By Marnie Mietzel
Geographic Range
Brachyphylla cavernarum is found on Puerto Rico and throughout the Lesser Antilles south to St. Vincent and Barbados (Nowak, 1994).
Biogeographic Regions:
neotropical 
(native ).
Habitat
B. cavernarum roost in caves in Puerto Rico and other Caribbean Islands. The name contains the word "caverna", referring to the caves in which they live. They have also been found roosting in buildings and other man-made structures (Allen, 1939). B. cavernarum emerge in the evening to forage in forested tropical habitats.
Terrestrial Biomes:
forest ; rainforest ; scrub forest .
Physical Description
(1.58 oz)
On average, B. cavernarum ranges from 65-118 mm in length, with a forearm length of 51-69 mm. The upper parts are ivory yellow in color with hairs that are tipped with sepia. Patches on the shoulders, neck and sides are paler and the underside is brown.
The muzzle is conical shaped and the lower lip has a V-shaped groove that is edged by tubercles. The nose leaf is vestigial, and the ears are small and separate. The tail is vestigial and concealed in the base of the interfemoral membrane, which is well developed. The molar teeth are broad and well ridged (Nowak, 1994).
Some key physical features:
endothermic ; bilateral symmetry .
Reproduction
Brachyphylla cavernarum reproduces sexually. Births occur most often during a three week period in late May and early June. The colonies during this time consist mostly of females with one offspring. There are very few males or non-reproductively active females found in maternity colonies (Allen, 1939).
Key reproductive features:
gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual .
Behavior
B. cavernarum are colonial, roosting in groups in appropriate caves. They are aggressive amongst themselves, they may bite and scratch at one another, especially while eating (Nowak, 1994).
Key behaviors:
motile .
Food Habits
Brachyphylla cavernarum is opportunistic in feeding habits, consuming fruit, pollen, flowers, nectar and insects. They are considered primarily nectarivores (Nowak, 1994).
Economic Importance for Humans: Negative
It is not likely that these bats significantly impact humans negatively, though they may be accused of damaging fruit crops (Nowak, 1994).
Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
No specific benefits of B. cavernarum have been identified, although it is quite likely that they are responsible for the pollination of tropical plants, especially fruiting trees (Nowak, 1994). Their guano can also be harvested to be used as fertilizer.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List: [link]:
Lower Risk - Least Concern.
US Federal List: [link]:
No special status.
CITES: [link]:
No special status.
Brachyphylla cavernarum is not currently considered at risk of becoming endangered although habitat modification, cave disturbance, and extermination by humans may pose significant threats to population status.
Other Comments
In 1956, a colony of 2000 B. cavernarum were gassed in the ruins of a sugar factory in St. Croix. They were thought to be Artibeus jamaicensis, a species that is harmful to fruit. When 370 of this colony were sexed, 276 were female amd 63 were male (Walker's Bats 1994).
Contributors
Marnie Mietzel (author), University of California-Irvine.
Rudi Berkelhamer (editor), University of California at Irvine.
