Palabras clave
Chrotopterus auritus
predation
Otonyctomys hatti
camera trapping
tropical forest
Cómo citar
Resumen
Carnivorous bats of the subfamily Phyllostominae (Phyllostomidae) constitute a functionally distinctive group among Neotropical chiropterans due to their inclusion of vertebrates in their diet. However, most predation records for this group are based on indirect evidence, such as analyses of gastrointestinal contents or prey remains found at roosts. Here, we document a predation event involving a Yucatan tree rat (Otonyctomys hatti) captured by the woolly false vampire bat (Chrotopterus auritus), recorded using camera traps in a semi-evergreen, medium-stature forest in the municipality of Calakmul, Campeche, Mexico. The event occurred in September 2024 and shows an individual transporting and consuming its prey within the lower understory strata. The bat was identified based on diagnostic morphological traits and the characteristic feeding posture described for species of the subfamily Phyllostominae. This record provides direct evidence of hunting behavior and habitat use by C. auritus under natural conditions and complements previous dietary information derived from indirect methods. Although based on a single observation, this record contributes to understanding trophic interactions that are rarely documented directly in carnivorous bats and highlights the value of camera trapping for recording such behaviors in nocturnal mammals.
Citas
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