Mayan Temple Bat

This very small bat species is of the Sac-Winged Bat of the Family Emballonuridae. It has been photographed and commented on by thousands of visitors to the Mayan Ruins of Yaxchilan. There is one Temple in particular (last 2 pictures) which has a maze of dark tunnels with steep corbel arches. The bats are scattered about on the ceilings and upper walls, usually separated from one another by several inches or more (3rd picture). If you look closely, you can see how these bats typically rest in a triangular position, supporting their weight on their outstretched forearms. The have small sac-like structures on their upper arms which emit odors that are used in courtship and for territorial marking. It is these tiny sacs which give the common name to these bats. This species is an insectivore, feeding on insects at night. They are common in some Mayan Temples (with darker recesses) but are usually found in caves under natural conditions. This bat was found co-habitating the narrow Temple ceilings with a Phyllostomatid bat of about the same size and which tends to snuggle together in small groups. See Luis's spotting from the same temple: (http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/236336040/fullscreen). You can notice that the Phyllostomatids have a long narrow leaf-nose and tend to hang down straight without using their forearms. Phyllostomatids are primarily fruit and blossom feeders.