Feeding Habits of Leptonycteris curasoae in Northern Venezuela

Abstract

Aspects of the feeding ecology of Leptonycteris curasoae in Northern Venezuela were studied through analysis of pollen collected from fur and feces. Cactaceae and Bombacaceae (100%) were the most frequently found pollen in feces, followed by Caricaceae (66.7%) and Agavaceae (22.2%). No significant differences were found between the frequency of occurrence of pollen collected from fur and that present in feces. Pollen-diet composition showed highly significant differences among seasons but not between sexes. During the year no significant differences between sexes were found in the frequency of occurrence of seeds and pollen in the feces, but when analysis was restricted to April through July, the period of late pregnancy and lactation, there were significant differences between sexes and between females in different reproductive conditions. Breeding females, specially during lactation, apparently ingest more fruits to supply their particular nutritional and energetic requirements. Differences in pollen frequency observed in the diet during the year seem related to flowering pattern of the plant families present in the study area.