Bogota fruit-eating bat


The Bogota fruit-eating bat is a species of bat found in South America.

Taxonomy and etymology

This bat was described in 1906 by Danish mammalogist Knud Andersen. He described it as a subspecies of the Gervais's fruit-eating bat, A. cinereus. The holotype had been collected near Bogotá, Colombia, undoubtedly inspiring the species name "bogotensis." Later, beginning in 1987, the taxon was considered a subspecies of the silver fruit-eating bat, A. glaucus. In 2008, researchers proposed that the Bogota fruit-eating bat should be elevated to species rank.

Description

It has pale brown fur and distinct white stripes on its face. The length of its head and body is. It lacks a tail. Its hind feet are long; its ears are ; and its forearm is long. It weighs.

Biology and ecology

This bat is frugivorous. It is bimodally polyestrous, meaning that it has two breeding seasons in a year. These breeding seasons correspond to seasonal fruit abundance. Like many bat species, it is nocturnal, roosting in sheltered places during the day such as caves.

Range and habitat

It has been documented in several countries in South America, including Colombia, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. It has been recorded at elevations from above sea level. It is often found in montane forests.

Conservation

It is currently evaluated as least concern by the IUCN. It meets the criteria for this designation because it has a large geographic range; it occurs in protected areas; and its population size is not likely declining at a rapid rate. Major threats to this species, if any exist, have not been identified.