82 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA 75 



Vampyrodes caraccioli 

 San Pablo Bat 



San Pablo bats are known from Oaxaca and southern Veracruz, Mexico, to 

 Brazil and Bolivia (Fig. 64). The Costa Rican subspecies, Vampyrodes caraccioli 

 major, is considered by some to be a species (K major) distinct from the South 

 American V. caraccioli. 



This species is found predominately in primary forest habitats and is more 

 common in low to middle elevation wet forests. The bats roost in small groups 

 in foliage (Tuttle 1976). The diet is restricted to fruit (Gardner 1977). The reproduc- 

 tive pattern is bimodal polyestry (Wilson 1979). 



The first specimen from Costa Rica was reported by Goldman (1920) from 

 Alajuela Province. Starrett and Casebeer (1968) added several more from various 

 localities. LaVal and Fitch (1977) took a single pregnant female from La Selva 

 in February. 



Specimens examined (22)— Puerto Viejo, 100 m [1 male, KU]; Finca La Selva, 

 3 km S of Puerto Viejo, 70 m [1 sex ?, MSB]; 7.3 mi SE of Puerto Viejo [1 1 males, 

 9 females, TTU]. 



Fig. 64. San Pablo bat, Vampyrodes caraccioli. Photo by R. K. LaVal. 



