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The 'Neotropical Fruit Bats' ('''Artibeus''') are a genus of bats within the subfamily Stenodermatinae. The genus consists of 18 species, which are native to Central and South America.

Contents

Description

Geographical Distribution and Habitat

Diet, Reproduction and Social Behaviour

Taxonomy

Literature

Weblinks

Description

These bats grow to an average length of 5 to 10 cm, and a weight of 10 to 85 g. The fur is colored brown or gray on the top; the bottom side is brighter. In a few species, the faces have four light-colored stripes. The Patagium, the skin between the legs, is very small, and they lack a tail – a general characteristic of the Fruit Bats. The ears are acuminated and like many other Leaf-nosed bats the nose bears a small, sharp leaf which is used for echo sounding.

Geographical Distribution and Habitat

Neotropical Fruit Bats are found in an area that reaches from the North of Mexico and the Bahamas, to Northern Argentina, the Caribbean islands included. They live in different natural habitats and can be found in both forests and grasslands.

Diet, Reproduction and Social Behaviour

Like most bats, Neotropical Fruit Bats are nocturnal. They sleep in caves, houses, or other hideouts. Some species use large leaves to form "tents", which provide shelter from the weather and hide them from predators. Most species live in large groups. ''Artibeus jamaicensis'' – the best studied species – forms harem groups, consisting of one to three males, three to 14 females, and the shared offspring.
The diet of these bats mainly consists of fruit, but they eat pollen and insects too.
Little is known about the reproduction of many species. ''A. jamaicensis'' has a gestation period of usually 112 to 120 days that can be extended up to 180 days due to dormancy. The offspring usually consists of one cub, which is weaned after two months and becomes sexually mature at an age of eight to twelve months. Captured bats can live up to ten years.
Three of the 18 species, Artibeus fraterculus, Artibeus hirsutus, and Artibeus inopinatus, are endangered species according to the IUCN.

Taxonomy

The genus of the Neotropical Fruit Bats is divided into three sub-genera (''Artibeus'', ''Koopmania'', and ''Dermanura''). In some taxonomies these are discrete genera, but sometimes ''Enchisthenes hartii'' is integrated in these genera. Wilson & Reeder (2005) differentiate between the following 18 species:

★ Subgenus ''Artibeus''

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★ ''Artibeus amplus'' lives in Colombia, Venezuela, and Guyana.

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★ ''Artibeus fimbriatus'' has its habitat in southern Brazil, in Paraguay and in the North of Argentina.

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★ ''Artibeus fraterculus'' is only known in Ecuador and Peru. The species is endangered.

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★ ''Artibeus hirsutus'' lives in western Mexico and is endangered too.

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★ ''Artibeus inopinatus'' is located in Middle America (El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Honduras). It is also an endangered species.

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★ ''Artibeus jamaicensis'' is the best explored species. It is spread from the Bahamas and northern Mexico to northern Argentina.

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★ ''Artibeus lituratus'' is spread from southern Mexico to northern Argentina.

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★ ''Artibeus obscurus'' lives exclusively in the Amazon Basin.

★ Subgenus ''Dermanura''

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★ ''Artibeus anderseni'' lives in the North of South America (from Peru to French Guiana).

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★ ''Artibeus aztecus'' is spread from middle Mexico to Panama.

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★ ''Artibeus cinereus'' lives in the Amazon Basin.

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★ ''Artibeus glaucus'' is spread in the North of South America (from Colombia to Bolivia).

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★ ''Artibeus gnomus'' has its geographical extension from Peru to French Guyana).

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★ ''Artibeus incomitatus'' is only known on the island Escudo de Veraguas offshore north of Panama. The status of endangerment is unknown.

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★ ''Artibeus phaeotis'' is known from eastern Mexico, Peru and Guyana.

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★ ''Artibeus toltecus'' is spread from northern Mexico to western Colombia.

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★ ''Artibeus watsoni'' lives in Middle America (South of Mexico to Columbia).

★ Subgenus ''Koopmania''

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★ ''Artibeus concolor'' lives in the Amazon Basin.

Literature

★ Ronald M. Nowak: ''Walker's Mammals of the World''. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore 1999, ISBN 0-8018-5789-9.

★ Don E. Wilson, DeeAnn M. Reeder (Ed.): ''Mammal Species of the World''. 3. Edition. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore 2005, ISBN 0-8018-8221-4.

Weblinks

★ Status of endangerment of each species according to the red list of the IUCN

★ Jorge Ortega, Iván Castro-Arellano (2001): ''Artibeus jamaicensis''. Mammalian Species No. 662, American Society of Mammalogists.