Jamaican flower bat [SEP] IUCN conservation status
Jamaican flower bat
The Jamaican flower bat ("Phyllonycteris aphylla") is a critically endangered species of bat in the family Phyllostomidae. It is endemic to Jamaica.
Taxonomy and etymology.
It was described by American zoologist Gerrit Smith Miller in 1898.
He initially placed it in the genus "Reithronycteris", which is now synonymous with "Phyllonycteris".
The specimen that he described was collected in Jamaica; the date of collection and the exact location are unknown.
They type specimen used to describe
consists of fewer than 50 individuals, and its population size is likely in decline.
The Jamaican flower bat used to occur in five or six caves, but now only occurs in two.
Part of its decline in St. Clair Cave may be attributed to the population of feral cats living in the cave and preying on bats.
Its estimated area of occupancy is .
From 2008-2015, the IUCN had listed this species as least concern, which is the lowest risk level of extinction.
This species