Musonycteris harrisoni is endemic to the Pacific coast of Mexico. It is restricted to west of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. This species has been found in the Mexican states of Colima, Guerrero, Jalisco, Mexico, and Morelos. The maximum altitude at which M. harrisoni has been found is 1,700m (Tellez and Ortega 1999).

Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native )

Banana bats are medium sized bats with an extremely long rostrum – averaging over one half of the greatest length of the skull (Tellez and Ortega 1999). The rostrum is the longest of any bat in relation to its width (Koopman 1981). One tongue measured 76 mm from the “gape of the jaw to the outstretched tip”. The ears are small and rounded. The uropatagium is complete and encloses a relatively short tail. The general color of the species is grayish-brown. Cheek teeth are small and show a reduction of the lingual elements, which is consistent with the nectarivorous lifestyle of these bats. The tongue lacks lateral grooves (Tellez and Ortega 1999). The tongue has a long, conical ridge of papillae. This adds to the surface area of the tongue and aides in nectar collection (Howell and Hodgkin 1976). The individual hairs of banana bats show highly divergent and divaricate scale placement – they have a “spiny” appearance. This appears to be important for gathering pollen on the face and neck of the bat (Howell and Hodgkin 1976).

Head and body length is 70 to 79 mm, tail length is 8 to 12 mm, and forearm length is 41 to 43 mm.

Range length: 70 to 79 mm.

Other Physical Features: endothermic ; bilateral symmetry

• Terrestrial

Banana bats seem to be restricted to arid thorn and tropical deciduous forest along the coast and in the Balsas River Basin. These habitats have a remarkably dry season from November to May and a marked summer rainy season from July to October. During the dry season the majority of trees lose their leaves. These bats have been captured in banana groves and found roosting in culverts and caves (Tellez and Ortega 1999).

Range elevation: 1700 (high) m.

Habitat Regions: tropical

Terrestrial Biomes: scrub forest

Other Habitat Features: agricultural

Musonycteris harrisoni are nectarivorous. The first M. harrisoni was found in a banana grove where it was feeding on pollen, nectar, and insects found in the banana flowers (Tellez and Ortega 1999). Pollen is the only reliable source of protein in the bat’s diet. They consume the pollen during grooming. They do not eat the flower’s anther or consume the pollen directly off the anthers (Howell and Hodgkin 1976). Insects are incidentally consumed with nectar.

Trumpet-nosed bats do not hibernate. Because of this, they need to feed on flowers year round. Therefore, it seems unlikely that these bats are rigid specialists for a certain type of flower (Koopman 1981).

Animal Foods: insects

Plant Foods: nectar; pollen

Primary Diet: herbivore (Nectarivore )

Banana bats are important pollinators of plant species throughout their range.

Ecosystem Impact: pollinates

As with other bats, banana bats escape predation by roosting in safe places during the day. At dusk and during the night they are at risk of falling prey to falcons, hawks, and owls. Common predators of bats in roosts are snakes, raccoons, ringtails, and small cats.

There is no information available on lifespan in this species.

Mating behavior in this species is unknwon.

Information on reproduction in banana bats is limited. Reproductively active males have been captured in spring and summer. Pregnant females have been captured in late summer and fall and a juvenile was captured in August (Tellez and Ortega, 1999).

Breeding season: Unknown.

Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; fertilization (Internal ); viviparous

Although specific information on banana bat parental care is unavailable, they are likely to be similar to other phyllostomid bat species. Young bats are typically cared for by their mothers and weaned within a few weeks of birth. They develop rapidly after birth and become volant within a few weeks.

Parental Investment: altricial ; female parental care

The Mexican Ministry of Ecology considers banana bats a “treatment species” and they are considered vulnerable by the IUCN. These bats are generally rare (Tellez and Ortega 1999).

US Federal List: no special status

CITES: no special status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: vulnerable

There are no negative effects of these bats on humans.

Trumpet-nosed bats are important pollinators of bananas and other species of plants.

Positive Impacts: pollinates crops