed bat, ''P. discolor''
****
Lesser spear-nosed bat
The lesser spear-nosed bat (''Phyllostomus elongatus'') is a bat species found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela
Venezuela (; ), officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ( es, link=no, Re ...
, ''P. elongatus''
****
Greater spear-nosed bat
The greater spear-nosed bat (''Phyllostomus hastatus'') is a bat species of the family Phyllostomidae from South and Central America. It is one of the larger bats of this region and is omnivorous.
Habitat
''Phyllostomus hastatus'' lives in t ...
, ''P. hastatus''
****
Guianan spear-nosed bat, ''P. latifolius''
*Subfamily:
Stenodermatinae
Stenodermatinae is a large subfamily of bats in the family Phyllostomidae.
List of species
Subfamily Stenodermatinae
*Genus: '' Ametrida''
** Little white-shouldered bat, ''Ametrida centurio''
*Genus: '' Ardops''
** Tree bat, ''Ardops nichollsi ...
**Genus: ''
Ametrida''
***
Little white-shouldered bat, ''A. centurio''
**Genus: ''
Ardops''
***
Tree bat, ''A. nichollsi''
**Genus: ''
Ariteus''
***
Jamaican fig-eating bat
The Jamaican fig-eating bat (''Ariteus flavescens'') is a species of bat in the family Phyllostomidae. It is the only living species in the genus ''Ariteus''. The scientific name translates as "yellowish and warlike". There are no recognised s ...
, ''A. flavescens''
**Genus: ''
Artibeus
The Neotropical fruit bats (''Artibeus'') are a genus of bats within the subfamily Stenodermatinae. The genus consists of 12 species, which are native to Central and South America, as well as parts of the Caribbean.
Description
These bats grow ...
'' - Neotropical fruit bats
***Subgenus: ''
Artibeus
The Neotropical fruit bats (''Artibeus'') are a genus of bats within the subfamily Stenodermatinae. The genus consists of 12 species, which are native to Central and South America, as well as parts of the Caribbean.
Description
These bats grow ...
''
****
Large fruit-eating bat
The large fruit-eating bat (''Artibeus amplus'') is a species of bat in the family Phyllostomidae. It is found in the countries of Colombia, Guyana, and Venezuela. The large fruit-eating bat is one of only a few microbats that eats leaves (a b ...
, ''A. amplus''
****
Fringed fruit-eating bat
The fringed fruit-eating bat (''Artibeus fimbriatus''), is a species of bat
Bats are mammals of the order Chiroptera.''cheir'', "hand" and πτερόν''pteron'', "wing". With their forelimbs adapted as wings, they are the only mammals c ...
, ''A. fimbriatus''
****
Fraternal fruit-eating bat
The fraternal fruit-eating bat (''Artibeus fraterculus'') is a species of bat in the family Phyllostomidae that is found in drier habitats in Ecuador and Peru. It was formerly considered to be a subspecies of the Jamaican fruit bat, but was ...
, ''A. fraterculus''
****
Hairy fruit-eating bat
The hairy fruit-eating bat (''Artibeus hirsutus'') is a species of bat
Bats are mammals of the order Chiroptera.''cheir'', "hand" and πτερόν''pteron'', "wing". With their forelimbs adapted as wings, they are the only mammals capabl ...
, ''A. hirsutus''
****
Honduran fruit-eating bat, ''A. inopinatus''
****
Jamaican fruit bat, ''A. jamaicensis''
****
Great fruit-eating bat, ''A. lituratus''
****
Dark fruit-eating bat, ''A. obscurus''
****
Flat-faced fruit-eating bat, ''A. planirostris''
****''
Artibeus schwartzi
''Artibeus schwartzi'' is a species of bat found in the Lesser Antilles. It was previously considered a subspecies of the Jamaican fruit bat, (''A. jamaicensis''). It has been hypothesized that it arose from hybridization of three Artibeus speci ...
''
***Subgenus: ''
Dermanura''
****
Andersen's fruit-eating bat, ''A. anderseni''
****
Aztec fruit-eating bat, ''A. aztecus''
****
Bogota fruit-eating bat, ''A. bogotensis''
****
Gervais's fruit-eating bat, ''A. cinereus''
****
Silver fruit-eating bat, ''A. glaucus''
****
Gnome fruit-eating bat, ''A. gnomus''
****
Solitary fruit-eating bat, ''A. incomitatus''
****
Pygmy fruit-eating bat, ''A. phaeotis''
****
Rosenberg's fruit-eating bat, ''A. rosenbergi''
****
Toltec fruit-eating bat, ''A. toltecus''
****
Thomas's fruit-eating bat, ''A. watsoni''
***Subgenus: ''
Koopmania''
****
Brown fruit-eating bat, ''K. concolor''
**Genus: ''
Centurio''
***
Wrinkle-faced bat, ''C. senex''
**Genus: ''
Chiroderma'' - big-eyed bats or white-lined bats
***
Brazilian big-eyed bat, ''C. doriae''
***
Guadeloupe big-eyed bat, ''C. improvisum''
***
Salvin's big-eyed bat, ''C. salvini''
***
Little big-eyed bat, ''C. trinitatum''
***
Hairy big-eyed bat, ''C. villosum''
**Genus: ''
Ectophylla
The Honduran white bat (''Ectophylla alba''), also called the Caribbean white tent-making bat, is a species of bat in the family Phyllostomatidae. It is the only member of the genus ''Ectophylla''. The genus and the species were both scientifi ...
''
***
Honduran white bat, ''E. alba''
**Genus: ''
Enchisthenes''
***
Velvety fruit-eating bat, ''E. hartii''
**Genus: ''
Mesophylla''
***
MacConnell's bat, ''M. macconnelli''
**Genus: ''
Phyllops'' - falcate-winged bats
***
Cuban fig-eating bat, ''P. falcatus''
**Genus: ''
Platyrrhinus''
***
Alberico's broad-nosed bat, ''P. albericoi''
***''
Platyrrhinus aquilus''
***
Slender broad-nosed bat
The slender broad-nosed bat (''Platyrrhinus angustirostris'') is a species of bat in the family Phyllostomidae. As a phyllostomid bat, it is characterized by a narrow Interfemoral membrane, uropatagium which is fringed with hair; a white dorsal s ...
''P. angustirostris''
***
Eldorado broad-nosed bat, ''P. (Vampyrops) aurarius''
***
Short-headed broad-nosed bat, ''P. (Vampyrops) brachycephalus''
***
Choco broad-nosed bat
The Choco broad-nosed bat (''Platyrrhinus chocoensis'') is a species of bat in the family Phyllostomidae. It is native to Colombia, Panama, and Ecuador, where it is found in the Choco region lowlands. It is threatened by habitat loss. In 2013 ...
, ''P. chocoensis''
***
Thomas's broad-nosed bat, ''P. (Vampyrops) dorsalis''
***
Brown-bellied broad-nosed bat ''P. fusciventris''
***
Heller's broad-nosed bat, ''P. (Vampyrops) helleri''
***''
Platyrrhinus incarum''
***
Buffy broad-nosed bat, ''P. (Vampyrops) infuscus''
***
Ismael's broad-nosed bat, ''P. ismaeli''
***
White-lined broad-nosed bat, ''P. (Vampyrops) lineatus''
***
Quechua broad-nosed bat, ''P. masu''
***
Matapalo broad-nosed bat, ''P. matapalensis''
***
Geoffroy's rayed bat, ''P. nigellus''
***''
Platyrrhinus nitelinea''
***
Recife broad-nosed bat
The Recife broad-nosed bat (''Platyrrhinus recifinus''), is a species of bat from South America. It is named for the city of Recife in Brazil, where it was first recorded by Oldfield Thomas in 1901.
Previously considered "Vulnerable", the Recif ...
, ''P. (Vampyrops) recifinus''
***
Shadowy broad-nosed bat, ''P. umbratus''
***
Greater broad-nosed bat, ''P. (Vampyrops) vittatus''
**Genus: ''
Pygoderma
The Ipanema bat (''Pygoderma bilabiatum'') is a bat species of order Chiroptera and family Phyllostomidae. It is found in northern Argentina, Bolivia, southeastern Brazil and Paraguay. It is the only species within its genus.
Description
The ...
''
***
Ipanema bat, ''P. bilabiatum''
**Genus: ''
Sphaeronycteris''
***
Visored bat, ''S. toxophyllum''
**Genus: ''
Stenoderma''
***
Red fruit bat
The red fruit bat or red fig-eating bat (''Stenoderma rufum'') is a species of bat in the family Phyllostomidae, in the monotypic genus ''Stenoderma''.Gannon, M.R., Rodríguez-Durán, M., Kurta, A., and Willig, M.R. Stenoderma rufum Desmarest, R ...
, ''S. rufum''
**Genus: ''
Sturnira
''Sturnira'' known as a yellow-shouldered bat or American epauleted bat, is a genus of bat in the family Phyllostomidae. The genus name comes from the Latin for "starling
Starlings are small to medium-sized passerine birds in the family Stur ...
'' - yellow-shouldered bats or American epauleted bats
***
Aratathomas's yellow-shouldered bat, S. aratathomasi''
***
Bidentate yellow-shouldered bat, ''S. bidens''
***
Bogota yellow-shouldered bat, ''S. bogotensis''
***
Hairy yellow-shouldered bat, ''S. erythromos''
***
Chocó yellow-shouldered bat, ''S. koopmanhilli''
***
little yellow-shouldered bat
The little yellow-shouldered bat (''Sturnira lilium'') is a bat species from South and Central America. It is a frugivore
A frugivore is an animal that thrives mostly on raw fruits or succulent fruit-like produce of plants such as roots, sho ...
, ''S. lilium''
***
Highland yellow-shouldered bat
The highland yellow-shouldered bat (''Sturnira ludovici'') is a species of bat in the family Phyllostomidae. It is found in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, and Venezuela
...
, ''S. ludovici''
***
Louis's yellow-shouldered bat, ''S. luisi''
***
Greater yellow-shouldered bat, ''S. magna''
***
Mistratoan yellow-shouldered bat, ''S. mistratensis''
***
Talamancan yellow-shouldered bat, ''S. mordax''
***
Lesser yellow-shouldered bat, ''S. nana''
***
Tschudi's yellow-shouldered bat, ''S. oporaphilum''
***''
Sturnira perla''
Jarrin-V & Kunz, 2011
***
Soriano's yellow-shouldered bat, ''S. sorianoi''
***
Thomas's yellow-shouldered bat, ''S. thomasi''
***
Tilda's yellow-shouldered bat, ''S. tildae''
**Genus: ''
Uroderma'' - tent-building bats
***
Tent-making bat, ''U. bilobatum''
***
Brown tent-making bat, ''U. magnirostrum''
**Genus: ''
Vampyressa'' - yellow-eared bats
***''
Vampyressa elisabethae''
***
Melissa's yellow-eared bat, ''V. melissa''
***
Southern little yellow-eared bat, ''V. pusilla''
***''
Vampyressa sinchi''
***
Northern little yellow-eared bat, ''V. thyone''
**Genus: ''
Vampyriscus''
***
Bidentate yellow-eared bat, ''V. bidens''
***
Brock's yellow-eared bat, ''V. brocki''
***
Striped yellow-eared bat, ''V. nymphaea''
**Genus: ''
Vampyrodes
The great stripe-faced bat or stripe-faced vampire bat (''Vampyrodes caraccioli'') is a bat species found from southern Mexico to Bolivia and northwestern Brazil, as well as on Trinidad. The great stripe-faced bat is a frugivore. It is one of ...
''
***
Great stripe-faced bat, ''V. caraccioli''
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q600042
Taxa named by John Edward Gray