Stenodermatinae
Artibeus sp.
The fruit Vampire ( Stenodermatinae ), also known as fruit bats, are a bat group as a subfamily of the leaf lobes ( Phyllostomidae ) are classified. This group includes about 65 species in 18 genera that live all on the American continent.
Description
Fruit vampires are small to medium sized bats, they reach head hull lengths of 35 to 100 millimeters and a weight of 5 to 90 grams. Their fur is usually brown or gray, sometimes white or blackish. Several species are characterized by bright stripes on the face or back. The tail is absent in all species, including the Uropatagium ( the flight membrane between the legs) is small. In the face of most species carry a small nose leaf, which serves to echolocation.
Way of life
Fruit vampires are native to tropical and subtropical regions of Central and South America. Their habitat are usually forests or wooded grasslands, in too dry habitats they are missing. They are nocturnal in general, in contrast to many other species of bats sleep many types of trees or shrubs, but some prefer hollow logs, caves or man-made dwellings. Some species, including the tent bats, large leaves shaped into " tents " to that offer them protection from the weather and sight protection from predators.
As the name implies, fruit vampires feed mainly on fruits. Some species are beyond nectar, pollen or insects to him.
System
The fruit vampires are classified as subfamily of the leaf lobes, which include, among other things, the "real " vampire bats belong. In some classifications in addition, the short-tailed leaf lobes ( Carolliinae ) are counted as fruit vampires.
We distinguish 18 species, some of them monotypic:
- Ametrida centurio
- Tree bat ( Ardops nichollsi )
- Ariteus flavescens
- Actual fruit Vampire ( Artibeus ), 18 species
- Old face ( Centurio senex )
- Chiroderma, five types
- White bat ( Ectophylla alba)
- Chocolate Fruchtzwerg ( Enchisthenes hartii )
- Mesophylla macconnelli
- Phyllops falcatus
- Strip fruit Vampire ( Platyrrhinus ), 14 species
- Pygoderma bilabiatum
- Sphaeronycteris toxophyllum
- Red fruit vampire ( Stenoderma rufum )
- Yellow-shouldered bats ( Sturnira ), 13 species
- Uroderma, 2 types
- Yellow-eared bats ( Vampyressa ), five species
- Vampyrodes Caraccioli