Other Free Encyclopedias :: Animal Life Resource :: Mammals and Other Warm-Blooded Animals - Vol 2

Smoky Bats: Furipteridae - Physical Characteristics, Behavior And Reproduction, Smoky Bat (furipterus Horrens): Species Account - GEOGRAPHIC RANGE, HABITAT, DIET, SMOKY BATS AND PEOPLE, CONSERVATION STATUS

SMOKY BAT (Furipterus horrens): SPECIES ACCOUNT

GEOGRAPHIC RANGE

The two species of the family are found in different areas. The thumbless bat is found west of the Andes, from central coastal Ecuador south to northern Chile. The smoky bat is found in Costa Rica, lowland Brazil, Peru and Trinidad.

HABITAT

Furipterids (members of the family Furipteridae) live in diverse habitats. The thumbless bat has been found living in lowland rainforests to the arid (extremely dry) deserts of South America to cultivated land. The smoky bat appears to have a narrower range of habitats, found primarily in lowland, moist forests. Many of these bats live in isolated populations. They are found primarily in caves, tree hollows, and human-made structures.

DIET

Bats in this family feed on insects, primarily moths and butterflies.

SMOKY BATS AND PEOPLE

People have caused the decline of the species in this family due to harming their natural habitats.

BAT RELATIVES

There are no known fossils in this family. In general, bats do not fossilize well because of their small, delicate skeletons. Scientists consider the smoky bats to be most closely related to Central and South American disk-winged bats and funnel-eared bats.

CONSERVATION STATUS

The World Conservation Union (IUCN) Red List categorizes the thumbless bat species as Vulnerable, meaning it is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild. The smoky bat is not considered threatened.