Honduran white bats: The fluffy little bats that roost together in leaf tents

By Megan Shersby published about 21 hours ago

These tiny white bats, which can construct a leaf-made tent, are extremely picky eaters.



Roosting colony of the Honduran white bat (Ectophylla alba) under a heliconia leaf, Costa Rica.
The Honduran white bat can grow up to 1.9 inches (4.7 centimeters) long. (Image credit: André Gilden via Getty Images)

Name: Honduran white bat (Ectophylla alba)

Where it lives: Lowland rainforests of Central America

What it eats: Figs

Why it is awesome:

With fluffy white fur, a large yellow nose and ears, and weighing just 0.02 pound (9 grams), the Honduran white bat has got to be one of the cutest bats out there. It is just one of six bat species with an all-white coat, and it is easily distinguished from the others by its adorable upturned nose. It can be found in Central America from Honduras to Panama, and overlaps with only one other white bat, the northern ghost bat (Diclidurus albus).

As well as its endearing looks, the Honduran white bat is known for its ability to construct "tents" from large plant leaves, a behavior it shares with two dozen other bat species — less than 2% of the roughly 1,400 described bat species. Upon finding a suitable plant leaf, usually in the flowering plant genus Heliconia, the Honduran white bat will nibble at and cut the leaf's side veins. This causes the leaf to fold down and create a little tent, from which the bats can hide from predators.

Sometimes, multiple bats will cling to a single leaf, where they can rest during the day. Group sizes can vary from one bat to up to 17 individuals.

More:
https://www.livescience.com/animals/bats/honduran-white-bats-the-fluffy-little-bats-that-roost-together-in-leaf-tents