By Michael Mulheisen
Geographic Range
Central and South America: S, Mexico to Bolivia, Paraguay, and SE Brazil; to 2,400 m elevation.
Biogeographic Regions:
neotropical 
(native ).
Habitat
Found in the moist evergreen and dry deciduous forests, usually below 1,000m but up to 1,500m.
Terrestrial Biomes:
forest ; rainforest .
Reproduction
Two reproductive periods. The larger one coincides with peak fruit productions, (June-August) and the other with the blooming of flowers at the end of the dry season (Feb.-May.) Gestation is 115-120 days. Newborns weigh about 5g.
Key reproductive features:
gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual .
Behavior
Will enter a state of torpor when food is lacking. Gregarious with generalized roost requirements. Roost in groups of 10-100 in caves, hollow trees, tunnels road culverts,and less commonly in rocks, under leaves and in buildings. Two roost types: Harem (adult male with many females) and Bachelor (adult and sub adult males without a harem). Peak activity is right after sunset.
Key behaviors:
motile .
Food Habits
Generalist, feeding on a least 50 different species of fruit. Also pollen and insects. Generally forage close to the ground.
Economic Importance for Humans: Negative
None known.
Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
Important disperser for many plants. Bats eat up to around 35 fruits of the genus Piper per night, which translates to 350-2,500 seeds dispersed per night per individual. Also may be an important pollinator to many plant species.
Conservation Status
Common and widespread.
Other Comments
Has an excellent sense of smell.
Contributors
Michael Mulheisen (author), University of Michigan.
