Bat House Forum

[andimint]

Hi, if anyone can help me identify this bat I would really appreciate it. I took this pic in march around midday. I was about an 1hr south of cancun, in mexico.  This little guy was hanging out at the mouth of a cave.

[Terry Lobdell]

Someone from Bat Conservation International could probably ID it. I am not from that area so I don't have a clue! 

[andimint]

good idea. thanks!

[Erik]

There are only a few species in Mexico and central america that match with the bat on the picture. There are only three species of bats that have these double lines on their back:
- Proboscis bat (sharp nosed bat) Rhynchonycteris naso
- Greater white lined bat Saccopteryx bilineata
- Lesser White lined bat Saccopteryx leptura

These bats all belong tto the Emballonuridae-family, which are sac winged bats. Most of them have a sac with glands in the wingmembrane between the lower arm and the upper arm.
It is not Proboscis bat (sharp nosed bat) because that bat has a grizzled pale brown fur on its back and yellowish/light brown lines. It also has tufts of white hairs on the lower arm. The bat on the picture has a uniform dark brown, almost black fur and has no tufts of hair on the arms.
So it could be a Greater white lined bat or a Lesser white lined bat.

I am pretty sure it is a Greater white lined bat Saccopteryx bilineata because its fur is very dark (not brownish) and the white lines are very quite distinct. They often roost near the entrances of caves. The Lesser white lines bat roosts almost exlusive in hollow tree trunks.

[andimint]

Awesome!!! That was just the information I needed. I couldn't be more pleased with your info. Thank you much!!!

[andimint]

btw, i had the picture on my myspace page, waiting to see if any of my friends could identify it. I'll be sure to give props to you. thanks again.