AnimaliaHighest rank in taxonomy. Groups all life into domains: Animalia, Plantae, Fungi, etc.IUCN LCInternational Union for Conservation of Nature — the world authority on species extinction risk, using standardized criteria. — Least Concern — widespread and abundant; not at immediate risk of extinction.In ProgressCurrent stage of this record in the editorial review workflow. Recent Sighting
Carollia perspicillata
Seba's Short-tailed Bat
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Detailed Texts Multi-lang
Carollia perspicillata is a small to medium-sized bat, incredibly abundant in the Neotropics. Its fur is dense, soft, and silky, varying from dark brown to reddish-chestnut or grayish, depending on the region and age. It possesses a prominent, fleshy, spear-shaped 'nose-leaf' used to emit directional echolocation pulses. As its name suggests, its tail is extremely short, reduced to a small stump that barely protrudes from the interfemoral membrane (uropatagium), which has a V-shaped notch. Unlike large fruit bats (like Artibeus), Carollia has a more elongated snout, excellently adapted for plucking elongated fruits from its favorite plant. It is an agile and fast flyer, capable of maneuvering in the dense understory.
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TaxonomyBiological classification ranks placing this species within the tree of life, from Kingdom down to Genus.
PhylumRank below Kingdom. Groups organisms sharing a fundamental body plan (e.g., Chordata = vertebrates and some invertebrates).Chordata
ClassRank below Phylum. Subdivides by structural traits (e.g., Mammalia, Aves, Reptilia, Insecta).Mammalia
OrderRank below Class. Groups related families sharing common ancestry (e.g., Carnivora, Primates).Chiroptera
FamilyRank below Order. Groups closely related genera (e.g., Felidae = cats, Canidae = dogs).Phyllostomidae
GenusRank just above Species. The first word in the two-part binomial scientific name.Carollia
Taxonomic AuthorityThe scientist who first formally described and published this species, followed by the year of publication.(Linnaeus, 1758)
Record Completeness
85%Coming soon
Ecology & StatusHow this species lives: habitat preferences, diet, behavior, population status, and role in its ecosystem.
OriginWhether the species is native (evolved here), endemic (found only here), or introduced by human activity.
Native
Population TrendDirection of change in population size over time: increasing, stable, decreasing, or unknown.
Stable
Breeding SeasonTime of year when this species typically reproduces or flowers.
Year Round
Trophic RolePosition in the food chain: producer, herbivore, carnivore, omnivore, decomposer, or parasite.
Herbivore
Recent SightingsWhether this species has been observed in the wild in Costa Rica within recent years.
Yes
Habitat SummaryOverview of the specific ecosystems and environments where this species is found in Costa Rica. Multi-lang
It is a habitat generalist, extremely adaptable and resilient to human disturbance. It thrives in primary wet forests but is even more abundant in secondary forests, ecotones, agricultural plantations, and rural gardens. To rest during the day, it uses a wide variety of dark roosts: caves, tunnels, abandoned mines, culverts, hollow logs, and often abandoned human structures. In Costa Rica, it is distributed throughout the territory from sea level to 1,500 meters in elevation.BehaviourDaily activity patterns, movement, territory use, foraging style, and seasonal behavioral changes. Multi-lang
It is an understory foraging bat. It goes out to forage right after sunset. It plucks the entire fruit in flight and takes it to a nocturnal 'feeding roost' to chew it, ingest the juice and small seeds, and spit out the fiber. They store an incredible spatial map in their memory, visiting the same patches of Piper plants night after night as new fruits ripen.Social ActivitySocial structure: whether the species is solitary, paired, or colonial; hierarchy and communication. Multi-lang
Highly gregarious species with a harem social structure. Colonies can group from dozens to hundreds of individuals. A dominant male actively defends a group of females (and the best roost site) against other rival males through vocalizations and wing strikes.Feeding GuildWhat the species eats, how it forages or hunts, and its role as a consumer in the food web. Multi-lang
Frugivore (Specialist in Piper spp., occasionally consumes insects and nectar).Trophic Chain DetailsSpecific interactions in local food webs: prey species, predators, competitors, and scavengers. Multi-lang
Primary consumer (Frugivore). Being so abundant, they are a fundamental link in the diet of nocturnal raptors, arboreal snakes (boas), giant cave spiders, and carnivorous bats like Vampyrum spectrum.Reproductive BehaviourMating strategies, courtship displays, nesting or spawning behavior, and parental care. Multi-lang
They exhibit bimodal polyestry, with two birth peaks per year that evolved to coincide with the maximum fruiting level of the forest (typically March-May and June-August). Gestation lasts 115 to 120 days. A single pup is born covered in sparse fur and with open eyes. The mother carries the pup during foraging flights for the first few days, a tremendous energetic cost.Physical Measures
Length (cm)
4.5 - 6.5 cm
Weight (Grams)
15 g - 25 g
Offspring per cycleTypical number of young (live births, eggs, or seeds) produced by one adult in a single reproductive event or breeding season.1 - 1
Sexual DimorphismObservable physical differences between males and females of the same species (e.g., size, coloration, features).Yes
Lifespan
Sexual MaturityAge at which the individual becomes capable of reproducing for the first time.
12 - 18 Months
Gestation / IncubationDuration from fertilization to birth (mammals) or to hatching (egg-laying species).
115 - 120
Lifespan EstimatedExpected duration of life from birth to natural death under wild conditions.
Males2 - 10 Years
Females2 - 10 Years
Sexual DimorphismPhysical differences in size, coloration, or morphology between males and females of this species.
Males Multi-lang
Dominant males tend to be slightly more robust, aggressively defend harems, and often show more dental wear or scars from territorial fights.
Females Multi-lang
Slightly smaller than harem males, but indistinguishable to the naked eye in flight.
Evolutionary AdaptationsInherited traits and behaviors that improve the species' survival and reproduction in its specific environment. Multi-lang
Olfactory Specialization (Bat-Piper Syndrome): They possess an extremely acute sense of smell evolutionarily tuned to detect the scent of ripe fruits from the Piper genus (pepper plants). They can locate these small fruiting plants in the dark, dense understory, ignoring other scents.
Hovering Flight: Unlike heavier bats, Carollia can pause in mid-air (hover) for a few brief seconds in front of the plant to inspect the fruit by scent and pluck it with its mouth in full flight without needing to land.
Main ThreatsDocumented pressures reducing the population: habitat loss, hunting, disease, climate change, and invasive species. Multi-lang
Roost Disturbance (Caves): Unregulated cave exploration, vandalism, and the sealing of tunnels and mines destroy entire colonies that depend on these specific microclimates.
Confusion with Vampire Bats: Because they share caves and roosts with hematophagous bats (Desmodus rotundus), they often suffer collateral damage during vampire bat eradication campaigns using smoke, fire, or poisons.
Interesting FactsSurprising or notable facts that highlight what makes this species unique or ecologically important. Multi-lang
The Architect of the Secondary Jungle: By feeding mainly on pioneer species (Piper, Cecropia, Solanum), they defecate the seeds in open areas and pastures while flying. They are responsible for initiating ecological succession, literally planting the first trees that will turn a pasture back into a forest.
Extreme Metabolism: An individual Carollia perspicillata can consume up to 50% of its own body weight in fruit every night to maintain its extremely high flight metabolic rate.