Kingdom Animalia Order Chiroptera Genus Artibeus Higher classification Artibeus | Phylum Chordata Family Phyllostomidae Scientific name Artibeus glaucus Rank Species | |
Similar Gnome fruit‑eating bat, Brown fruit‑eating bat, Gervais's fruit‑eating bat, Artibeus, Bidentate Yellow‑eared Bat | ||
The silver fruit-eating bat (Artibeus glaucus) is a South American bat species of the family Phyllostomidae.
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Description
The silver fruit-eating bat is a small bat, measuring only 4 to 6 cm (1.6 to 2.4 in) in head-body length and weighing 10 to 14 g (0.35 to 0.49 oz). It has dark brown fur which varies little over the body, with faint stripes of paler fur above each eye. Unlike many closely related species found in the same area, the edges of the ears and nose-leaf are said to be bright yellow in colour.
Distribution and biology
Silver fruit-eating bats are found across the northern Andes, from Colombia to Bolivia. They inhabit lowland to mid altitude forested terrain between 200 and 2,000 m (660 and 6,560 ft). They feed on fruits found in the canopy of tropical to temperate forests and roost under cut leaves of banana or palm trees during the day. They breed throughout the year, but with two distinct peaks.
There are no recognised subspecies, although this was not the case prior to 2008, when the Bogota fruit-eating bat (Artibeus bogotensis), of Venezuela and the Guianas, was raised to full species status.