MacConnell's Bat (Mesophylla macconnelli) lives in tropical rainforest across South America. It feeds on insects and fruit. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
Fascinating facts about the MacConnell's Bat
- MacConnell's Bats build their own leaf tents at night, made of bifid palm leaflets, Cyclanthaceae leaves, or Anthurium or Geonoma fronds in primary forest. Groups occupying these tents number 3 - 8 individuals, typically a mix of lactating females, young, and 1 - 2 adult males.
- The bat's range stretches from Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama down through Colombia, Venezuela, the Guianas, Brazil, Ecuador, eastern Peru, and northern Bolivia, even reaching Trinidad. It inhabits evergreen and secondary rainforests from sea level up to 1 900 m, favouring lowland areas rich in palms.
- Although classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, MacConnell's Bat belongs to the bat order and shows viral diversity among mammals. High-throughput sequencing studies have highlighted bats as a hotspot for novel viruses, linking host biodiversity to viral richness.
- At just 45-49 mm from head to body and weighing only 6-8 g, MacConnell's Bat. Its forearm spans 29-34 mm, ears measure 9-13 mm, and hindfeet are 8-12 mm long.
- Female MacConnell's Bats show a bimodal breeding pattern, with pregnant individuals captured from January through March and again from July to September.
At a glance
RangeSouth America
HabitatTropical rainforest
DietInsects and fruit
About the MacConnell's Bat
In the twilight skies of the tropical rainforest, the MacConnell's bat dances on the wind, its delicate wings beating in a hypnotic rhythm as it pursues the faint whispers of insect life. With an agility that belies its small size, this diminutive creature navigates the dense foliage with ease, its large eyes shining like dark jewels in the fading light. As it flits and weaves through the shadows, its very existence is a testament to the intricate web of life that binds this ecosystem together.
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