46 



NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA 75 



Phylloderma stenops 

 Northern Spear-nosed Bat 



Northern spear-nosed bats are found from Chiapas, Mexico, to Brazil (Fig. 31). 

 The Costa Rican subspecies, Phylloderma stenops septentrionalis, occurs throughout 

 Central America and was originally described as a distinct species. 



This poorly known bat has been recorded from a variety of forested and 

 agricultural habitats, but little information on its biology is available. Roosts are 

 as yet unknown. Food items include insect and plant materials (Jeanne 1970; LaVal 

 1977). The reproductive cycle is unknown, but LaVal (1977) reported capturing 

 a pregnant female during the dry season (early February) in Costa Rica. 



This species tlrst was recorded from Costa Rica by LaVal (1977), who caught 

 an adult female in a bat trap alongside a small stream at La Selva. She was preg- 

 nant with a single embryo, 33 mm in crown-rump length, on 9 February 1974. 

 One species of bat fly, Strebla christinae (4 males), was collected from this bat. 



Specimen examined (1)— Finca La Selva, 3 km S of Puerto Viejo, 70 m 

 [1 female, KU]. 



Fig. 31. Northern spear-nosed bat, Phylloderma stenops. Photo by R. K. LaVal. 



