Honduran white bats are also known as ‘Caribbean white tent-making bat’ or the 'Marshmallow Puff Bat'. These species of bat belong to the Phllyostomatidae family that are found from Mexico to northern Argentina. These belong specifically and are the only members of the genus Ectophylla which is why they are scientifically known as Ectophylla Alba. Out of the 1,300 known species of bats, there are only six of them that have distinctive white fur, out of which one belongs to this species. Except for their white fur, they have bright orange on their ears, nose, and portions of their legs and wings. Their wings are also black in color with such less hair that they appear to be almost hairless. The average length of Honduran white bats makes them one of the tiniest which ranges from 3.7-4.7 cm. Their skull is covered by a thin, black membrane that acts as protection from ultraviolet radiation. These species strategically cut the leaf ribs of understory plant leaves with their teeth constructing shelters called “tents” that these animals roost in during the day, they also rely upon fruits of one specific species of fig. Female Hondurans’ can give birth to one offspring at a time, and can become pregnant twice a year.
Why are they endangered-
Natural predators that ensure an ecological balance include opossums, snakes, and other carnivorous animals. However, Hondurans have been evaluated as near-threatened species by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature). These species have been evaluated as near-threatened mainly because of habitat loss. This species reside in rainforests situated in the lowlands of Central America, due to the main reason that Honduran white bats mainly live under heliconia leaves and they rely on a single species of fig as its food source. Habitat loss can be caused by reasons such as the expansion of farmland for agriculture due to the rapid growth of the population.
How can we protect them-
We can protect these species by creating awareness about Honduran white bats so that more people can know about their status. Furthermore, even though these species do not have any conservation programs dedicated to their revival, we as global citizens can send out emails to the Mexican government. We can also make sure to use the 3r’s in our daily life which includes reducing, reuse, and recycling in order to decrease the demand for commodities. The decrease in the demand for commodities will help gradually decrease the expansion of farmland for agriculture.
Write-up by Annika Singhal and art by Ashlyn Tracy Ribeiro
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