Jamaican Fruit Bat
Scientific Name: Artibeus jamaicensis
Habitat: forests, caves, rock overhangs, hollow trees
Diet: figs, mangos, papaya, pollen, nectar, insects
Life span: 2-3 years (up to 9 years in captivity)
Young: 1-2 pups/litter, twice per year
Size: average 46 g (1.62 oz)
The Jamaican fruit-eating bat lives in harems of up to 14 females with one male.
Their nose has a small leaf-like flap consisting of skin, muscle and cartilage which aids in echolocation.
This bat carries fruit back to dining roosts where they squeeze out the juice and drop the left-over flesh of the fruit to the ground. Their digestion is very rapid, with food passing through their system in 15-20 minutes. Fruit bats are important seed dispersers.
Learn more about this species:
These are some other websites that we think have more great information about this species.
Jamaican fruit bat on Animal Diversity Web
For More Information
Edmonton Valley Zoo
13315 Buena Vista Road (87th Avenue)
PO Box 2359
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 2R7
| attractions@edmonton.ca |
Range
Range: Central America and northern South America
Status in the Wild
Status: thriving
