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 Honduran white bat, 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 scientifically described for the first time in 1892. It has distinctive, entirely white fur, which is only found in six of the roughly 1,300 known species of bat. It constructs "tents" out of understory plant leaves by strategically cutting the leaf ribs with its teeth; it roosts in these tents during the day. It is a specialist frugivore, consuming almost exclusively the fruits of one species of fig. Females can likely become pregnant twice per year, giving birth to one offspring at a time.
Geoffroy's tailless bat is a species of phyllostomid bat from the American tropics.
Seba's short-tailed bat is a common and widespread bat species in the family Phyllostomidae. They are found in Central America, the northern parts of South America, and in the Antilles islands.
The pale spear-nosed bat is a species of phyllostomid bat from South and Central America.
The southern long-nosed bat is a South American species of bat in the family Phyllostomidae.
The banana bat is an endangered species of bat in the family Phyllostomidae. It is also commonly known as the trumpet-nosed bat or the Colima long-nosed bat.
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" and refers to HMS Starling, which took part in an 1836 voyage to Brazil during which the type specimen was collected. It contains the following species:
The Bogotá yellow-shouldered bat is a species of bat in the family Phyllostomidae. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela at altitudes from 300 m to above 2000 m, particularly in cloud forest. The species is primarily frugivorous; it may also consume nectar and pollen.
The hairy yellow-shouldered bat is a species of bat in the family Phyllostomidae native to South America. There are no recognised subspecies.
The Talamancan yellow-shouldered bat is a species of bat in the family Phyllostomidae. It is found only in Costa Rica and Panama, and there are no subspecies.
The lesser yellow-shouldered bat is a species of bat in the family Phyllostomidae. It is native to Peru and Ecuador. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Horsfield's fruit bat is a species of megabat native to South East Asia. It is named for Thomas Horsfield, an American naturalist who presented the type specimen to the British Museum.
The Mistratoan yellow-shouldered bat, is a species of leaf-nosed bat indigenous to the Cordillera Occidental, in the Mistrato municipality in Risaralda, Colombia. Since existing information derives exclusively from the holotype, the status of the species, its environmental requirements, and the trend of the population are unknown.
Sturnira honurensis is a species of bat found in Central America. Previously, it was considered a subspecies of the highland yellow-shouldered bat, but it has been considered distinct since 2010.
Sturnira perla is a species of yellow-shouldered bat found in Ecuador.
Sturnira bakeri is a species of bat found in South-America.
Sturnira parvidens is a species of leaf-nosed bat found in Central America.
Sturnira angeli, also known as the Guadeloupe yellow-shouldered bat or Angel's yellow-shouldered bat, is a species of bat in the family Phyllostomidae. It is endemic to the Lesser Antilles. As of 2018 it is listed as near threatened by the IUCN.
Paulson's yellow-shouldered bat is a species of bat in the family Phyllostomidae. It is endemic to the Lesser Antilles. According to the most recent IUCN analysis in 2019, it is near-threatened.
