Antillean Fruit-eating Bat

Taxobox
name = Antillean Fruit-eating Bat
status = LR/lc | status_system = IUCN2.3
status_ref =IUCN2006|assessors=Chiroptera Specialist Group |year=1996|id=2982|title=Brachyphylla cavernarum|downloaded=28 November 2006 Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern ]
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Mammalia
ordo = Chiroptera
familia = Phyllostomidae
genus = "Brachyphylla"
species = "B. cavernarum"
binomial = "Brachyphylla cavernarum"
binomial_authority = Gray, 1834

The Antillean Fruit-eating Bat ("Brachyphylla cavernarum") is one of two leaf-nosed bat species belonging to the "Brachyphylla" genus. The species occurs in the Caribbean from Puerto Rico to St. Vincent and Barbados.

Taxonomy

Three subspecies of "Brachyphylla cavernarum" are recognized. "Brachyphylla cavernarum cavernarum" is the largest of the subspecies and occurs from St. Croix to St. Vincent. "Brachyphylla cavernarum intermedia" is of intermidiate size and occurs in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands with the exception of St. Croix. "Brachyphylla cavernarum minor" occurs in Barbados and is characterized by its small size.cite journal| author = Pierre Swanepoel and Hugh. H Genoways| date = 15 December 1983| title = "Brachyphylla cavernarum" | journal = Mammalian Species | volume = 205| issue = | publisher= American Society of Mammalogists pages = 6 | doi = | id = | url = http://biomicro.sdstate.edu/pederses/batpdf/Brachyphylla.pdf| format = | accessdate = 2006-11-27 ]

Physical description

The Antillean Fruit-eating Bat has white to yellow-white hair at the base with darker coloration in the dorsum. Mature individuals measure from 65 to 118 millimeters (2½ to 4⅝ inches) with a forearm length ranges of 51 to 69 millimeters (2 to 2¾ inches) in length. The average weight is 45 grams (1⅝ ounces). [cite web |url=http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Brachyphylla_cavernarum.html |title="Brachyphylla cavernarum" |accessmonthday=November 28 |accessyear=2006 |author=Mietzel, M. |year=2002 |work=Animal Diversity Web |publisher=University of Michigan Museum of Zoology ]

Ecology

The Antillean Fruit-eating Bat occurs in Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and the Lesser Antilles up to St. Vincent and Barbados. Individuals roost in a variety of settings which include unused buildings, caves, dense tree tops, crevices, large wells, and cliffs. Sites without direct sunlight are preferred by the species although large colonies have been found in sunlit areas. The species occurs in dry arborescent vegetation on St. John.

The Antillean Fruit-eating Bat has a varied diet which includes fruits, pollen, nectar, and insects. Fruits consumed in the wild include papaya, mango, Indian almond, manjack ("Cordia spp."), royal palm, and sapodilla. In captivity the species has been observed consuming bananas, apples, pears, melons, peaches, and the flowers of the Kapok, sausage tree, royal palm, portia tree, and Jatobá. Confirmed insects consumed include one mite species (Macronyssidae), two batfly species (Streblidae), one tick species (Argasidae), and two bat-mite species (Labidocarpidae). These bats feed in the canopy of the forest and in the ground.

Behavior

The Antillean Fruit-eating Bat move out from the roost synchronically one hour after sunset and 20 minutes after the Jamaican fruit bat ("Artibeus jamaicensis"). This synchronization is also evident when returning to the roosts which happens just before the break of dawn.

ee also

*Fauna of Puerto Rico

References