On the feeding behavior of Sturnira ludovici (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) in northwestern Ecuador

Sturnira ludovici is a common phyllostomid bat distributed along the western slopes of the northern Andes. However, little is known about its behavior and diet in the wild. In 2021, during a study in northwestern Pichincha, Ecuador, I filmed a subadult female feeding on a mature Piper aduncum fruit; this was the first audiovisual record of S. ludovici consuming fruit. The bat bit the fruit bilaterally with its post-canine teeth, moving its head medio-laterally and using its tongue to ingest the pulp, occasionally pausing to smell it. Feeding lasted two minutes and 26 seconds. This record highlights understory fruit handling by S. ludovici, providing novel insights into its dietary and ecological behavior. Additionally, this study demonstrates the value of mobile devices for behavioral documentation and encourages further experimental studies to explore feeding strategies involving P. aduncum and other understory fruits.