Disk-Winged Bats: Thyropteridae

These bats are found in Central and South America, east of the Andes, including southern Nicaragua to the Guianas and Peru, and southern Mexico to Bolivia and southern Brazil, and Trinidad.

Disk-winged bats live in the moist parts of forests. They are common in many areas, and in Costa Rica there are up to four colonies (groups) for every 2.5 acres (1 hectare). They generally roost (rest or settle) in a curled leaf of some plant, such as the heliconia plant or the banana tree, before the leaf opens.

Disk-winged bats eat insects.

People have caused the decline in this family's population due to disturbing and destroying their natural habitat. Because they feed on insects, these bats eat many insects that people may consider pests.

Although these bats are common in some areas, the IUCN lists Thyroptera lavali as Vulnerable. In 1999, findings observed that Thyroptera lavali was restricted to a small area in extreme northeastern Peru.