CR

Jamaican Flower Bat

Phyllonycteris aphylla

Declining

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

Phyllonycteris aphylla faces severe threats from habitat destruction as Jamaica's remaining forests are cleared for agriculture and urban development. The species' extremely limited range makes it particularly vulnerable to cave disturbance and modification, while introduced predators like cats and rats pose additional pressure on roosting colonies. Climate change threatens to alter the delicate cave microclimates essential for this bat's survival.

Threat summary

Habitat

This critically endangered bat inhabits limestone caves and underground roosts in Jamaica's remaining tropical forests. The species requires specific cave microclimates and forages in adjacent forest canopies for nectar and fruit.

Conservation measures underway

Species recovery

Other threatened species in PHYLLOSTOMIDAE

Guadeloupean Big-eyed BatEN

Guadeloupean Big-eyed Bat

Chiroderma improvisum

Unknown
VU

Musonycteris harrisoni

Declining
Bokermann's Nectar BatEN

Bokermann's Nectar Bat

Lonchophylla bokermanni

Unknown
EN

Fernandez's Sword-nosed Bat

Lonchorhina fernandezi

Declining

Threatened in Jamaica

Oriente Yellow-mottled FrogVU

Oriente Yellow-mottled Frog

Eleutherodactylus ricordii

Declining
Humped BladderwortCR

Humped Bladderwort

Utricularia gibba

Unknown
VU

Broadstripe Goby

Elacatinus prochilos

Unknown
VU

Hildebrand's Goby

Gobiosoma hildebrandi

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is Jamaican Flower Bat classified as Critically Endangered?
Jamaican Flower Bat is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Phyllonycteris aphylla faces severe threats from habitat destruction as Jamaica's remaining forests are cleared for agriculture and urban development. The species' extremely limited range makes it particularly vulnerable to cave disturbance and modification, while introduced predators like cats and rats pose additional pressure on roosting colonies. Climate change threatens to alter the delicate cave microclimates essential for this bat's survival.
Where does Jamaican Flower Bat live?
Jamaican Flower Bat occurs in Jamaica. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Jamaican Flower Bat?
The main threats to Jamaican Flower Bat are 8.1, ai-1, ai-2, and ai-3. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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