Leaf-nosed bat facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Leaf-nosed bats
Artibeus sp.
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Chiroptera
Superfamily:	Noctilionoidea
Family:	Phyllostomidae Gray, 1825
Type genus
Phyllostomus Lacépède, 1799
Subfamilies
Carolliinae Desmodontinae Glossophaginae Glyphonycterinae Lonchophyllinae Lonchorhininae Macrotinae Micronycterinae Phyllostominae Rhinophyllinae Stenodermatinae

The New World leaf-nosed bats (scientific name: Phyllostomidae) are a fascinating group of bats. You can find them from the southern parts of North America all the way down to South America. This includes areas from the Southwest United States to northern Argentina.

Their common name and scientific name come from their unique noses. Many of these bats have a special, often lance-shaped, skin growth on their nose. This is called a "nose-leaf." While some bats that eat nectar and pollen have smaller nose-leaves, it's a key feature for many. Scientists believe this nose-leaf helps them with echolocation. Echolocation is like using sound waves to "see" their surroundings and find food. They send out sounds through their nose and listen for the echoes. Other bat groups also have similar nose-leaves.

These bats are incredibly diverse in what they eat. They are the most varied bat family when it comes to diet. Some eat fruit, others prefer nectar or pollen. Many are insect-eaters. Some even hunt frogs, other bats, or small animals. The famous vampire bats are part of this family, and they feed on blood. Most species in this family eat insects. However, some are true predatory species, meaning they hunt other animals. Others are frugivores, focusing on fruit. For example, the spectral bat (Vampyrum spectrum) is the largest bat in the Americas. It hunts and eats small animals, including birds about the size of a dove.

How These Bats Evolved Over Time

The Phyllostomidae, or New World leaf-nosed bats, are one of the most diverse mammal families. This means they show a huge variety in their skull shapes and eating habits. Species in this family have developed special bodies for eating insects, fruit, blood, nectar, or being omnivores (eating both plants and animals).

The special nose-leaf that gives them their name is thought to have changed over time. It adapted to help each species with its specific diet and how it finds food. The history of these bats goes back about 30 million years. Fossils and genetic studies suggest they first appeared around the time of the Oligocene epoch. Leaf-nosed bats evolved from other bat groups. Today, the Phyllostomidae family includes 61 different groups (genera) and about 227 species.

Physical Features of Leaf-Nosed Bats

Basic leaf-nosed bat body layout

New World leaf-nosed bats are mammals with bodies that are symmetrical on both sides. They are also endothermic, meaning they can keep their body temperature warm. Their most noticeable feature is the fancy skin growth on their noses, called a nose-leaf. This nose-leaf is very important for their echolocation.

The shape of the nose-leaf can be different for each species. Some have a vertical leaf, others have a concave (curved inward) leaf, and some have many smaller leaves. These bats do not have a tail. Their ears are triangular, and they can have pointed or rounded tips. Their body size can range from about 4 to 13.5 centimeters (about 1.5 to 5.3 inches). Their wingspan can be up to 90 centimeters (about 3 feet) or even more.

Most New World leaf-nosed bats are brown, grey, or black. However, there are five species that are white. Their head and body length varies from 4.0 to 13.5 centimeters. They can weigh anywhere from 7 to 200 grams (about 0.25 to 7 ounces).

Life and Habits of Leaf-Nosed Bats

Common vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus)

Like most other bats, leaf-nosed bats are nocturnal. This means they are active and hunt for food at night. They use echolocation to find their food sources. However, what they eat can be very different from one species to another.

Many fruit-eating bats in the Phyllostomidae family don't rely as much on echolocation. This is because they don't need to quickly find flying insects like other bats do. Instead, these fruit bats often use their sense of smell to find their favorite fruits.

When they are not out looking for food, leaf-nosed bats rest in different places. Some roost in abandoned buildings, others in caves, and some even hide beneath folded leaves. This variety in roosting spots is common within this family. Some species prefer to roost alone. Others live in huge colonies with thousands of other bats. These bats do not hibernate (sleep through winter). However, some species have been known to aestivate. This is like sleeping through hot, dry periods.

What Do Leaf-Nosed Bats Eat?

The Phyllostomidae family has the most diverse eating habits of any bat family in the world. Because of this, scientists group them by their main diet. Leaf-nosed bats usually specialize in one type of food. They are classified as fruit-eaters, nectar-eaters, insect-eaters, omnivores, or blood-eaters.

However, these groups are based on what they eat most often. It's common to see bats sometimes eat foods outside their main category. They do this to get all the nutrients they need. For example, nectar and ripe fruits provide lots of carbohydrates and water. But they don't have much protein or fat. So, fruit and nectar bats might also eat insects to get enough protein and fat. They might also visit salt licks to get sodium and other important nutrients.

Most leaf-nosed bats are insectivores. They feed on many kinds of small insects. Some insect-eating species catch their prey while flying. Others pick insects off leaves in trees or from the ground. Carnivorous species eat a variety of animals. This can range from frogs to even other bats. The Desmodontinae subfamily includes the vampire bats. They are unique because they feed only on blood. In contrast, some species in this family eat only plants. They get nutrients from fruits and leaves. The Glossophaginae and Lonchophyllinae subfamilies are known for feeding on nectar.

The Life Cycle of Leaf-Nosed Bats

Leaf-nosed bats have separate male and female sexes. These bats can live for a long time, often 20 to 30 years. Female bats can start having babies when they are two years old.

Females usually ovulate (release eggs) from October through September. After mating, the pregnancy period lasts about 8 to 9 months. This includes a special 3- to 5-month period called diapause. During diapause, the baby's growth slows down. Hormones control this slowed growth. The female gives birth to a single baby, called a pup. At birth, the pup's ears and eyes are open. It also has its first set of baby teeth and is fully covered in fur.

How Leaf-Nosed Bats Live Together

Among species that roost in groups, there's some evidence of a social hierarchy. Higher-ranking bats might get the best spots in the roost. However, bats that roost alone live by themselves. They usually stick to one specific roosting spot.

In some cases, male bats live alone or with a group of females (a harem). Female bats often prefer to roost with other females and their pups. In almost every species studied, mothers and their pups stay connected even after the pups stop nursing. Young bats can learn what foods to eat from their mothers. If a young bat is slow to leave the nest, its mother might gently nudge it out of the roost.

Where Do Leaf-Nosed Bats Live?

New World leaf-nosed bats live in a wide area. Their range stretches from the United States, specifically southern Arizona and the West Indies, down to northern Argentina. This family of bats lives in many different environments. You can find them in forests, deserts, and various other habitats.

How Humans Affect Leaf-Nosed Bats

New World leaf-nosed bats that live in forested areas are greatly impacted by farming. When humans increase agricultural activity, it harms these forest habitats. This leads to fewer leaf-nosed bats and less variety among them in those areas.

California leaf-nosed bats are especially sensitive to human disturbance. This species often creates large roosts in old, closed mine shafts. These shafts offer warmth and a quiet, isolated place. When humans enter these shafts or work on old mines, it disturbs the bats' roosts. This can be very harmful to the entire bat population.

Classifying Leaf-Nosed Bats

The Phyllostomidae family is very large and diverse. It includes many subfamilies and genera, each with numerous species. Here's a look at how they are classified: