Cuban fig-eating bat

Description

The Cuban fig-eating bat is a moderately sized bat with dense silky greyish-brown fur that fades to a paler colour on the underparts.There are four small patches of pure white fur on the back,one on each shoulder,and one behind each of the ears.Adults range from 5.5 to 6.5 centimetres (2.2 to 2.6 in) in head-body length with a 32 to 37 centimetres (13 to 15 in) wingspan,and weigh between 16 and 23 grams (0.56 and 0.81 oz);females are larger than males.They have a highly domed head,a short snout,rounded ears with a thick tragus,and a broad,flaring,spear-shaped nose-leaf with a pointed tip.The wings are relatively large,and bear unusually long thumbs.Most of the wing membrane is blackish in colour,but the portion between the first and second digits is transparent,and cannot be folded closed as it can in most other bats.The wings have an average aspect ratio of 6.6 and average wing loading of 10.9,suggesting that their flight is slow,but highly manoeuvrable.They have no tails,and only a short calcar supporting a narrow uropatagium.