- Scientific Name
- Amorphochilus schnablii
- Family
- Furipteridae
- Global Conservation Status (IUCN)
- Vulnerable
- Region
- South America
- Diet
- Insectivore
Data Sheet
Diet: Insectivore
Not much is known about the specifics of their diet, but smoky bats are thought to feed primarily on moths.
Fun Fact: Smoky bats are one of only two bat species in the family Furipteridae, also known collectively as the thumbless bats. They aren’t actually thumbless! Rather, their thumbs are small and tucked behind the wing membrane. This results in a highly aerodynamic wing shape, good for hunting small, maneuverable prey.
Appearance: This bat is small, weighing between 3 to 5 grams. They have dark brown or slate-grey fur and ears that curve around towards the eyes. Their thumbs are reduced in size and enclosed within the part of the wing membrane called the proplagium. Wart-like outgrowths on the nose and chin help distinguish them from the related and similarly sized thumbless bat (Furipterus horrens).
Habitat: Found in a narrow geographic range consisting of coastal deserts and rocky cliffs of Peru, Ecuador and Chile, though records are sparse. Smoky bats form small colonies of up to 650 bats, though most colonies are between 100 and 300 bats. They are crevice roosters, with colonies reported in a mix of natural and human-made structures such as caves, rock fissures, abandoned buildings, irrigation tunnels and cellars.
Conservation Concerns: Not much is known about the natural history of this bat, including overall population sizes and roost distribution. They are currently listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN Red List. Changes in land use and habitat destruction are the primary threat to this species. Known populations in northern Peru have also been negatively affected by wildfires and unregulated harvesting.
Saving The Smoky Bat From Extinction
The goal of this work is to create artificial roost networks in Peru’s desert valleys to save the smoky bat from extinction.
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From The Bat Pub
Additional Resources:
Literature Cited:
Velazco, P., Huamani, L., & Cadenillas, R. (2015). Amorphochilus schnablii. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: e. T1154A22070889.
Ibáñez, C. (1985). Notes on Amorphochilus schnablii Peters (Chiroptera, uripteridae).
Guerra, J., Ineson, K. M., & Swing, K. (2020). Range extension and natural history observations for the smoky bat (Amorphochilus schnablii). Mastozoología neotropical, 27(1), 96-102. ed List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T85567062A85567065. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T85567062A85567065.en. Accessed on 12 September 2025.