Common North American fruit bat (SciiFii)

The common North American fruit bat (Artibeus americanum), also known as the western American fruit bat and, sometimes, the California fruit bat, is a species of bat that originally did not exist, but has since been created by SciiFii and introduced throughout North America to help boost biodiversity. The distinctive features of the common North American fruit bat (which however are shared by some of its relatives) include the absence of an external tail and a minimal, U-shaped interfemoral membrane. The common North American fruit bat is a medium-sized bat, having a total length of 78–89 mm (3.1–3.5 in) with a 96–150 mm (3.8–5.9 in) wingspan and weighing 40 to 60 g (1.4 to 2.1 oz). Unlike its relatives from Central or South America, the common North American fruit bat has thicker fur for insulation against the freezing temperatures throughout many parts of North America, including Alaska. It is also unlike most of its relatives due to the fact that the common North American fruit bat is largely diurnal, not just nocturnal, so it is active during both day and night, giving it another nickname, the American flying fox, after several diurnal flying fox species. Common North American fruit bats roost in caves, hollow trees, dense foliage, buildings and leaf tents. The common North American fruit bat may create its own "tent" to roost in by altering broad leaves. These "tents" are only temporarily used. Like its relatives, the common North American fruit bat is a frugivore, feeding on a number of kinds of fruit such as bananas, apples, oranges, tangerines, figs, plums, grapes, and among others. The common North American fruit bat plays an important role in seed dispersal by feeding on the fruit with the seeds inside, similarly to many other fruit bats. The conservation status of the common North American fruit bat is Least Concern due to successful conservation efforts, the common North American fruit bat's wide range and its tolerance to most of the human activities.
Category:Animals
Category:Species
Category:SciiFii