Lighter-striped fruit vampire
| Lighter-striped fruit vampire | ||||||||||||
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Platyrrhinus helleri |
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Platyrrhinus helleri | ||||||||||||
| ( Peters , 1866) |
The bat species Heller strip fruit vampire ( Platyrrhinus helleri ) belongs to the family of leaf noses (Phyllostomidae) and is native to Central and South America.
description
The Heller striped fruit vampire is a medium-sized representative of the genus of the striped fruit vampire . Like other species of this genus, Platyrrhinus helleri also has a distinctive light-colored stripe on its back, which begins between the ears and ends at the tail membrane, as well as a stripe above and below the eyes. The fur of the Heller striped fruit vampire is usually brown, with the peritoneum lighter than the fur on the back. It differs from other representatives of the genus Platyrrhinus by the very hairy edge of the tail membrane .
The Heller strip fruit vampire weighs on average 14 g and has a wingspan of up to 30 cm. As a representative of the leaf noses , it has a pronounced nasal blade .
The name Platyrrhinus is derived from the Greek platys (= flat, flat) and rhinos (= nose). The species name helleri , which also occurs in the German name, honors Karl Bartholomäus Heller , who collected the type of this species.
Way of life
The Heller strip fruit vampire is a species of bat that is mainly found in the tropical rainforest , although some animals have also been caught in dry tropical regions such as those in Mexico.
During the day, Platyrrhinus helleri uses caves and hollow trees as well as large leaves and palm fronds as hanging places. Man-made shelters such as tunnels, bridges and buildings are also used.
The main source of food for the Heller strip fruit vampire is figs and other fruits. In one study, figs made up an average of 67% of the stomach's content. Thus this bat species mainly furrows in the canopy and is an important seed disperser . In addition to plant food, Platyrrhinus helleri rarely eats insects.
distribution and habitat
The distribution of Platyrrhinus helleri extends from southern Mexico via Ecuador , Peru and Bolivia to western Brazil . It occurs up to an altitude of 1,500 meters above sea level. Despite the constant threat of habitat destruction, the IUCN classifies its population as stable and safe thanks to its widespread distribution and relative frequency.
literature
- CS Ferrell, DE Wilson: Platyrrhinus helleri. In: Mammalian Species . No. 373, 1991, pp. 1-5.
swell
- ^ Bonaccorso, FJ 1978. Foraging and reproductive ecology in a Panamanian bat community. Bulletin of the Florida State Museum, Biological Sciences, 24. pp. 359-408
- ↑ Platyrrhinus helleri in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species