- Scientific Name
- Carollia perspicillata
- Family
- Phyllostomidae
- Global Conservation Status (IUCN)
- Least Concern
- Diet
- Frugivore
Data Sheet
Diet: Frugivore
- This species shows a strong preference for fruits in the Piper genus (peppercorn), but during certain times of the year, will supplement their diets with other small-seeded fruits, nectar, pollen, insects and sometimes leaves.
Fun Fact:
While many fruit-eating bats have been observed nibbling on leaves, this species is among the first that scientists have documented consuming entire leaves. This behavior is known as ‘true folivory’, which may serve as a form of self medication.
Appearance:
- These medium sized bats weigh 10-20g and have a wingspan of 21-25 cm. Their dark brown fur and dark wing membranes contrast with pink skin along their wing bones, while their pointed face completes their distinctive appearance.
Habitat:
- These bats inhabit subtropical and tropical regions of the Neotropics. They forage in the forest understory and roost in caves, tunnels, and trees.
Conservation Concerns: This species is facing challenges that threaten most bats in the Neotropics, including habitat degration and fragmentation.
Bat Conservation International Projects:
Cave Conservation in Brazil
The goal of this work is to utilize legal protection measures and tax incentives to provide long-term protection for 70 important cave roosts, protecting up to 82 species of bats.
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Literature Cited:
Brändel, S. D., Hiller, T., Halczok, T. K., Kerth, G., Page, R. A., & Tschapka, M. (2020). Consequences of fragmentation for Neotropical bats: The importance of the matrix. Biological Conservation, 252, 108792. (PDF)
Cretekos, C. J., Weatherbee, S. D., Chen, C. H., Badwaik, N. K., Niswander, L., Behringer, R. R., & Rasweiler IV, J. J. (2005). Embryonic staging system for the short‐tailed fruit bat, Carollia perspicillata, a model organism for the mammalian order Chiroptera, based upon timed pregnancies in captive‐bred animals. Developmental dynamics: an official publication of the American Association of Anatomists, 233(3), 721-738. (PDF)
Fleming, T. H. (1988). The short-tailed fruit bat: a study in plant-animal interactions. University of Chicago Press.
Mello, M. A. R., Schittini, G. M., Selig, P., & Bergallo, H. G. (2004). Seasonal variation in the diet of the bat Carollia perspicillata (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) in an Atlantic Forest area in southeastern Brazil. (PDF)
Muñoz-Romo, M., Cohen, G., & Page, R. A. (2025). Actual folivory in bats: whole leaves as a formerly dismissed trophic item and a potential avenue for self-medication. Behaviour, 162(2), 173-190. (PDF)
Links to websites cited:
https://stri.si.edu/story/bat-salad
https://www.marylandzoo.org/animal/sebas-short-tailed-bat
https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/3905/22133716#habitat-ecology
https://media.batcon.org/media/?mediaId=26431278-5B91-45B4-B77EF8E1C4BE1ED1
https://media.batcon.org/media/?mediaId=2F81D9B4-B3D1-4635-83D1C923305D77D3
Additional Resources:
