Flat-faced fruit-eating bat

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Flat-faced fruit-eating bat
Artibeus planirostris - Flachnasenfruchtvampir 102012065.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Chiroptera
Family: Phyllostomidae
Genus: Artibeus
Species:
A. planirostris
Binomial name
Artibeus planirostris
(Spix, 1823)
Artibeus planirostris map.svg
Synonyms

Artibeus jamaicensis planirostris

The flat-faced fruit-eating bat (Artibeus planirostris) is a South American species [1] of bat in the family Phyllostomidae. It is sometimes considered a subspecies of the Jamaican fruit bat, [2] but can be distinguished by its larger size, the presence of faint stripes on the face, and of a third molar tooth on each side of the upper jaw. Genetic analysis has also shown that the two species may not be closely related. [3]

Contents

Description

Skull The land and sea mammals of Middle America and the West Indies (1904) (14584561830).jpg
Skull

Flat-faced fruit-eating bats are moderately sized bats, with adults measuring 8 to 11 centimetres (3.1 to 4.3 in) in total length and weighing 40 to 69 grams (1.4 to 2.4 oz). The fur is brownish-grey over most of the body, becoming grey on the underparts, although there are faint whitish stripes on the face. As their name suggests, the bats have a broad skull with a short snout. The ears are triangular, with rounded tips, although short compared with those of many other bats, and with a small tragus. The snout bears a prominent triangular nose-leaf. The wings are dark brown or blackish, with white tips. A well-developed uropatagium stretches between the legs, but there is no visible tail. [3]

Distribution and habitat

In Argentina Artibeus planirostris 246584062.jpg
In Argentina

Flat-faced fruit-eating bats are found through much of northern and central South America east of the Andes. They inhabit a range of forested environments from sea level to 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) elevation, including montane, transitional, and lowland tropical forests and open cerrado habitats. Three subspecies are currently recognised: [3]

Behaviour and biology

Feeding on a mango. Artibeus planirostris - Flachnasenfruchtvampir 155497850.jpg
Feeding on a mango.

Flat-faced fruit-eating bats are nocturnal and herbivorous. They feed almost entirely on fruit, although they may also eat small quantities of insects and mites. [4] They are active throughout the night, and spend the day roosting in trees. [5] Favoured fruit include those of Vismia trees, figs, and Amazon grape. [3] They are apparently capable of breeding throughout the year, although, in at least some areas, births are more common during the wet season. Gestation lasts at least three and a half months, and results in the birth of a single young. [3]

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geoffroy's tailless bat</span> Species of bat

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great fruit-eating bat</span> Species of bat

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dark fruit-eating bat</span> Species of bat

The dark fruit-eating bat, is a bat species from South America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brazilian big-eyed bat</span> Species of bat

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andersen's fruit-eating bat</span> Species of bat

Andersen's fruit-eating bat is a bat species found in South America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Silver fruit-eating bat</span> Species of bat

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Visored bat</span> Species of bat

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great stripe-faced bat</span> Species of bat

The great stripe-faced bat or stripe-faced vampire bat 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 two species within the genus Vampyrodes the other being Vampyrodes major.

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The Honduran fruit-eating bat is a species of bat in the family Phyllostomidae. It is found in El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toltec fruit-eating bat</span> Species of bat

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References

  1. 1 2 Barquez, R.; Diaz, M. (2015). "Artibeus planirostris". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2015: e.T2139A21997607. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T2139A21997607.en . Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  2. Simmons, N.B. (2005). "Order Chiroptera". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 312–529. ISBN   978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC   62265494.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Hollis, L. (2005). "Artibeus planirostris". Mammalian Species. 775: Number 775: pp. 1–6. doi:10.1644/1545-1410(2005)775[0001:AP]2.0.CO;2. S2CID   198968662.
  4. Willig, M.R.; et al. (1993). "Dietary overlap in frugivorous and insectivorous bats from edaphic Cerrado habitats of Brazil". Journal of Mammalogy. 74 (1): 117–128. doi:10.2307/1381910. JSTOR   1381910.
  5. Davis, W.B.; Dixon, J.R. (1976). "Activity of bats in a small village clearing near Iquitos, Peru". Journal of Mammalogy. 57 (4): 747–749. doi:10.2307/1379444. JSTOR   1379448.