On the diet of <i>Rhinophylla alethina</i> (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) and congenerics

Abstract Rhinophylla is a genus of frugivorous bats endemic to South America, with Rhinophylla alethina restricted to the Biogeographic Chocó in the western Andes. Despite its Near Threatened status, little is known about its ecology. To fill this gap, we carried out 16 seven-night field samplings in a tropical rainforest, analyzing fecal samples to document its diet. R. alethina consumed fruits from at least six plant families: Araceae, Capparaceae, Cyclanthaceae, Gesneriaceae, Moraceae, and Piperaceae. These findings improve our understanding of its diet, revealing shared plant associations across the genus, and highlighting the species’ potential role in maintaining vertical complexity in forests.