LA SELVA-BRAULIO CARRILLO MAMMALS 



47 



Phyllostomus discolor 

 Pale Spear-nosed Bat 



Pale spear-nosed bats are found from Oaxaca and Veracruz, Mexico, throughout 

 Central America to northern Argentina (Fig. 32). The Costa Rican subspecies, 

 Phyllostomus discolor verrucosus, occurs throughout Central America. 



This species is associated with a variety of habitats (Williams and Genoways 

 1980). Roosting sites include hollow trees and caves (Goodwin and GreenhaU 1961). 

 Food items include insects, fruit, flowers, pollen, and nectar (Gardner 1977). 

 Despite numerous records of this common species, the reproductive cycle remains 

 enigmatic. Heithaus et al. (1975) suggested that P. discolor may be monestrous 

 in Costa Rica. 



Davis and Carter (1962) reported a male from Guanacaste Province. LaVal 

 and Fitch (1977) captured one at La Selva, but apparendy there are no preserved 

 specimens from the Caribbean lowlands of Costa Rica. 



Fig. 32. Pale spear-nosed bat, Phyllostomus discolor. Photo by R. K. LaVal. 



