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
Artibeus jamaicensis
Jamaican Fruit Bat
Leach, 1821
Detailed Texts Multi-lang
Artibeus jamaicensis is a medium to large-sized bat with a robust and compact body. Its fur is short and velvety, ranging from grayish-brown to dark brown. Two notable features stand out on its face: a prominent spear-shaped 'nose-leaf' (typical of its family, used for echolocation) and faint, pale facial stripes above and below the eyes, though they are usually less pronounced than in other species of its genus. It lacks a visible tail, and the membrane between its hind legs (uropatagium) has a 'U' or 'V'-shaped notch. It has unusually strong and broad jaws, perfectly designed for carrying and crushing hard fruits like figs.
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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.Artibeus
Taxonomic AuthorityThe scientist who first formally described and published this species, followed by the year of publication.Leach, 1821
Record Completeness
95%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 one of the most abundant and adaptable species in the Neotropics. It inhabits primary and secondary tropical rainforests, dry forests, cloud forests, and is extremely common in human-modified landscapes such as banana plantations, urban gardens, and parks. It uses a wide variety of roosts to sleep, including lit caves, tunnels, dense foliage, tree hollows, and frequently, the roofs of human buildings. In Costa Rica, it is ubiquitous in almost all territories up to 2,000 meters above sea level.BehaviourDaily activity patterns, movement, territory use, foraging style, and seasonal behavioral changes. Multi-lang
It is a nocturnal forager that flies quickly through the subcanopy and canopy searching for fruits. It does not eat in the same tree where it picks the fruit; typically, it takes the fruit in its mouth and flies to a nearby 'feeding roost,' where it hangs to process the food calmly. They are highly social animals that form large harems.Social ActivitySocial structure: whether the species is solitary, paired, or colonial; hierarchy and communication. Multi-lang
Highly gregarious. It is organized into harems consisting of a single dominant male and between 3 to 25 females, plus their young. Subordinate males form bachelor groups nearby.Feeding GuildWhat the species eats, how it forages or hunts, and its role as a consumer in the food web. Multi-lang
Frugivore (Occasionally nectarivore and insectivore).Trophic Chain DetailsSpecific interactions in local food webs: prey species, predators, competitors, and scavengers. Multi-lang
Primary consumer (Frugivore). Massive seed disperser. It is hunted by arboreal boas, owls, large opossums (Didelphis) that catch them in their roosts, and occasionally large spiders and centipedes in caves.Reproductive BehaviourMating strategies, courtship displays, nesting or spawning behavior, and parental care. Multi-lang
Females experience bimodal polyestry (two reproductive peaks a year, coinciding with maximum fruiting). Gestation lasts around 115 to 120 days, but delayed embryonic development occurs in some populations. A single pup is born per birth. Pups are born with open eyes and hairless. During the first days of life, the mother flies carrying the pup attached to her chest; later she leaves it at the roost while foraging.Physical Measures
Length (cm)
7.0 - 9.5 cm
Weight (Grams)
40 g - 65 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).No
Lifespan
Sexual MaturityAge at which the individual becomes capable of reproducing for the first time.
8 - 12 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.
Males5 - 10 Years
Females5 - 10 Years
Evolutionary AdaptationsInherited traits and behaviors that improve the species' survival and reproduction in its specific environment. Multi-lang
Pellet Food Processing: To avoid swallowing unnecessary fiber that would add flight weight, they chew the fruit, extract the juices, and swallow the small seeds. They then spit out the dry fibrous pulp as small 'pellets' under their feeding roosts.
Specialized Smell and Nose-Leaf: Although they use echolocation (emitted through their nose-leaf) to navigate in the dark, they rely heavily on an acute sense of smell to detect ripe fruit trees at long distances in the dense jungle.
Main ThreatsDocumented pressures reducing the population: habitat loss, hunting, disease, climate change, and invasive species. Multi-lang
Human Persecution: By seeking shelter in the roofs of houses, they are often exterminated by people who consider them noisy pests or mistakenly confuse them with vampire bats.
Interesting FactsSurprising or notable facts that highlight what makes this species unique or ecologically important. Multi-lang
The King of Figs: They are specialists in consuming figs (Ficus spp.). By flying long distances and defecating while in flight, they disperse millions of seeds every night, being responsible for the regeneration of large deforested areas (pioneer species).
Lunar Phobia: Their flight and foraging activity decreases drastically during full moon nights. This 'lunar phobia' is an evolutionary strategy to avoid detection by visual predators, such as owls.