User:Als136/sandbox

= New World Leaf-nosed bat = The New World leaf-nosed bats (Phyllostomidae) are found from southern North America to South America, specifically from Mexico to northern Argentina. They are ecologically the most varied and diverse family within the order Chiroptera. Most species are insectivorous, but the phyllostomid bats include true predatory species as well as frugivores (subfamily Stenodermatinae and Carolliinae). For example, the false vampire (Vampyrum spectrum), the largest bat in the Americas, eats vertebrate prey including dove-sized birds. Members of this family have evolved to use food groups such as fruit, nectar, pollen, insects, frogs, other bats, and small vertebrates, and, in the case of the vampire bats, even blood.

Both the scientific and common names derive from their often large, lance-shaped noses, greatly reduced in some of the nectar- and pollen-feeders. Because these bats echolocate nasally, this "nose-leaf" is thought to serve some role in modifying and directing the echolocation call. Similar nose-leaves are found in some other groups of bats, most notably the Old World leaf-nosed bats. New World leaf-nosed bats are usually brown, grey, or black, although one species is white. They range in size from 4 to 13.5 cm in head-body length, and can weigh from 7 to 200 g. Most roost in fairly small groups within caves, animal burrows, or hollow trees, although some species aggregate in colonies of several hundred individuals. They do not hibernate, although some species have been reported to aestivate.

Evolution
The second most diverse group of mammals behind rodents, bats—order Chiroptera—are uniquely the only group of mammal that has evolved the ability to fly. First appearing in the Eocene epoch, they are believed to have evolved from an arboreal gliding ancestor possibly originating in South America. It is thought that the membrane comprising the bat wing, along with the uropatagium—the membrane stretching between the legs aiding in flight stabilization—was adapted from an earlier membrane used for gliding. The Phyllostomidae family, also known as New World leaf-nosed bats, is among the most ecologically diverse mammal families, and displays more morphological variation than most other mammalian families. This variation is measured by diversity in skull morphology and diet-related characteristics: Phyllostomidae is comprised of species that have evolved physical modifications for insectivory, frugivory, hematophagy, nectarivory, and omnivory. The nose-leaf—a distinctive characteristic of the family—is thought to have evolved to reflect dietary and foraging behavior of different species of Phyllostomidae and is related to echolocation. With an evolutionary history tracing back to the Oligocene, fossil and phylogenetic evidence suggests the family originated about 30 million years ago. Leaf-nosed bats evolved from Yangochiroptera and Miniopteridae with sister groups also evolving from this group. Phyllostomidae consists of 55 genera and about 180 species.

Description
New World Leaf-nosed bats are bilaterally symmetric and endothermic mammals characterized by an elaborate outgrowth of skin on their nose, called a nose-leaf, which is believed to aid in echolocation. The nose-leaf can be adorned with a vertical, concave upward leaf and/or multiple accessory leaves, varying by species. Leaf-nosed bats lack a tail, have triangular shaped ears with pointed or rounded tips, typically range from 4 cm to 13.5 cm in body size, and can have wingspans of up to 90 cm or more.

Biology and ecology
Like other bats, leaf-nosed bats are nocturnal foragers that use echolocation to locate food sources, though the food sources they are locating vary between species. Many bats in family Phyllostomidae appear to have limited reliance on echolocation, likely because frugivorous bats do not need to quickly identify flying insects like many other bats. Instead, these species of leaf-nosed fruit bats appear to use scent to identify their preferred food sources.

When they are not foraging, leaf-nosed bats roost in abandoned buildings, caves, and beneath folded leaves depending on the species. Nearly every roosting option observed in bats is represented within this family, including species that prefer to roost alone in genus Mimon and Macrophyllum as well as species that roost with thousands of other individuals daily, such as those in genus Phyllostomus, Phyllonycteris and Desmodus.

Diet
Phyllostomidae demonstrates the most diverse dietary habits of any family of bats across the globe. Because of this, general dietary patterns are categorized for each species. Furthermore, each individual species has a tendency to specialize in a particular type of diet. Dietary classification is based on the following groups: frugivore, nectarivore, insectivore, omnivore, or haematophagous. However, categorizations are based only on primary consumption habits, therefore it is not uncommon to observe species that occasionally consume food items outside of their particular classification. Usually, when leaf-nosed bats consume food outside of their primary dietary categorization, it is to ensure sufficient intake of nutrients that their primary food source may not provide. For example, nectar and ripe fruits provide sufficient amounts of carbohydrates and water, but are lacking in protein and fat. In order to meet basic nutritional requirements, leaf-nosed bats that primarily feed on fruit and nectar must also ensure sufficient protein and fat intake by consuming insects or leaves.

Most leaf-nosed bats are classified as insectivores and feed on a variety of small insects. Certain species with this classification will capture their prey either while in flight or from foliage in trees or on the ground. Carnivorous species feed on a variety of animals ranging from frogs to other bats. Desmodontinae falls into this general carnivorous category but is further distinguished by feeding exclusively on blood. In contrast, there are species in Phyllostomidae which feed exclusively on plants, gaining needed nutrients from fruits and leaves.

Life History
Leaf-nosed bats are gonochoric and partake in sexual copulation. These bats can live for 20-30 years and females become sexually active around two years of age. Female ovulation occurs from October through September. After the female mates, the gestation period ranges from 8-9 months with an initial 3-5 month diapause period during which fetus growth is slowed; this diapause period is controlled by hormones. The female gives birth to a single pup, which has both open ears and open eyes, its first set of deciduous teeth, and is fully furred at birth.

Social systems
Among species that roost in groups, there is evidence for a social hierarchy with higher ranking individuals gaining access to preferred areas of the roosting site. Solitary roosting bats on the other hand, live alone and maintain a strict fidelity to a single roosting site. In some cases, males live alone or with harems while females prefer to roost with other individuals and their pups. In nearly every species that has been studied, mothers and pups maintain a social bond that lasts beyond nursing. It appears young bats can learn food preferences from their mothers and when they are reluctant to leave the nest, mothers will nudge the infants out of the roost.

Range
New World leaf-nosed bats range from North America, in southern Arizona and the West Indies, to northern Argentina. The family inhabits a diverse array of environments and habitats ranging from forests to deserts.

Human impact
Species of New World leaf-nosed bats that inhabit forested areas are greatly affected by agricultural intensification. Specifically, it has been found that increased agricultural activity by humans causes negative conservation effects on these habitats and as a result reduces abundance and diversity of leaf-nosed bats that live there. The California leaf-nosed bat in particular is susceptible to human disruption. This species is known to create large roosts in closed mine shafts due to their potential to provide warmth and isolation. When humans enter the shafts or rework old mines, this disrupts the roosts of the leaf-nosed bats and has the potential to be detrimental to the population as a whole.

Classification
The 192 described species within 56 genera are: FAMILY PHYLLOSTOMIDAE
 * Subfamily: Brachyphyllinae
 * Genus: Brachyphylla
 * Cuban fruit-eating bat, B. nana
 * Antillean fruit-eating bat, B. cavernarum
 * Subfamily: Carolliinae
 * Genus: Carollia - short-tailed leaf-nosed bats
 * Benkeith's short-tailed bat, C. benkeithi
 * Silky short-tailed bat, 'C. brevicauda
 * Chestnut short-tailed bat, C. castanea
 * Colombian short-tailed bat, C. colombiana
 * Manu short-tailed bat, C. manu
 * Mono's short-tailed bat, C. monohernandezi
 * Seba's short-tailed bat, C. perspicillata
 * Sowell's short-tailed bat, C. sowelli
 * Gray short-tailed bat, C. subrufa
 * Genus: Rhinophylla
 * Hairy little fruit bat, R. alethina
 * Fischer's little fruit bat, R. fischerae
 * Dwarf little fruit bat, R. pumilio
 * Subfamily: Desmodontinae - vampire bats
 * Genus: Desmodus
 * Giant vampire bat - D. draculae†,
 * Cuban vampire bat - D. puntajudensis†
 * Common vampire bat - D. rotundus
 * Stock's vampire bat - D. stocki†,
 * Genus: Diaemus
 * White-winged vampire bat, D. youngi
 * Genus: Diphylla
 * Hairy-legged vampire bat, D. ecaudata
 * Subfamily: Glossophaginae
 * Tribe Glossophagini
 * Genus: Anoura - Geoffroy's long-nosed bats
 * Anoura aequatoris
 * Cadena's tailless bat, A. cadenai
 * Tailed tailless bat, A. caudifera
 * Handley's tailless bat, A. cultrata
 * Tube-lipped nectar bat, A. fistulata
 * Geoffroy's tailless bat, A. geoffroyi
 * Broad-toothed tailless bat, A. latidens
 * Luis Manuel's tailless bat, A. luismanueli
 * Anoura peruana
 * Genus: Choeroniscus
 * Godman's long-tailed bat, C. godmani
 * Greater long-tailed bat, C. periosus
 * Minor long-nosed long-tongued bat, C. minor
 * Genus: Choeronycteris
 * Mexican long-tongued bat (hog-nosed bat), C. mexicana
 * Genus: Glossophaga
 * Commissaris's long-tongued bat, G. commissarisi
 * Gray long-tongued bat, G. leachii
 * Miller's long-tongued bat, G. longirostris
 * Western long-tongued bat, G. morenoi
 * Pallas's long-tongued bat, G. soricina
 * Genus: Hylonycteris
 * Underwood's long-tongued bat, H. underwoodi
 * Genus: Leptonycteris - Saussure's long-nosed bats
 * Southern long-nosed bat, L. curasoae
 * Big long-nosed bat or Mexican long-nosed bat, L. nivalis
 * Lesser long-nosed bat or Mexican long-nosed bat, L. yerbabuenae
 * Genus: Lichonycteris
 * Dark long-tongued bat, L. obscura
 * Genus: Monophyllus
 * Insular single leaf bat, M. plethodon
 * Leach's single leaf bat, M. redmani
 * Genus: Musonycteris
 * Banana bat (Colima long-nosed bat), M. harrisoni
 * Genus: Scleronycteris
 * Ega long-tongued bat, S. ega
 * Tribe Lonchophyllini
 * Genus: Lionycteris
 * Chestnut long-tongued bat, L. spurrelli
 * Genus: Lonchophylla
 * Bokermann's nectar bat, L. bokermanni
 * Cadena's long-tongued bat, L. cadenai
 * Chocoan long-tongued bat, L. chocoana
 * Lonchophylla concava
 * Dekeyser's nectar bat, L. dekeyseri
 * Arched nectar bat, L. fornicata
 * Handley's nectar bat, L. handleyi
 * Western nectar bat, L. hesperia
 * Goldman's nectar bat, L. mordax
 * Orcés’s long-tongued bat, L. orcesi
 * Lonchophylla orienticollina
 * Patton's long-tongued bat, L. pattoni
 * Lonchophylla peracchii
 * Orange nectar bat, L. robusta
 * Thomas's nectar bat, L. thomasi
 * Genus: Platalina
 * Long-snouted bat, P. genovensium
 * Genus: Xeronycteris
 * Vieira's long-tongued bat, X. vieirai
 * Subfamily: Phyllonycterinae
 * Genus: Erophylla - brown flower bats
 * Brown flower bat, E. bombifrons
 * Buffy flower bat, E. sezekorni
 * Genus: Phyllonycteris - Jamaican flower bats
 * Jamaican flower bat, P. aphylla
 * Puerto Rican flower bat, P. major
 * Cuban flower bat, P. poeyi
 * Subfamily: Phyllostominae
 * Tribe Micronycterini
 * Genus: Glyphonycteris
 * Behn's bat, G. behnii
 * Davies's big-eared bat, G. daviesi
 * Tricolored big-eared bat, G. sylvestris
 * Genus: Lampronycteris
 * Yellow-throated big-eared bat, L. brachyotis
 * Genus: Macrotus - leaf-nosed bats
 * California leaf-nosed bat, M. californicus
 * Waterhouse's leaf-nosed bat, M. waterhousii
 * Genus: Micronycteris - little big-eared bats
 * Brosset's big-eared bat, M. brosseti
 * Giovanni's big-eared bat, M. giovanniae
 * Hairy big-eared bat, M. hirsuta
 * Pirlot's big-eared bat, M. homezi
 * Matses' big-eared bat, M. matses
 * Little big-eared bat, M. megalotis
 * Common big-eared bat, M. microtis
 * White-bellied big-eared bat, M. minuta
 * Sanborn's big-eared bat, M. sanborni
 * Schmidts's big-eared bat, M. schmidtorum
 * Genus: Neonycteris
 * Least big-eared bat, N. pusilla
 * Genus: Trinycteris
 * Niceforo's big-eared bat, T. nicefori
 * Tribe Vampyrini
 * Genus: Chrotopterus
 * Big-eared woolly bat, C. auritus
 * Genus: Lophostoma
 * Pygmy round-eared bat, L. brasiliense
 * Carriker's round-eared bat, L. carrikeri
 * Davis's round-eared bat, L. evotis
 * Western round-eared bat, L. occidentalis
 * Schultz's round-eared bat, L. schulzi
 * White-throated round-eared bat, L. silvicolum
 * Yasuni round-eared bat, L. yasuni
 * Genus: Tonatia - round-eared bats
 * Greater round-eared bat, T. bidens
 * Stripe-headed round-eared bat, T. saurophila
 * Genus: Trachops
 * Fringe-lipped bat, T. cirrhosus
 * Genus: Vampyrum
 * Spectral bat, V. spectrum
 * Tribe Lonchorhinini
 * Genus: Lonchorhina - sword-nosed bats
 * Tomes's sword-nosed bat, L. aurita
 * Fernandez's sword-nosed bat, L. fernandezi
 * Northern sword-nosed bat, L. inusitata
 * Marinkelle's sword-nosed bat, L. marinkellei
 * Orinoco sword-nosed bat, L. orinocensis
 * Genus: Macrophyllum
 * Long-legged bat, M. macrophyllum
 * Genus: Mimon - Gray's spear-nosed bats
 * Golden bat, M. bennettii
 * Cozumelan golden bat, M. cozumelae
 * Striped hairy-nosed bat, M. crenulatum
 * Koepcke's hairy-nosed bat, M. koepckeae
 * Tribe Phyllostomatini
 * Genus: Phylloderma - Peters's spear-nosed bat
 * Pale-faced bat, P. stenops
 * Genus: Phyllostomus - spear-nosed bats
 * Pale spear-nosed bat, P. discolor
 * Lesser spear-nosed bat, P. elongatus
 * Greater spear-nosed bat, P. hastatus
 * Guianan spear-nosed bat, P. latifolius
 * Subfamily: Stenodermatinae
 * Genus: Ametrida
 * Little white-shouldered bat, A. centurio
 * Genus: Ardops
 * Tree bat, A. nichollsi
 * Genus: Ariteus
 * Jamaican fig-eating bat, A. flavescens
 * Genus: Artibeus - Neotropical fruit bats
 * Subgenus: Artibeus
 * Large fruit-eating bat, A. amplus
 * Fringed fruit-eating bat, A. fimbriatus
 * Fraternal fruit-eating bat, A. fraterculus
 * Hairy fruit-eating bat, A. hirsutus
 * Honduran fruit-eating bat, A. inopinatus
 * Jamaican fruit bat, A. jamaicensis
 * Great fruit-eating bat, A. lituratus
 * Dark fruit-eating bat, A. obscurus
 * Flat-faced fruit-eating bat, A. planirostris
 * Artibeus schwartzi
 * Subgenus: Dermanura
 * Andersen's fruit-eating bat, A. anderseni
 * Aztec fruit-eating bat, A. aztecus
 * Bogota fruit-eating bat, A. bogotensis
 * Gervais's fruit-eating bat, A. cinereus
 * Silver fruit-eating bat, A. glaucus
 * Gnome fruit-eating bat, A. gnomus
 * Solitary fruit-eating bat, A. incomitatus
 * Pygmy fruit-eating bat, A. phaeotis
 * Rosenberg's fruit-eating bat, A. rosenbergi
 * Toltec fruit-eating bat, A. toltecus
 * Thomas's fruit-eating bat, A. watsoni
 * Subgenus: Koopmania
 * Brown fruit-eating bat, K. concolor
 * Genus: Centurio
 * Wrinkle-faced bat, C. senex
 * Genus: Chiroderma - big-eyed bats or white-lined bats
 * Brazilian big-eyed bat, C. doriae
 * Guadeloupe big-eyed bat, C. improvisum
 * Salvin's big-eyed bat, C. salvini
 * Little big-eyed bat, C. trinitatum
 * Hairy big-eyed bat, C. villosum
 * Genus: Ectophylla
 * Honduran white bat, E. alba
 * Genus: Enchisthenes
 * Velvety fruit-eating bat, E. hartii
 * Genus: Mesophylla
 * MacConnell's bat, M. macconnelli
 * Genus: Phyllops - falcate-winged bats
 * Cuban fig-eating bat, P. falcatus
 * Genus: Platyrrhinus
 * Alberico's broad-nosed bat, P. albericoi
 * Platyrrhinus aquilus
 * Platyrrhinus angustirostris
 * Eldorado broad-nosed bat, P. (Vampyrops) aurarius
 * Short-headed broad-nosed bat, 'P. (Vampyrops) brachycephalus
 * Choco broad-nosed bat, P. chocoensis
 * Thomas's broad-nosed bat, P. (Vampyrops) dorsalis
 * Platyrrhinus fusciventris
 * Heller's broad-nosed bat, P. (Vampyrops) helleri
 * Platyrrhinus incarum
 * Buffy broad-nosed bat, P. (Vampyrops) infuscus
 * Ismael's broad-nosed bat, P. ismaeli
 * White-lined broad-nosed bat, P. (Vampyrops) lineatus
 * Quechua broad-nosed bat, P. masu
 * Matapalo broad-nosed bat, P. matapalensis
 * Geoffroy's rayed bat, P. nigellus
 * Platyrrhinus nitelinea
 * Recife broad-nosed bat, P. (Vampyrops) recifinus
 * Shadowy broad-nosed bat, P. umbratus
 * Greater broad-nosed bat, P. (Vampyrops) vittatus
 * Genus: Pygoderma
 * Ipanema bat, P. bilabiatum
 * Genus: Sphaeronycteris
 * Visored bat, S. toxophyllum
 * Genus: Stenoderma
 * Red fruit bat, S. rufum
 * Genus: Sturnira - yellow-shouldered bats or American epauleted bats
 * Aratathomas's yellow-shouldered bat, 'S. aratathomasi
 * Bidentate yellow-shouldered bat, S. bidens
 * Bogota yellow-shouldered bat, S. bogotensis
 * Hairy yellow-shouldered bat, S. erythromos
 * Chocó yellow-shouldered bat, S. koopmanhilli
 * little yellow-shouldered bat, S. lilium
 * Highland yellow-shouldered bat, S. ludovici
 * Louis's yellow-shouldered bat, S. luisi
 * Greater yellow-shouldered bat, S. magna
 * Mistratoan yellow-shouldered bat, S. mistratensis
 * Talamancan yellow-shouldered bat, S. mordax
 * Lesser yellow-shouldered bat, S. nana
 * Tschudi's yellow-shouldered bat, S. oporaphilum
 * Sturnira perla Jarrin-V & Kunz, 2011
 * Soriano's yellow-shouldered bat, S. sorianoi
 * Thomas's yellow-shouldered bat, S. thomasi
 * Tilda's yellow-shouldered bat, S. tildae
 * Genus: Uroderma - tent-building bats
 * Tent-making bat, U. bilobatum
 * Brown tent-making bat, U. magnirostrum
 * Genus: Vampyressa - yellow-eared bats
 * Vampyressa elisabethae
 * Melissa's yellow-eared bat, V. melissa
 * Southern little yellow-eared bat, V. pusilla
 * Vampyressa sinchi
 * Northern little yellow-eared bat, V. thyone
 * Genus: Vampyriscus
 * Bidentate yellow-eared bat, V. bidens
 * Brock's yellow-eared bat, V. brocki
 * Striped yellow-eared bat, V. nymphaea
 * Genus: Vampyrodes
 * Great stripe-faced bat, V. caraccioli