The Ecuadorian sac-winged bat (''Balantiopteryx infusca'') is a species of

sac-winged bat Emballonuridae is a family (biology), family of microbats, many of which are referred to as sac-winged or sheath-tailed bats. They are widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions around the world. The earliest fossil records are from ...

in the family

Emballonuridae Emballonuridae is a family of microbats, many of which are referred to as sac-winged or sheath-tailed bats. They are widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions around the world. The earliest fossil records are from the Eocene. Desc ...

. It is found in

Colombia Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country primarily located in South America with Insular region of Colombia, insular regions in North America. The Colombian mainland is bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the north, Venezuel ...

and

Ecuador Ecuador, officially the Republic of Ecuador, is a country in northwestern South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and the Pacific Ocean on the west. It also includes the Galápagos Province which contain ...

. According to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the population trend is decreasing for this species, due to

habitat destruction Habitat destruction (also termed habitat loss or habitat reduction) occurs when a natural habitat is no longer able to support its native species. The organisms once living there have either moved elsewhere, or are dead, leading to a decrease ...

through

deforestation Deforestation or forest clearance is the removal and destruction of a forest or stand of trees from land that is then converted to non-forest use. Deforestation can involve conversion of forest land to farms, ranches, or urban use. Ab ...

. In 2013,

Bat Conservation International Bat Conservation International (BCI) is an international nongovernmental organization working to conserve bats and their habitats through conservation, education, and research efforts. BCI was founded in 1982 by bat biologist Merlin Tuttle, wh ...

listed this species as one of the 35 species on its worldwide priority list for conservation.

Taxonomy

''Balantiopteryx infusca'' is the sister species of '' Balantiopteryx io'' and there are no recognised subspecies.Gardner, Alfred L. ''Mammals of South America''. Chicago: University of Chicago, 2008, p. 194.

Appearance

It is larger than ''Balantiopteryx io,'' and smaller than '' Balantiopteryx plicata.'' It lacks the white trim of ''Balantiopteryx plicata,'' and is darker in color.

Habitat and behavior

It is found in the mouth of caves, abandoned mines, and cracks in rock. It prefers to live where there is plenty of light. The bats are sociable and live in colonies; they are also insectivorous.Nowak, Ronald M. ''Walker's Bats of the World''. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins UP, 1994, p. 96.

References

Balantiopteryx Bats of South America Mammals of Colombia Mammals of Ecuador Endangered animals Endangered biota of South America Mammals described in 1897 Taxonomy articles created by Polbot Taxa named by Oldfield Thomas {{Emballonuridae-stub