24 



Anoiira: According to Nagorsen & Tamsitt (1981), this genus is characterized by 

 opportunistic insectivory, additionally feeding on pollen and nectar. 

 A. caiidifer takes fruit, nectar, pollen and insects (Gardner 1977). As Sazima (1976) 

 reported, A. cultrata picks insects from the substrate (foliage gleaner, Wilson 1973). The 

 stomachs of four individuals from Venezuela contained both insect fragments and a 

 creamy fluid. Eight specimens from Panama contained yellow, white and greenish masses, 

 respectively and in two cases unidentified insects. 18 individuals from Colombia had 

 pollen and plant fibres in their stomachs (Tamsitt & Nagorsen 1982). Both individuals 

 Starrett (1969) based on his description of Amur a werckleae carried Hibiscus {Wercklea 

 lutea) pollen in their fur. A. cultrata from Costa Rica was described to eat poUen and 

 nectar (Laval & Fitch 1977); whereas Howell & Burch (1974) found lepidopterans in the 

 stomachs. 



Gardner (1977) gave a list of various plants whose blossoms were known by several 

 authors to have been visited by Anoura: Vochysia, Symbolanthus latifolius, Purpurella 

 grossa. Additionally, he emphasized the high percentage of insect food in A. geojfroyi, 

 pointing to the fact that some of these blossoms do not give any nectar at all so that the 

 bats probably visite them just because of the insects which are attracted by the scent 

 (Goodwin 1946). Tliis is supported by Alvarez & Gonzalez Q. (1970) who found pollen 

 m more than the half of 69 specimens from Mexico; most of this pollen came from 

 entomophile plants. So, they considered A. geofß'oyi an insectivorous species with 

 occasional pollen intake. 



Up to now there are no reports on food intake of Anoura latidens available. 

 Hylonycteris: Insects, pollen and nectar (Gardner 1977). Goodwin (1946) supposed H. 

 underw'oodi to visit flowers; Hall & Kelson (1959) reported on nectar consuming, and fruit 

 renmants of the jobo plum {Spondias lutea) they detected beneath a day shelter in 

 Veracruz, Mexico, gave evidence of frugivory (Hah & Dalquest 1963). Carter (1966) 

 found pollen grains on riunp and uropatagium of a specimen he caught in Guatemala next 

 to night-blooming flowers. Tliere is a description from Tabasco, Mexico, by Villa-R. 

 (1967) of one specimen with cocoa pollen {TJieobroma cacao) on its whiskers and head 

 fiir. Analysis of stomach contents by Alvarez & Gonzalez Q. (1970) revealed exclusively 

 pollen {Lonchocarpus 99,8% , only 0,2% Agave and Pinus) for two H. underwoodi from 

 Cliiapas, Mexico. Early reports on insectivory were given by Howell & Burch (1974) who 

 found remnants of lepidopterans in one specimen from Costa Rica. 

 Scleronycteris: Most probably fruit, pollen, nectar and insects; up to now no information 

 on the feeding ecology (Gardner 1977). 



Choeroniscus: Presumably pollen, nectar and insects (Gardner 1977); no valid information 

 available yet. In his description of C. godmani, Villa-R. (1967) relied on analysis of 

 stomach contents by Goodwin & Greenhall (1961) for C. intermedius from Trinidad 

 Island: "Microscopical examination of the stomach contents of one specimen, however, 

 revealed some minute particles that are possibly honey or fmit juice, many fragments of 

 a coleopterous msect, and numerous brown and white, hair-like strands, probably either 

 from insects or from fruit. This specimen, at least, had fed to a large extent on insects"." 

 Having examined four individuals from east Peru, Koepcke (1987) detected nectar in the 

 intestines of two specimens, pollen in one of them and in three cases some Coleoptera and 

 Hymenoptera as well as indeterminable plant material in two C. intermedius. 

 Choeronycteris: Fruit, pollen. Nectar and probably insects (Gardner 1977). Several authors 

 described C. mexicana as a flower- feeding bat (Dalquest 1953; Park & Hall 1951; Wille 



