Data Sheet

Diet: The diet of the Jamaican flower bat is thought to consist of nectar, fruit, pollen, and occasionally insects.

Staff Pick: Jason Corbett, Director of Habitat Conservation and Restoration

Fun Fact: While technically a ‘Leaf-nosed Bat’, Jamaican flower bats have very small, inconspicuous nose-leaves. The species name for this bat – “Aphylla”- is derived from the Ancient Greek word ‘áphullos’, meaning ‘leafless’. 

Appearance: These rare bats have short, silky, pale fur and dark wing membranes. Jamaican flower bats are medium size, weighing between 14 and 18 grams. They have a long snout tipped with a disc-shaped nose-leaf.  

Habitat:  Jamaican flower bats are found only on the island of Jamaica, where it roosts in “hot caves” – caves where temperatures might reach over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Jamaican flower bats roost in colonies, often with other bat species. This bat is an obligate cave-dweller, meaning it needs cave habitat in order to survive. It was previously known from only five or six caves in Jamaica but has only been observed in two caves since 2010.

Conservation Concerns: The Jamaican flower bat is currently listed as Critically Endangered by IUCN, due to its restricted range and estimated population of fewer than 250 individuals. Main threats to this bat are habitat disturbance and invasive non-native predators (mainly feral cats). BCI is working with the Jamaican government to protect current roosts and establish long-term roost monitoring and habitat protection.    

BCI Conservation Projects including Jamaican flower bats

• Endangered Species Interventions

Additional Resources:

• Bat Species of the World
• IUCN RedList