The Jamaican flower bat, Phyllonycteris aphylla, is a critically endangered bat of the family Phyllostomidae that is found only on Jamaica. The American zoologist Gerrit Smith Miller Jr. described it in 1898, and the type specimen has since been lost. Its species name aphylla means leafless in Ancient Greek, probably for its small nose-leaf. It weighs 14 to 18 grams, with blond or light gold back fur, almost white belly fur and dark brown flight membranes. It lives in colonies of up to several hundred and depends on caves for roosting, now known from only four caves. It eats fruit, pollen, nectar and possibly insects. The IUCN rated it critically endangered in 2015 because its population is under 500 individuals and likely declining, and human disturbance of caves threatens it.
Facts
Classification
Population Trend ThreatsHuman Intrusions and Disturbance 1 Living or Extinct Conservation Status Connections
Child Taxon Of
Source Jamaican flower bat (Wikipedia)
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Source Jamaican flower bat (Wikipedia)LeadQuote, Lead
It is endemic to Jamaica.
Sources
1. Jamaican flower bat (Wikipedia)
Conservation
it is currently evaluated as critically endangered by the IUCN
Conservation, population trend
its population size is likely in decline
Conservation, threats
This species is threatened by human disturbance to caves.
Biology
It eats fruit, pollen, nectar, and possibly insects.
Range and habitat
It is currently only known to roost in four caves
Lead
It is endemic to Jamaica.
View the SourceReader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.