Even the Scientists call them "Cute"!

We are talking about the Honduran White Bats (Ectophylla alba).  Bats are generally considered scary and unwelcome by the layman.  As they are nocturnal and start their activities only after twilight, they are generally not seen, only felt, if they fly close to you (zoom past, before you 'bat" an eyelid!).

Attributed to Charlie Jackson - Honduran White Bat, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=87582417

The "Cute bats" in their "Tents"

You might be feeling surprised to hear me talking about any other life forms other than my usual favourite "Birds", but after reading this blog you will agree with me that these tiny creatures are irresistible!

We wouldn't have noticed these cute little bats; rather we wouldn't have been aware of their existence, if our guide hadn't gently shown us their roosting tent!

I was fortunate to capture this picture!

The Honduran White Bat is found in Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Western Panama at an elevation above 700 meters or 2300 feet above the sea level. It is a cute little ball of fur which can fit into the palm of your hand, even my palm which is quite small, by the way! Their body length is 1.5 to 2 inches and they weigh only 5 to 6 grams!

It has an erect leaf shaped nose, which is very unique.  The Nose leaf and the lips are a bright yellowish orange. 

There are many things which are unique about this bat. It is also known as the Carribean White Tent-making Bat! They make "tents" from Heliconia leaves.  The bat cuts the side veins extending out from the mid rib of the large leaves, causing them to fold down to form a tent.  They are constructed by multiple individuals, where they roost together during the day. Once modified into a tent, the leaf lives approximately for 7.5 weeks, so they keep constructing new tents! Around 15 individuals use the tent at a time.  It protects them from rain and predators.  The tents are typically low, closer to the ground. Sunlight filters through the leaf which gives their white fur a greenish cast, effectively providing perfect camouflage if they remain still! The likely predators include Capuchin Monkeys, central American squirrel monkeys, and snakes.

...and this picture too!

The Honduran White Bat is Frugivorous. It is very partial to a species of fig viz, Ficus colubrinae, although it may consume some other varieties like  Ficus schippi.

Very little is known about their reproduction. Generally the females give synchronized births in a colony occurring within the same week. Each one gives birth to one offspring called a pup.  During lactation the mothers return to their roosts upto six times a night to feed their pups! The pups fledge at the age of 3-4 weeks.

So you see, everything about these bats is so unique! They need Heliconia plants (leaves) for their tents, they need figs of Ficus colubrinae to feed, high canopy wet evergreen forests to give protection to the Heliconia plants and water streams nearby! Thus, their habitat specifications are very narrow, limited and exacting.

No wonder these "Cute" bats are evaluated as "NEAR THREATENED" BY IUCN!

Aditi Deshpande, April 30, 2024

P.S. Most of the information has been given by our guide at La Selva Biological Station, Sarapiqui, Selva Verde, Costa Rica, along input from Wikipedia. The Pictures are appropriately attributed to the original photographers/scientists. 

References: 

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honduran_white_bat
2. https://www.rainforest-alliance.org/species/honduran-bat/