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 the most varied and diverse family within the order Chiroptera. Most species are insectivorous, but the phyllostomid bats include within their number true predatory species and frugivores. For example, the spectral bat, the largest bat in the Americas, eats vertebrate prey, including small, dove-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 bats, even blood.
The spectral bat, 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; its closest living relative is the big-eared woolly bat. It is the largest bat species in the New World, as well as the largest carnivorous bat: its wingspan is 0.7–1.0 m (2.3–3.3 ft). It has a robust skull and teeth, with which it delivers a powerful bite to kill its prey. Birds are frequent prey items, though it may also consume rodents, insects, and other bats.
The big-eared woolly bat or (Peters's) woolly false vampire bat is a species of bat, belonging to the Order Chiroptera and Family Phyllostomidae.
The Mexican funnel-eared bat is a bat species found in Central America and the Caribbean.
The short-eared bat is a bat species from South and Central America. It is found in Brazil, Costa Rica, Guyana and Nicaragua. It is monotypic within its genus.
The broad-eared bat, or broad-tailed bat, is a species of free-tailed bat from the Americas.
The pygmy round-eared bat is a bat species from South and Central America.
Carriker's round-eared bat is a bat species from South America. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela. It was discovered by and named for Melbourne A. Carriker, Jr.
The white-throated round-eared bat is a South and Central American 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 diet, focusing on the surfaces of foliage to hunt, and also eats fruit and pollen. It has a very wide range and is a common species over much of that range, so the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being of "least concern".
Schmidts's big-eared bat is a bat species from South and Central America.
The least big-eared bat is a South American bat species of the family Phyllostomidae, found in northwestern Brazil and eastern Colombia. It is monotypic within its genus.
The stripe-headed round-eared bat is a species of bat from family Phyllostomidae. It can be found on forests in Central and South America.
The bidentate yellow-eared bat is a species of bat in the family Phyllostomidae, native to South America. Formerly classified in the Vampyressa genus, phylogenetic analyses support its inclusion in Vampyriscus.
The small big-eared brown bat is a species of vesper bat in the family Vespertilionidae. It can be found in the following countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
Phyllostominae is a subfamily of bats that include big-eared, spear-nosed, sword-nosed bats and relatives.
Tonatia is a small genus of South and Central American phyllostomid bats.
The western round-eared bat is a bat species found only on the Pacific coast of northwestern Ecuador.
Thomas's big-eared brown bat is a species of vesper bat found in South America.
