Pygmy fruit-eating bat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pygmy fruit-eating bat |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| feeding on Piper arboreum | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Dermanura
|
| Species: |
phaeotis
|
 |
|
| Pygmy fruit-eating bat range | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Artibeus phaeotis |
|
The pygmy fruit-eating bat (Dermanura phaeotis) is a tiny bat that belongs to the Phyllostomidae family. Its scientific name, phaeotis, comes from an old Greek word, phaios, which means "dusky." This name describes the bat's dark, grayish-brown fur.
Contents
Where Do Pygmy Fruit-Eating Bats Live?
These small bats live in the southern parts of North America and the northern areas of South America. You can find them in countries like Belize, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela. While they can sometimes be found high up in mountains, they usually prefer to live in lower areas.
What Do Pygmy Fruit-Eating Bats Eat?
The pygmy fruit-eating bat is a type of bat that lives in the tropical forests of Central America. As their name suggests, they mostly eat fruit. However, they also enjoy eating pollen from flowers and even small insects. These bats are active at night, which means they are nocturnal.
How Do Pygmy Fruit-Eating Bats Live?
Pygmy fruit-eating bats are very clever! During the day, they need a safe place to rest and hide from predators. They create their own special shelters by folding and shaping large leaves into "tents." These leaf tents provide a cozy and hidden spot for them to sleep until night falls. Even though there aren't huge numbers of these bats in one place, they are spread out widely across their habitats.
What Do Pygmy Fruit-Eating Bats Look Like?
Pygmy fruit-eating bats have soft, thick fur that is usually a dark brown or a pale grayish-brown color. This fur extends all the way to their forearms. They have round, brown ears that are a medium size and often have a white edge. These bats are truly tiny! They are only about 51 to 60 millimeters (about 2 inches) long and weigh between 8 and 15 grams (about the weight of a few paper clips).
Reproduction and Life Cycle
The pygmy fruit-eating bat has a specific time of year when they have their babies. A mother bat carries her baby for about 112 to 120 days. Sometimes, this period can be a bit longer if conditions are not ideal, allowing the baby to develop fully.
