Shaggy Bat

The Shaggy Bat is a small, insectivorous sac-winged bat found in the humid lowland forests of northern South America and parts of Central America. It is named for its notably long, woolly fur which distinguishes it from most other emballonurids. This species is a forest specialist that roosts in dark, sheltered sites and forages within the understory. Though poorly studied due to its cryptic habits, it plays a role in controlling nocturnal insect populations.

Northern South America, including the Guiana Shield, Amazon Basin, and parts of Central America

Ranges from southern Central America (Costa Rica, Panama) through northern South America, including Colombia, Venezuela, the Guianas (Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana), and the Amazon Basin in Brazil, Ecuador, and Peru.

Altitude and depth

Typically found from sea level up to about 1,500 meters elevation.

Primarily found in humid tropical lowland and lower montane forests, including primary and secondary growth. Often associated with dense understory vegetation, forest edges, and areas near streams or rivers where insect prey is abundant.

Adaptations to its environment

Its unusually long, shaggy fur may provide camouflage against lichen-covered bark or foliage in its forest roosts. Broad wings adapted for slow, maneuverable flight allow it to navigate through dense vegetation while foraging for insects near the understory.

Listed as Least Concern by the IUCN due to its wide geographic distribution across northern South America and apparent tolerance of some habitat disturbance, though population trends are not well quantified.

Estimated population

No precise population estimates exist; the species is considered uncommon to rare in survey records but is presumed stable given its broad range.

Deforestation and habitat fragmentation from agricultural expansion, logging, and mining pose the primary threats, particularly in the Amazon and Guiana Shield regions.

Diseases and parasites

Specific data are lacking, but like other bats it likely hosts ectoparasites such as bat flies (Streblidae) and may carry various bat-associated viruses.

Benefits indirectly from protected areas and reserves within its range, such as national parks in the Amazon and Guiana Shield, though no species-specific conservation programs are known.

Recommended actions

Continued monitoring of population trends, further ecological research to clarify roosting and foraging requirements, and protection of intact lowland forest habitat.

Distinguished by long, woolly, grayish-brown to reddish-brown fur that is notably longer and shaggier than related emballonurid species. It has a simple, unadorned face without a nose-leaf, small eyes, and membranous wings typical of sac-winged bats.

Size

Forearm length approximately 38-42 mm; body length around 4-5 cm excluding tail.

Weight

Approximately 4-6 grams.

Distinctive features

The exceptionally long and dense pelage separates it from other members of the Emballonuridae family, most of which have short, sleek fur.

Differences between males and females

Minimal sexual dimorphism reported; males and females are similar in size and coloration.

Generally roosts alone or in small groups of a few individuals, often in hollow logs, tree cavities, or dark understory sites rather than large colonies.

When it is active

Nocturnal, emerging after dusk to forage for flying insects.

Diet

Insectivorous, feeding on a variety of small flying insects captured in flight within forest understory and edge habitats.

How it feeds and hunts

Uses echolocation to detect and intercept insect prey while flying slowly and maneuverably through cluttered vegetation near the ground.

Communication

Communicates primarily through echolocation calls for navigation and prey detection, along with likely low-intensity social vocalizations at roost sites.

Interactions with other species

Preyed upon by nocturnal raptors, snakes, and other forest predators; competes with other insectivorous bats for aerial insect prey within the same habitat.

Role in its ecosystem

Functions as a nocturnal insect predator, helping to regulate populations of flying insects within tropical forest ecosystems.

Reproductive biology is poorly documented, but likely follows the general emballonurid pattern of a single pup born per breeding season after a gestation of a few months.

Raising the young

Presumed that females care for a single pup, carrying it briefly after birth before leaving it at a roost while foraging, typical of small insectivorous bats.

Maturity and lifespan

Exact age of sexual maturity is unknown; small emballonurid bats typically live 5-10 years in the wild.

Classification

Class Mammalia > Order Chiroptera > Family Emballonuridae > Genus Centronycteris > Species Centronycteris maximiliani

Scientific synonyms

Vespertilio maximiliani (original combination); formerly included in genus Peropteryx by some authors

Recent studies

Recent bat surveys in the Guiana Shield and Amazon have used acoustic monitoring and mist-netting to better document the species' distribution and roosting ecology, though detailed behavioral studies remain scarce.

Compared with similar species

Compared to other emballonurids like Saccopteryx bilineata, Centronycteris maximiliani lacks striking wing stripes and has notably longer, shaggier fur, making it visually distinct within the family.

Its scientific and common names both reference its unusually long, shaggy fur, a rare trait among sac-winged bats. It is one of the least frequently captured bats in Neotropical mist-net surveys, suggesting either rarity or specialized, hard-to-sample habitat use.

Where and how to see it

Best observed at dusk in undisturbed lowland tropical forest in the Guianas or Amazon Basin, using bat detectors to identify echolocation calls near forest understory and streams.

Risks to humans

No notable risk to humans; like all bats it should not be handled directly due to general disease transmission precautions (e.g., rabies).