HAIRY FRUIT-EATING BAT:-

OF OUR FRUIT-EATINGS,THIS ONE LIVES FARTHEST NORTH.IT IS FOUND OVER A 600-MILE STRIP OF SEMIARID LAND RUNNING ALONG MEXICO`S COAST FROM SONORA TO GUERRERO.

TEN RELATED SPECIES OF ARTIBEUS EXTEND THE RANGE OF THE GENUS SOUTH THROUGH CENTRAL AMERICA INTO SOUTH AMIRICA AND EAST TO WEST INDIES.
THESE BATS DO NOT HIBERNATE; THEY LIVE IN CLIMATES WARM ENOUGH TO PRODUICE FOOD YEAR-ROUND.

A BLUNT, ROUND FACE STRIPED SOMETIMES FAINTLY---WITH WHITE,ON NOSELEAF,AND THE ABSENCE OF A TAIL MARK THE GENUS.AN ADULT A.HIRSUTUS MEASURES FROM 3.1 TO 3.4 INCEHS (79 TO 86 MM).

MANY FRUIT-EATING BATS APPEAR SPECIALIZED IN THEIR PREFERENCE FOR FIGS. A.HIRSUTUS OFTEN CARRIES A FIG TO A TEMPORARY ROOST BEFOR EATING (ABOVE), FOR A THRONY PLAMTREE OFFERS PROTECTION FROM PREDATORS.

THE BAT CRUSHES THE FIG BETWEEN ITS JAWS TO EXTRACT THE JUICE, AND SPITS OUT THE PULP.