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The tent-making bat (''Uroderma bilobatum'') is an American leaf-nosed bat (Phyllostomidae) found in lowland forests of Central and South America. This medium-sized bat has a gray coat with a pale white stripe running down the middle of the back. Its face is characterized by a fleshy noseleaf and four white stripes. Primarily a frugivore, it may supplement its diet with insects, flower parts, pollen, and nectar. Its common name comes from its curious behavior of constructing tents out of large, fan-shaped leaves. These roosts provide excellent protection from the tropical rains, and a single tent roost may house several bats at once. This bat is quite common in its geographic range; hence, its conservation status is listed as Least Concern. ==Taxonomy== The bat ''Uroderma bilobatum'' is a member of the family Phyllostomidae, which contains 49 genera and a greater variety in feeding habits than any other bat family. Carnivores, frugivores, and bats that specialize on blood or nectar and pollen are all represented in this family. Commonly known as the American leaf-nosed bats, phyllostomids are characterized by a special structure consisting of a leaf-shaped projection extending up from a “horseshoe-shaped” base attached to their upper lip. These bats send their echolocation calls out their nostrils, and so the noseleaf may help direct the sounds that they emit. Because they emit calls at such low frequencies, standard bat detectors have trouble picking up their calls. Thus they are sometimes called “whispering bats”. Within Phyllostomidae is the subfamily Stenodermatinae, members of which are sometimes called tailless bats. These 17 genera from Central America have broad shoulders and faces and narrow tail membranes, with a tail that is either greatly reduced or absent. The upward projection of their noseleaf has two creases and the lower part is at least partly free. The shape of their faces has been correlated to their frugivorous diet. They are known to pick fruit with their mouths and carry it to a night roost to consume it. Thus, they are important seed dispersers for certain plants. Bats in the genus ''Uroderma'' are characterized by a pale, white stripe that runs down the back and two pairs of white stripes on the face. Their tail membrane is curved into the shape of a U and lacks hair along its edge.〔 This genus includes two species: ''Uroderma bilobatum'' Peters, 1866 and ''Uroderma magnirostrum'' Davis, 1968.〔 Uroderma bilobatum includes six subspecies:〔 * ''U.b. bilobatum'' Peters * ''U.b. trinitatum'' Davis * ''U.b. thomasi'' Andersen * ''U.b. convexum'' Lyon * ''U.b. molaris'' Davis * ''U.b. davisi'' Baker and McDaniel 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Tent-making bat」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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