The forests of Central America still house so discreet species that their lifestyle largely escapes human observation. Among them, a night -up hunter with a singular profile intrigues researchers by his unexpected social habits. Far from the isolated and disturbing image often associated with Carnivore bats, the Javelin bat, also known as Vampyrum Spectrum, reveals a family organization marked by tenderness, cooperation and shared learning.
During the day, animals come together in a compact ball, intertwined wings, muzzle against muzzle. These collective rest sessions are often accompanied by mutual grooming and long vocalizations. On 73 videos analyzed, 16 depict these affection behaviors. Far from being simple anecdotal interactions, these gestures strengthen the cohesion of a group based on physical and emotional proximity.
The javelin bat, a careful parent
Beyond the emotional bond, the study highlights an infrequent parental organization in mammals. On many videos, the researchers have seen adults reporting a prey to the lodging to give it to another member of the group. Most often, it was a young or a female during breastfeeding. This sharing of food, made voluntarily and without tension in 92% of cases, suggests a form of two-sided with little described in bats.
According to the analysis published in Plos One, this strategy would play a key role in weaning young people. The reported meat would allow them to learn to manipulate their future prey while developing their taste for a carnivorous diet. Male and female participate in food education, a fact all the more notable since Vampyrum Spectrum forms monogamous groups composed only of two adults and their young. This family unit promotes the father's investment, more common in birds than in mammals.
Learn to hunt by playing in the family tree
Between two meals, young orcas remain active and attentive to their environment. Videos reveal fun behaviors. Some continue cockroaches without trying to catch them. Others approach the camera with a manifest curiosity, exploring the object posed by the researchers. These sequences, analyzed by the team of Mirjam Knörnschild, highlight a cognitive aspect of development in these bats. Playing, in this context, becomes a way of learning to interact, hunt and recognize members of your group.
The study also describes games of jostles between individuals, where tension quickly gives way to connivance. In such a rare and discreet species, these exchanges show a need for contact and discovery. This behavior seems closely linked to the stages of maturation. The cramped refuge, the group's reduced size and the strength of family ties create an ideal setting. These conditions promote progressive, crucial learning to adapt to a constantly evolving environment.
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