The Honduran White Bat

The Honduran White Bat is a small fruit bat native to Central America’s lowland rainforests. Their small white and yellow bodies allow them to hide underneath the leaves of Heliconia plants, where they live in large groups. By 2100, lowland rainforests are predicted to become savannah-like ecosystems due to climate change and deforestation. To combat these changes the Honduran White Bat will undergo several adaptations including bigger eyes, darker skin, longer fingers, and mouth changes. The larger eyes will help the bat navigate more effectively because there will be more open areas, making echolocation less effective. Darker skin and hair will provide camouflage to the arid savannah and absorb UV rays that are predicted to become more intense. Lastly, the bat will develop elongated fingers, sharper teeth, a stronger mandible, and a bigger body size so it can take on an omnivorous diet and obtain a better chance of survival.