Sobre os hábitos alimentares de Phillostomídeos ( Mammalia, Chiroptera)

Abstract

The author presents observations on the feeding preferences of species of Phyllostomidae, made under natural conditions of the Amazonic forest in the park of Goeldi Museum, Belen do Pará, Brazil. The varying preferences of the bats seems chiefly qualitative ( i . e., due to physiological requirements ) rather than quantitative. The possible relation between Neotropical and Palaearctic frugivorous bats (Phyllostomidae and Pteropidae) is discussed; both specialized groups may have a common origin, perhaps in the insectivorous family Rhino­lophidae.