By Anna Bess Sorin
Geographic Range
Honduras south to Peru, Bolivia and Paraguay.
Biogeographic Regions:
neotropical 
(native ).
Habitat
Specimens have been collected along stream beds and other moist areas, but can also be found in dryer areas. Animals were found equally in open and forested habitat.
Terrestrial Biomes:
forest ; rainforest .
Physical Description
P. hastatus is one of the larger American bats with a body length of 100 to 130mm and a wing span of 455 mm. Its coloration is dark brown; the ventral surface is paler with an orange tinge. It has a well developed nose leaf, widely separate ears, and short tail, and males have a well developed throat sac. The lower lip has a "V" shaped grove with numerous protuberances.
Some key physical features:
endothermic ; bilateral symmetry .
Reproduction
Phyllostomus hastatus may be monoestrus (one reproductive bout per year) or polyestrus (multiple reproductive bouts in a year); the pattern may be geographically dependent. Lactating females have been found throughout the year. They generally have one offspring at a time. Gestation about 4 months.
Key reproductive features:
gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual .
Behavior
Roosts in colonies of 10 to 100 individuals. Roosts have been found in hollow trees, termite nests, caves, and thatched roofs. Males may defend a group of females within a colony, forming temporary harems of up to 30 females per male.
Key behaviors:
motile .
Food Habits
This species is omnivorous, eating primarily vertebrates, flowers and pollen. Radio tracking studies found that individuals will travel up to 5km to feeding sites each night.
Economic Importance for Humans: Negative
Eat some fruits (bananas) that humans would consume.
Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
Food habits involve the removal of pest insects and also aid in pollination of some crops.
Conservation Status
No special status, but habitat destruction may be a concern.
Contributors
Anna Bess Sorin (author), University of Michigan.
