FOLIVORY IN FRUIT-EATING BATS, WITH NEW EVIDENCE FROM ARTIBEUS-JAMAICENSIS (CHIROPTERA, PHYLLOSTOMIDAE)

We review reports of leaf-eating by bats and present new evidence for folivory by leaf fractionation for the neotropical bat Artibeus jamaicensis (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae). Leaf-earing has been reported for at least 17 species of Old-World Megachiroptera and four species of New World Microchiroptera. Leaves eaten by bats include at least 44 species of plants represented by 23 different families. Plane families which account for the greatest species richness (numbers of species given in parentheses) include the Leguminosae (12), Moraceae (4), and Solanaceae (4). Evidence for folivory by A. jamaicensis is based on captures of bats carrying leaves, and collections of whole and partially chewed leaves and discarded pellets recovered from beneath feeding roosts. Whole leaves carried into caves by A. jamaicensis and partially chewed, but discarded leaves included Erythrina poeppigiana, Ficus sp., and Calophyllum calaba, in decreasing order of frequency. Bats captured while carrying Erythrina leaves were most often mature males. Erythrina poeppigiana leaves are relatively high in protein (>19% dry-matter content) and low in fat (similar to 1%). Our observations char A. jamaicensis selects and chews leaves high in protein and rejects protein-poor, fibrous pellets, support the hypothesis that these bats extract liquid fractions which contain a reliable source of dietary protein. Although we have no direct evidence that male or female A. jamaicensis transport leaves to feeding roosts located outside of caves, we suggest that liquid fractions derived from leaves may provide females with an important source of protein, especially during periods of pregnancy and lactation. Folivory, once thought to be rare among plant-visiting bats, may in fact be quite common and widespread, especially among species that feed largely on fruits which are low in protein.