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Classification
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Common Name
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Diet
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Status
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Distribution
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| Family: Phyllostomidae |
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| Subfamily: Phyllostomatinae |
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| Macrotus waterhousii minor |
Big-eared Bat |
Insectivore |
Rare |
Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Cuba |
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Big-Eared Bat (Macrotus waterhousii minor) eats insects and is found on Cuba, Bahamas, Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. This bat flies lower and slower than most other local species and feeds on larger, slower-moving insects like cockroaches, beetles, moths and even sleeping dragonflies. This bat lives only in caves. They can maneuver among thick leaves and tree branches and will actually take caterpillars and other nighttime garden pests directly from the leaves of bougainvilleas and other landscapingplants. This bat was historically recorded in Crystal Cave in Old Man Bay, but disappeared in late 80s or early 90s. Biologists were excited at their return, documented in 2010 by the photo below and recommend that this cave be protected as important habitat for this rare species.
Rare |
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Photo by:
Tansy Maki of Macrotus waterhousii in Crystal Cave at Old Man Bay, June 2010.
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Photo by:
Tansy Maki of Macrotus waterhousii in Crystal Cave at Old Man Bay, June 2010.
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