Antillean fruit-eating bat
Antillean fruit-eating bat | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Chiroptera |
Family: | Phyllostomidae |
Genus: | Brachyphylla |
Species: | B. cavernarum
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Binomial name | |
Brachyphylla cavernarum Gray, 1834
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Cuban fruit-eating bat range |
The Antillean fruit-eating bat (Brachyphylla cavernarum) is one of two
Taxonomy
Three subspecies of B. cavernarum are recognized. B. c. cavernarum is the largest of the subspecies and occurs from
Physical description
The Antillean fruit-eating bat has white to yellow-white hair at the base with darker coloration in the
Ecology
The Antillean fruit-eating bat occurs in Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and the Lesser Antilles north 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.[2]
The Antillean fruit-eating bat's varied diet includes fruits, pollen, nectar, and insects. Fruits consumed in the wild include
Behavior
The Antillean fruit-eating bat moves 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.[2]
See also
References
- .
- ^ S2CID 51780853. Archived from the original(PDF) on 4 February 2007. Retrieved 2006-11-27.
- ^ Mietzel, M. (2002). "Brachyphylla cavernarum". Animal Diversity Web. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. Retrieved November 28, 2006.