Nature Atlas

How Nature Works
Sign In
Text size
100%
Theme

Switch Atlas

Specy

Northern ghost bat

Mammals

The northern ghost bat (Diclidurus albus) is a relatively rare, completely white, insectivorous bat of the family Emballonuridae that ranges from the tropical mainland of Mexico through Central America and Trinidad to the tropics of Brazil. It is medium-sized for its genus and pure white to pale gray, and unlike most emballonurids it has no wing sacs but a large glandular structure in the middle of its uropatagium, which is thought to serve the same function and may release pheromones during the mating season. The species can be told from the rest of its genus by a vestigial thumb with a nearly absent claw. Northern ghost bats inhabit tropical and coastal forests from sea level to about 1500 m and roost in caves, rock crevices, old mines or under palm fronds, where hanging bats resemble a wasp's nest; colonies of more than a hundred are rarely seen. They feed mainly on large airborne insects such as moths and beetles, foraging in open space above the forest canopy. Prince Maximilian of Wied-Neuwied described the species in 1820, and the Mammal Diversity Database lists it as Least Concern, though habitat fragmentation can reduce roost sites.

Facts
Classification
Diet
Insectivore 1
System (Realm)
Terrestrial 1
Relationship to People
Ecotourism and Research 1
Relationship to People
Natural Pest Control 1
Living or Extinct
Yes 2
Conservation Status
Least Concern 2
Activity Pattern
Nocturnal 1
Comparison
CITES Appendix
Not Listed 1
Connections

Child Taxon Of

Emballonuridae, Taxa
Source Mammal Diversity Database: Diclidurus albus - Mammal Diversity Database

In Biome

Riparian Zone, Biomes
Source Animal Diversity Web: Diclidurus albus (northern ghost bat)
Tropical Rainforest, Biomes
Source Animal Diversity Web: Diclidurus albus (northern ghost bat)
In the Other Atlases

Found In

Belize

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Mammal Diversity Database: Diclidurus albus - Mammal Diversity DatabaseCountry distribution, Belize
Quote, Country distribution, Belize
Country distribution Belize · Bolivia · Brazil · Colombia · Costa Rica · Ecuador · El Salvador · French Guiana · Guatemala · Guyana · Honduras · Mexico · Nicaragua · Panama · Paraguay · Peru · Suriname · Trinidad and Tobago · Venezuela
Bolivia

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Mammal Diversity Database: Diclidurus albus - Mammal Diversity DatabaseCountry distribution, Bolivia
Quote, Country distribution, Bolivia
Country distribution Belize · Bolivia · Brazil · Colombia · Costa Rica · Ecuador · El Salvador · French Guiana · Guatemala · Guyana · Honduras · Mexico · Nicaragua · Panama · Paraguay · Peru · Suriname · Trinidad and Tobago · Venezuela
Brazil

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Mammal Diversity Database: Diclidurus albus - Mammal Diversity DatabaseCountry distribution, Brazil
Quote, Country distribution, Brazil
Country distribution Belize · Bolivia · Brazil · Colombia · Costa Rica · Ecuador · El Salvador · French Guiana · Guatemala · Guyana · Honduras · Mexico · Nicaragua · Panama · Paraguay · Peru · Suriname · Trinidad and Tobago · Venezuela
Colombia

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Mammal Diversity Database: Diclidurus albus - Mammal Diversity DatabaseCountry distribution, Colombia
Quote, Country distribution, Colombia
Country distribution Belize · Bolivia · Brazil · Colombia · Costa Rica · Ecuador · El Salvador · French Guiana · Guatemala · Guyana · Honduras · Mexico · Nicaragua · Panama · Paraguay · Peru · Suriname · Trinidad and Tobago · Venezuela
Costa Rica

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Mammal Diversity Database: Diclidurus albus - Mammal Diversity DatabaseCountry distribution, Costa Rica
Quote, Country distribution, Costa Rica
Country distribution Belize · Bolivia · Brazil · Colombia · Costa Rica · Ecuador · El Salvador · French Guiana · Guatemala · Guyana · Honduras · Mexico · Nicaragua · Panama · Paraguay · Peru · Suriname · Trinidad and Tobago · Venezuela
Ecuador

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Mammal Diversity Database: Diclidurus albus - Mammal Diversity DatabaseCountry distribution, Ecuador
Quote, Country distribution, Ecuador
Country distribution Belize · Bolivia · Brazil · Colombia · Costa Rica · Ecuador · El Salvador · French Guiana · Guatemala · Guyana · Honduras · Mexico · Nicaragua · Panama · Paraguay · Peru · Suriname · Trinidad and Tobago · Venezuela
El Salvador

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Mammal Diversity Database: Diclidurus albus - Mammal Diversity DatabaseCountry distribution, El Salvador
Quote, Country distribution, El Salvador
Country distribution Belize · Bolivia · Brazil · Colombia · Costa Rica · Ecuador · El Salvador · French Guiana · Guatemala · Guyana · Honduras · Mexico · Nicaragua · Panama · Paraguay · Peru · Suriname · Trinidad and Tobago · Venezuela
Guatemala

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Mammal Diversity Database: Diclidurus albus - Mammal Diversity DatabaseCountry distribution, Guatemala
Quote, Country distribution, Guatemala
Country distribution Belize · Bolivia · Brazil · Colombia · Costa Rica · Ecuador · El Salvador · French Guiana · Guatemala · Guyana · Honduras · Mexico · Nicaragua · Panama · Paraguay · Peru · Suriname · Trinidad and Tobago · Venezuela
Guyana

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Mammal Diversity Database: Diclidurus albus - Mammal Diversity DatabaseCountry distribution, Guyana
Quote, Country distribution, Guyana
Country distribution Belize · Bolivia · Brazil · Colombia · Costa Rica · Ecuador · El Salvador · French Guiana · Guatemala · Guyana · Honduras · Mexico · Nicaragua · Panama · Paraguay · Peru · Suriname · Trinidad and Tobago · Venezuela
Honduras

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Mammal Diversity Database: Diclidurus albus - Mammal Diversity DatabaseCountry distribution, Honduras
Quote, Country distribution, Honduras
Country distribution Belize · Bolivia · Brazil · Colombia · Costa Rica · Ecuador · El Salvador · French Guiana · Guatemala · Guyana · Honduras · Mexico · Nicaragua · Panama · Paraguay · Peru · Suriname · Trinidad and Tobago · Venezuela
Mexico

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Mammal Diversity Database: Diclidurus albus - Mammal Diversity DatabaseCountry distribution, Mexico
Quote, Country distribution, Mexico
Country distribution Belize · Bolivia · Brazil · Colombia · Costa Rica · Ecuador · El Salvador · French Guiana · Guatemala · Guyana · Honduras · Mexico · Nicaragua · Panama · Paraguay · Peru · Suriname · Trinidad and Tobago · Venezuela
Nicaragua

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Mammal Diversity Database: Diclidurus albus - Mammal Diversity DatabaseCountry distribution, Nicaragua
Quote, Country distribution, Nicaragua
Country distribution Belize · Bolivia · Brazil · Colombia · Costa Rica · Ecuador · El Salvador · French Guiana · Guatemala · Guyana · Honduras · Mexico · Nicaragua · Panama · Paraguay · Peru · Suriname · Trinidad and Tobago · Venezuela
Panama

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Mammal Diversity Database: Diclidurus albus - Mammal Diversity DatabaseCountry distribution, Panama
Quote, Country distribution, Panama
Country distribution Belize · Bolivia · Brazil · Colombia · Costa Rica · Ecuador · El Salvador · French Guiana · Guatemala · Guyana · Honduras · Mexico · Nicaragua · Panama · Paraguay · Peru · Suriname · Trinidad and Tobago · Venezuela
Paraguay

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Mammal Diversity Database: Diclidurus albus - Mammal Diversity DatabaseCountry distribution, Paraguay
Quote, Country distribution, Paraguay
Country distribution Belize · Bolivia · Brazil · Colombia · Costa Rica · Ecuador · El Salvador · French Guiana · Guatemala · Guyana · Honduras · Mexico · Nicaragua · Panama · Paraguay · Peru · Suriname · Trinidad and Tobago · Venezuela
Peru

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Mammal Diversity Database: Diclidurus albus - Mammal Diversity DatabaseCountry distribution, Peru
Quote, Country distribution, Peru
Country distribution Belize · Bolivia · Brazil · Colombia · Costa Rica · Ecuador · El Salvador · French Guiana · Guatemala · Guyana · Honduras · Mexico · Nicaragua · Panama · Paraguay · Peru · Suriname · Trinidad and Tobago · Venezuela
Suriname

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Mammal Diversity Database: Diclidurus albus - Mammal Diversity DatabaseCountry distribution, Suriname
Quote, Country distribution, Suriname
Country distribution Belize · Bolivia · Brazil · Colombia · Costa Rica · Ecuador · El Salvador · French Guiana · Guatemala · Guyana · Honduras · Mexico · Nicaragua · Panama · Paraguay · Peru · Suriname · Trinidad and Tobago · Venezuela
Trinidad and Tobago

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Mammal Diversity Database: Diclidurus albus - Mammal Diversity DatabaseCountry distribution, Trinidad and Tobago
Quote, Country distribution, Trinidad and Tobago
Country distribution Belize · Bolivia · Brazil · Colombia · Costa Rica · Ecuador · El Salvador · French Guiana · Guatemala · Guyana · Honduras · Mexico · Nicaragua · Panama · Paraguay · Peru · Suriname · Trinidad and Tobago · Venezuela
Venezuela

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Mammal Diversity Database: Diclidurus albus - Mammal Diversity DatabaseCountry distribution, Venezuela
Quote, Country distribution, Venezuela
Country distribution Belize · Bolivia · Brazil · Colombia · Costa Rica · Ecuador · El Salvador · French Guiana · Guatemala · Guyana · Honduras · Mexico · Nicaragua · Panama · Paraguay · Peru · Suriname · Trinidad and Tobago · Venezuela
Sources
1. Animal Diversity Web: Diclidurus albus (northern ghost bat)
Animal Diversity Web
  • Food Habits
    northern ghost bats are insectivorous.
  • Habitat Regions
    terrestrial
  • Behavior
    Northern ghost bats are nocturnal and roost under palms during the day.
  • Conservation Status, CITES
    CITES No special status
  • Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
    may help draw ecotourists to an area
  • Economic Importance for Humans: Positive, pest control
    Northern ghost bats may be important in helping keep agricultural pest populations in check
  • In Biome: Tropical Rainforest, Habitat
    Northern ghost bats prefer humid habitats like riparian and tropical rainforests
  • In Biome: Riparian Zone, Habitat, riparian
    Northern ghost bats prefer humid habitats like riparian and tropical rainforests
View the Source
2. Mammal Diversity Database: Diclidurus albus - Mammal Diversity Database
Mammal Diversity Database
  • IUCN Red List status
    IUCN Red List status Least Concern
  • Species status
    Species status Living
  • Child Taxon Of: Emballonuridae, Taxonomy
    Family: Emballonuridae
View the Source
Northern ghost bat (Wikipedia)
In Group: Bats (Chiroptera), Lead
Quote, In Group: Bats (Chiroptera), Lead
is a bat species from South America, Trinidad, and Central America.
View the Source
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to share a thought.
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.