Cuban fruit-eating bat

Brachyphylla nana is a species of bat in the family of leaf lobes ( Phyllostomidae ), which is native to the Greater Antilles.

The Greek generic name brachyphylla consists of brachys ( = " short") and phyllo ( = "leaf" ) together, which refers to the reduced nose leaf. The species name nana means " dwarf " because the species is relatively small.

Description

Brachyphylla nana is a small bat, the females are larger than males (sexual dimorphism ). The total length is 65-92 mm. The hair at the base white to yellowish, dark brown at the tips to gray.

Way of life

Brachyphylla nana is the most common bat species in Cuba, but rarely in Haiti. The choice of the slope Plätzes is locally different and is based probably on the relevant range of caves. In Cuba, however, brachyphylla nana large colonies in warm, moist, climatically stable caves where it is often linked with Phyllonycteris poeyi, Mormoops blainvillei and three species of the genus Pteronotus on ceilings and walls. On the other hand, Caicos Islands, the species occurs in groups of 30-40 animals before in not too moist, relatively cool caves, which have a less stable climate. There you can find them along with Erophylla sezekorni, Monophyllus redmani and Macrotus waterhousii.

The food spectrum of brachyphylla nana includes fruits, pollen, nectar and insects. It is thus an important pollinators of flowering plants and contributes to the spreading of seeds at. In Cuba and the Isle of Pines brachyphylla nana is hunted by owls. Little is known about reproduction. Females can be pregnant from December to May.

Distribution and habitat

Brachyphylla nana occurs in the Cayman Islands, Cuba, Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Your stock is classified by the IUCN due to the widespread and probably large populations as well as their occurrence in protected areas as safely.