The pygmy fruit-eating bat (''Dermanura phaeotis'') is a bat of the family Phyllostomidae. The specific name ''phaeotis'' is of Greek derivation, coming from the word ''phaios'' meaning dusky, referring to their dusky gray coloration.

Biogeography

The pygmy fruit-eating bat is a small mammal residing in the southern parts of

North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Car ...

and northern South America. Pygmy fruit eating bats have been found at altitudes as high as 1200 m; however, they are much more commonly found at lower altitudes. The species is registered in Belize, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru and Venezuela.

Ecology

''Dermanura phaeotis'' is a species of bat that is native to tropical deciduous forest in Central America. They are flying mammals that are primarily frugivorous as their common name implies, however they will also eat pollen and insects. Populations of fruit bats are low in density but they are widespread in their regions and evenly dispersed. They are nocturnal and modify leaves to form roosts for the daytime, making ‘tents’ to take refuge beneath.

Description

''D. phaeotis'' are identified by their uniform dark brown, or pale grayish brown fur that reaches to the base of the forearms. The fur is soft and moderately thick. Pygmy fruit-eating bats have moderately sized ears that are round, brown, and usually have a white edge. They are very small mammals and they have a small body size of about and a weight between . The reproductive pattern of ''D. phaeotis'' is characterized as seasonal. They are known to have a gestation period of 112–120 days that can be stretched longer due to dormancy.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q244135 Dermanura Bats of Central America Bats of South America Bats of Brazil Bats of Mexico Mammals of Colombia Mammals of Ecuador Mammals of Guyana Mammals of Peru Mammals of Venezuela Fauna of the Amazon Mammals described in 1902