Mammals
Big-eared Woolly Bat
Chrotopterus auritus · also called woolly false vampire bat
In the dark of a rainforest cave mouth, a big-eared woolly bat swoops on a sleeping rodent and carries it back to its roost, a woolly-coated predator with a wingspan of around 70 cm.
Overview
The big-eared woolly bat, Chrotopterus auritus, is a Least Concern carnivorous bat of tropical forests from Mexico to northern Argentina. Its large size, woolly coat, and taste for rodents, birds, and other bats make it one of the top bat predators of the Neotropics.
A top predator among bats
Few bats eat other vertebrates; the big-eared woolly bat does so regularly, making it an important predator in the forests where it lives.
Status
Least Concern, widespread but uncommon.
Big-eared Woolly Bat: common questions
What does the big-eared woolly bat eat?
It is a carnivore that eats rodents, birds, lizards, frogs, large insects, and other bats.
How big is the big-eared woolly bat?
It is one of the largest carnivorous bats of the Americas, with a wingspan of around 70 cm.
Where does the big-eared woolly bat roost?
It roosts in caves, hollow trees, and old buildings, in small groups.
Where is the big-eared woolly bat found?
It lives in tropical forest from southern Mexico through Central America to northern Argentina.