Who Are These Majestic Winged Creatures and Furry Beings Found in a Tropical Forest in Mexico?

Check List, The Journal of Biodiversity Data. This discovery pushes the known north limit of the species by 120 kilometers and raises crucial questions about the conservation and health of regional ecosystems.

An unexpected meeting in the Lacandone forest

The Tropical Forest of the Lacandona, renowned for its biological richness, has just offered scientists a discovery as astonishing as it is unexpected. During a capture campaign carried out in 2024, two adult specimens of Phyllostomus Hastatus were recorded for the first time on Mexican territory. This species is considered to be one of the largest neotropical chiropts. And he had never been documented north of Guatemala. The capture is part of a flavivirus monitoring program involving several mammals. These are RNA viruses such as dengue, Zika or yellow fever, transmitted by mosquitoes and sometimes hosted by mammals. This discovery testifies to the ability of this mammal to colonize forest areas located outside its usual area.

Specimens were found in cavities of Ceiba Pentandraemblematic tree of tropical forests in Central America. These trees can reach 50 meters in height. They in fact offer natural shelters appreciated by phyllostomids for reproduction and daytime rest. The identification of individuals was confirmed by morphological measurements: an forearm of more than 90 mm and a body mass exceeding 100 grams. This template makes it a formidable omnivorous, capable of feeding both fruit and small vertebrates.

This discovery extends from 120 km to the north the known distribution limit of the species. It arouses a particular interest, because P. Hastatus is distinguished not only by its imposing size, but also by its complex social behavior. It includes groups in harems and long distances to exploit the scattered resources of the canopy.

Indices of a sustainable installation

The elements collected by the team leave little place in doubt. Phyllostomus Hastatus does not just cross the Lacandona. The two adult males captured several months apart in the same area – marked with Comillas – suggest a regular, even permanent presence of the species in this dense forest. The first individual, captured in April 2024, had scrotal testicles, a direct indicator of sexual maturity and reproductive potential. This biological detail is not trivial. It implies that the site is not only a temporary stopover, but could house a reproductive population.

The site itself, a hungry pentrandrandrara nestled in a grazing area on the edge of the Azules Montes reserve, illustrates the adaptability of P. Hastatus. Although the species usually frequents primary forests, its presence in a fragmented landscape highlights a notable ecological plasticity. This type of flexibility has already been documented in Colombia and Brazil. Individuals used natural cavities there as well as anthropogenic structures to take refuge.

Another clue: the cohabitation observed with various local species such as Bagcopteryx bilineata,, Carollia Perspicillata And Desmodus rotundus. This social behavior, characteristic of P. Hastatusstrengthens the hypothesis of successful colonization. For Hernández-Mijangos, this recurring presence in a region however far from the known area of the species constitutes ” A strong signal of its possible implantation ». The capture of individuals on distinct dates tends to confirm that it is not a simple dispersion event. But a lasting installation.

A threatened ecosystem and conservation issues

The Lacandona forest, a large expanse of greenery in southeast Mexico, is today a pressure ecosystem. This region, sheltering exceptional biodiversity, has lost almost 40 % of its forest coverage between 1980 and 2020. The main causes are intensive agriculture, burn farm, illegal wood exploitation and demographic growth that gradually nibbles the wooded land. These activities fragment housing, reduce food resources and disrupt the cycles of many species.

For animals as Phyllostomus Hastatuswhich need hollow trees to rest and a large territory to eat, this situation is particularly critical. “” The discovery of this species in such a threatened area is an alarm signal», Underlines Manuel Weber, quoted in Phys.org . Indeed, if this animal manages to settle permanently, it could become an indicator of the state of health of the ecosystem. Conversely, the rapid disappearance of its habitats makes it vulnerable, like other large flying mammals in the region.

The area concerned is part of the AICOM A-MX-018, an area recognized for its importance in the conservation of bats. However, this recognition remains theoretical without concrete measures. Scientists argue to register P. Hastatus On the list of endangered species in Mexico. They call to strengthen the protection of tropical forests that are still intact. Save these spaces does not only benefit a species. This protects dozens of other animals, rare plants, and the ecological services on which local communities depend.

Scientific and health implications

The confirmed presence of Phyllostomus Hastatus In Mexico exceeds the simple register of biodiversity. This discovery also raises questions about ecological balances and health interactions. As a flying engine, this great mammal plays a key role in the dispersion of seeds and control of insect populations. But its ability to move over long distances and to share shelters with other species can also promote the circulation of pathogens. Certainly the two individuals captured proved to be negative in flavivirus and alphavirus. Nevertheless, some of their lodging fellows could carry these agents. “” This is short -term reassuring information. But it highlights the need for continuous epidemiological watch “Recalls Aranda-Coello.

For the scientific community, this discovery also becomes an opportunity to explore the genetic dynamics of an isolated population, potentially vulnerable to environmental disturbances. Understanding its origin – natural dispersion or consequence of habitat changes – would help anticipate the future of this population and its interactions with other local species.

Finally, this situation highlights the fragility of the tropical forests of chiapas. In the absence of reinforced conservation measures, the habitat ofP. HastatusRisk of framing more, to the point of compromising your sustainable establishment. As Hernández-Mijangos points out, the discovery of such a species in a threatened area embodies both hope and responsibility. It is necessary to preserve a refuge for hundreds of species, some of which are still unknown.

Source: J. Manuel Arannda-Coello et al., “First records of phyllostomus hastatus (Pallas, 1767) (Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae), Greater Spear-Nosed Bat, in Mexico”.Check list(2025).