Insular single leaf bat  (Monophyllus plethodon)

Classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List (1).

This brown to pale-buff coloured bat (3) has a small heart-shaped noseleaf and a very long snout and tongue (2). The species belongs to the glossophagine subfamily, which all have small bristles at the end of their tongues that help them to lap up nectar from the depths of flowers. This taxon also has a series of bristle-like whiskers that surround the end of their muzzle, which are particularly sensitive and help the bat to correctly position its snout within flowers when drinking (2).

The insular single leaf bat is found in Puerto Rico and the Lesser Antilles (2), on the islands of Anguilla, Antigua, Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, St. Lucia, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Montserrat, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines (1) (3).

Specimens have been collected from a variety of habitats, including moist wooded ravines, dense rainforest and fruit plantations (2) (3). These bats roost in caves, which they sometimes share with other bat species (2).

Very little is understood about the social and reproductive behaviour of the insular single leaf bat (2). Females are known to give birth to single young, and pregnant individuals have been observed in January, March, April and July (2) (3).

These nocturnal bats primarily feed on nectar, acting as pollinating agents in the process, but they also eat small fruits, with Piper plants being distinctly favoured (Piper spp.). The species has also been seen catching insects, and may rely heavily on insects during periods of drought when flowers and small fruits are sparse (2).

The threats to this species are unknown.

There are currently no known conservation measures targeting this species.

• Nocturnal: active at night.

1. IUCN Red List (June, 2009)
   http://www.iucnredlist.org
2. BATHEAD: Short Guide to the Bats of the Northern Lesser Antilles (May, 2006)
   http://biomicro.sdstate.edu/pederses/guidemple.html
3. Homan, J.A. and Knox Jones, J. (1975) Monophyllus plethodon. Mammalian Species, 58: 1 - 2.