Phyllostomus

Small lance nose ( Phyllostomus discolor)

The authentics Lanz noses ( Phyllostomus ) are a bat genus of the subfamily of the lance noses ( Phyllostominae ).

There are four types:

• The Great Lanz nose ( Phyllostomus hastatus ) is spread most members of this genus and from Guatemala to South-East Brazil.
• The Small lance nose ( Phyllostomus discolor ) is native from Mexico to Argentina.
• Phyllostomus elongatus also one of the smaller species and lives in South America east of the Andes.
• Phyllostomus latifolius is in northern South America before (Colombia, Guyana, French Guiana and northern Brazil).

The individual species differ considerably in their size: During the Great Lanz nose belongs to a body length of 10 to 13 inches, a wingspan of 45 centimeters and a weight of up to 140 grams of the largest bats in the Americas, only reached the little lance nose 55 to 65 millimeters in length and a weight of 20 to 40 grams. The fur of these animals is usually colored brown or gray-brown. Characteristics are the large, slightly inclined forward nose leaf, the wide-set ears and heavily built skull.

These bats are distributed from southern Mexico to northern Argentina. Their habitat includes forests and dry grasslands. During the day they sleep, sometimes in groups of thousands of animals in caves, hollow logs or buildings, at night, they go in search of food. They are omnivorous, taking both small vertebrates and insects as well as fruits and nectar to him.

Actual Lanz noses live in harem groups, one male flocks of up to 30 females around, the remaining males live together in bachelor groups. Often it comes to fighting, when the harem leader seeks to defend his position against other males. The females are unaffected by a possible change of the male, female groups are often stable and the animals remain together for years.

The females bring a group almost simultaneously their young, mostly one to the world. These are self-employed for two months and left after several months of their parents' group to form themselves into new entities.