Choeroniscus

Choeroniscus is a genus of bats of the family of leaf lobes ( Phyllostomidae ), whose species in Central and South America are located.

The genus name was introduced by Oldfield Thomas to summarize the types with "normal head " and distinguish it from Choeronycteris mexicana ( the long-nosed bat ), a species with extremely elongated snout.

Description

Species of the genus Choeroniscus are relatively small, as all flowers bats an elongated snout, a triangular nose leaf, short ears and a short tail. Depending on the animals reach a head -body length of 50-55 mm. The tail is about 12 mm long and the average weight is 8 g The coat color is usually uniform brown, the belly is slightly lighter than the back.

Way of life

Like most bats are nocturnal species of this genus. They mainly feed on pollen and nectar, which is licked in hover from calyxes. The Bats take on the important role of pollinator for night flowering plants such as agave and many species of cactus. As a dietary supplement insects and fruits are eaten.

Species

• Choeroniscus godmani: Mexico to Costa Rica and Colombia through Venezuela to French Guiana. A relatively rare type, but has a wide distribution area. The IUCN estimates its stock therefore as safely.
• Choeroniscus minor: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, the Amazon Basin of Brazil to French Guiana. When assessed by the IUCN due to the widespread than safely.
• Choeroniscus periosus ( also C. ponsi ): southwestern Colombia to the northwest of Ecuador at an altitude up to 500 m asl A rare species found only in primary tropical rainforest. The IUCN estimates its stock as endangered because their habitat is destroyed drastically by the timber industry, agriculture and road construction.

By 1998, even the species C. intermedius and C. inca was performed, but today they are counted to C minor.

Distribution area of Choeroniscus minor

Distribution area of Choeroniscus periosus '