Olfaction in the fruit-eating bats Artibeus lituratus and Carollia perspicillata: an experimental analysis

Lays C Parolin, Sandra B Mikich, Gledson V Bianconi

Studies suggest that frugivorous bats search and select fruit mainly by olfaction so that they can be attracted by smell alone. The aim of this study was to evaluate, in captivity, the behavioural response (number of foraging attempts) of Artibeus lituratus and Carollia perspicillata offered essential oils extracted from ripe fruit of Ficus insipida (Moraceae) and Piper hispidum (Piperaceae) as well as intact fruit wrapped in gauze to attract bats with reduced visual stimuli. Based on previous reports, we hypothesized that A.lituratuswould exhibit preference for Ficusfruits/oil while C. perspicillatawould prefer Piperfruit/oil. Four arrangements of these attractants were tested in triplicate: P. hispidum fruit vs. F. insipida fruit, P.hispidumoil vs. F. insipidaoil,P. hispidumoil vs. F. insipidafruit and P. hispidumfruit vs. F. insipidaoil. As expected, in all tests, A. lituratusshowed the highest number of foraging attempts in F. insipida while C. perspicillatain those of P. hispidum.Based on the number of foraging attempts both species exhibited a positive response to their favorite fruit genera, though the differences were not always statistically significant. The results confirm the importance of smell in fruit choice by these species.