Great Fruit-eating Bat (Artibeus lituratus)

 

 

Artibeus lituratus is widely distributed in the tropical Americas, from Mexico to northern Argentina, in the Lesser Antilles, Trinidad, and Tobago. It inhabits tropical forests, woodlands, and parks, roosting in forest canopy, tree cavities, caves or man-made structures; lowlands to 1,700 m. This species is one of the largest fruit eating bats in the Neotropics (the forearm length 70-80 mm, weight 65-73 g). The Great Fruit-eating Bats are polygamous, and live in harems made up of one male and 2-5 females. They demonstrate a group-foraging behavior, and likely have strong family or social bonds. We witnessed a vocal exchange between a recently released female A. lituratus, and another female of about the same size, which was still being measured. The former bat circled over, waiting for the latter to be released; then they flew away together. A. lituratus feeds on various fruits, playing a significant seed-dispersing role in the ecosystem. It also consumes nectar, pollen, flowers, and insects.

This species is often parasitized by the bat flies (family Streblidae), seen as the yellow seed-like objects in the bat's fur in the images below.

		D37487 Great Fruit-eating Bat (Artibeus lituratus) Reserva Ecológica de Guapiaçu, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved
		D37489 Great Fruit-eating Bat (Artibeus lituratus) Reserva Ecológica de Guapiaçu, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved
		D37493 Great Fruit-eating Bat (Artibeus lituratus) Reserva Ecológica de Guapiaçu, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved
		D37473 Great Fruit-eating Bat (Artibeus lituratus) Reserva Ecológica de Guapiaçu, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved
		D37479 Great Fruit-eating Bat (Artibeus lituratus) Reserva Ecológica de Guapiaçu, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved
		D37464 Great Fruit-eating Bat (Artibeus lituratus) Reserva Ecológica de Guapiaçu, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved
		D37472 Great Fruit-eating Bat (Artibeus lituratus) Reserva Ecológica de Guapiaçu, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved
		D37462 Great Fruit-eating Bat (Artibeus lituratus) Reserva Ecológica de Guapiaçu, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved

 

		D40249 Great Fruit-eating Bat (Artibeus lituratus) Reserva Ecológica de Guapiaçu, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved
		D37279 Great Fruit-eating Bat (Artibeus lituratus) Reserva Ecológica de Guapiaçu, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved
		D40724 Great Fruit-eating Bat (Artibeus lituratus) Reserva Ecológica de Guapiaçu, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved
		D37282 Great Fruit-eating Bat (Artibeus lituratus) Reserva Ecológica de Guapiaçu, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved
		D40245 Great Fruit-eating Bat (Artibeus lituratus) Reserva Ecológica de Guapiaçu, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved
		D37278 Great Fruit-eating Bat (Artibeus lituratus) Reserva Ecológica de Guapiaçu, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved
		D37283 Great Fruit-eating Bat (Artibeus lituratus) Reserva Ecológica de Guapiaçu, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved
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