This flying mammal feeds on the fruit of the fig tree amongst other fruits.
The Jamaican fruit bat’s slightly shiny fur is dark grey to dark brown and the wings are brown or black. The stout nose is short and has a large and pointed nasal fold. The traits that enable identification are its nasal fold and the face’s four pale bands. Like all bats it has the ability to fly, the wings are made up of long fingers linked by a membrane. Bats are adapted to grip and hang upside down. This species has the ability to fly on a distance of up to 8 km in one night in search of food. It can weigh between 40 to 60 g (1.4 to 2.1 oz) and the wingspan can measure up to 36 cm (14 inches).
It uses echolocation in order to fly and find its way in the dark, thus the hearing is well developed, however it will locate fruit on which it feeds with its sense of smell. This is an abundant species of the tropical forests of Mexico and Brazil, and in central and south America. It looks for perches in quiet areas. It feeds on a variety of fruits, mainly fig. This species is nocturnal and gregarious, and lives in a harem which includes 3 to 11 females and one male. A small colony can include many harems for a total of up to 25 individuals. One female gives birth to one or two young at a time, twice a year. Birds of prey and snakes are the main predators. The longevity can be up to 10 years in nature. The favourite grounds and habitat of the Jamaican fruit bat are quickly disappearing due to deforestation, despite this it is still a common species.
Jamaican Fruit-Eating Bat Artibeus jamaicensis
