Brachyphylla cavernarum, J. E. Gray, 1834

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Phyllostomidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 444-583 : 515

57.

Antillean Fruit-eating Bat

Brachyphylla cavernarum

French: Brachyphylle des cavernes / German: GrofRer Antillen-Fruchtvampir / Spanish: Bracéfilo de las cavernas

Taxonomy. Brachyphylla cavernarum J. E. Gray, 1834 ,

“St. Vincent's [Lesser Antilles], Indize Occidentalis [= West Indies].”

Three subspecies are recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

B.c.cavernarumJ.E.Gray,1834—USVirginIs(St.Croix)SthroughouttheLesserAntillestoSt.Vincent.

B.c.intermediaSwanepoel&Genoways,1978—PuertoRicoandBritish(NormanI)andUSVirginIs(exceptSt.Croix).

B. c. minor G. S. Miller, 1913 — Barbados.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 85-94 mm (tailless), ear 20-24 mm, hindfoot 16-23 mm, forearm 61-68 mm; weight 36-53 g. The Antillean Fruiteating Bat is the largest and most boisterous phyllostomid in its distribution. Snoutis short, with dermic folds rather than a proper noseleaf, giving it the appearance of a pig snout. Lower lip has median groove ridged by papillae. Fur is short, with bases of hairs ranging from white to yellowish and tips brown. Dorsal hairs are 9 mm long. Some regions of pelage have hairs with darker tips, giving a unique appearance. Distinctive brown patches sometimes occur on top of head and neck and back, forming V-shaped pattern beginning at shoulders. Ears are naked and brown. Uropatagium is greatly reduced and encloses minusculetail. Calcar is absent or very small. Dental formula of all species of Brachyphyllais 12/2, C 1/1, P2/2,M3/3 (x2) = 32, and molars do not have a W-pattern. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 32 and FN = 60, with metacentric and submetacentric autosomes. X-chromosome is subtelocentric, and Y-chromosome is minute. Testes are 4-7 mm.

Habitat. Xeric and mesic habitats from coasts into central mountains. The Antillean Fruit-eating Bat can be captured in understories, above canopies, and it was regularly detected higher than 20 m in an open agricultural landscape, which was interpreted as individuals commuting from large colonies to foraging areas.

Food and Feeding. The Antillean Fruit-eating Bat is omnivorous and feeds primarily on a wide variety of fruits, namely sapodilla, papaya, mango, Terminalia catappa ( Combretaceae ), Cordia ( Boraginaceae ), Andira inermis ( Fabaceae ), Calophyllum calaba ( Calophyllaceae ), and Roystonea (Arecaceae) . Remains of Coleoptera are found in a large percentage of fecal samples. Pollen is also found in feces, and in captivity, flowers from a variety of trees are readily eaten. It is not clear whether the Antillean Fruit-eating Bat feeds on nectar, as does the Cuban Fruit-eating Bat ( Brachyphylla nana ), or whether presence of pollen and insects in feces results from flower consumption.

Breeding. In Puerto Rico, the Antillean Fruit-eating Bat is polyestrous and undergoes postpartum estrus. Simultaneously pregnant and lactating females have been captured in January, March-April, June-July, and August. Lactating females have been captured in November. In St Croix, a colony of almost exclusively females with young was observed in May-June. It appears that, at any given time, part of the female population can be pregnant, lactating, post-lactating, or non-reproductive.

Activity patterns. The Antillean Fruit-eating Bat is nocturnal and departs from roosts later than all other species with which it shares a cave, more than an hour after sunset. Individuals return before first evidence of dawn. They have been observed night roosting in caves near their day roosts. They roost in caves, anthropogenic structures, crevices, and dense trees; use ofvaried roosts has been interpreted to reflect lack of better alternatives in the Lesser Antilles. In Puerto Rico, where caves are common,it has been found roosting exclusively in open ventilated caves and in the tepid areas (c.26°C) of caves, similar to the Cuban Fruit-eating Bat. Colonies typically have a few thousand individuals.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Some colonies have several thousand individuals and they use separate night roosts, suggesting that many individuals have to disperse over long distances to forage. In Puerto Rico, presence of Antillean Fruit-eating Bats in habitats where caves are absent and its detection flying at high altitudes over wind farms and agricultural areas indicates that it can commuting long distances.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Antillean Fruit-eating Bat is common, occurring on at least 13 of the 19 majorislandsin its restricted distribution. It is also found in protected areas.

Bibliography. Gannon et al. (2005), Lenoble, Angin et al. (2014), Rodriguez-Duran (1998, 2009), Rodriguez-Duran & Christenson (2012), Rodriguez-Duran & Davalos (2008), Swanepoel & Genoways (1983a), Timm & Genoways (2003).

Figures

47. Insular Single-leat Bat (Monophyllus plethodon), 48. Leach’s Single-leat Bat (Monophyllus redmani), 49. Commissaris’s L. ong-tongued Bat (Glossophaga commissaris), 50. Western Long-tongued Bat (Glossophaga morenoi), 51. Gray's Long-tongued Bat (Glossophaga leachii), 52. Miller's Long-tongued Bat (Glossophaga longirostris), 53. Pallas’s Long-tongued Bat (Glossophaga soricina), 54. Southern LLong-nosed Bat (Leptonyctenis curasoae), 55. Greater Long-nosed Bat (Leptonycteris nivalis), 56. Lesser Long-nosed Bat (Leptonycteris yerbabuenae), 57. Antillean Fruit-eating Bat (Brachyphylla cavernarum), 58. Cuban Fruit-eating Bat (Brachyphylla nana), 59. Jamaican Flower Bat (Phyllonycteris aphylla), 60. Cuban Flower Bat (Phyllonycteris poeyi), 61. Brown Flower Bat (Erophylla bombifrons), 62. Buffy Flower Bat (Erophylla sezekorni)

Subspecies and Distribution. B.c.cavernarumJ.E.Gray,1834—USVirginIs(St.Croix)SthroughouttheLesserAntillestoSt.Vincent. B.c.intermediaSwanepoel&Genoways,1978—PuertoRicoandBritish(NormanI)andUSVirginIs(exceptSt.Croix). B. c. minor G. S. Miller, 1913 — Barbados .