Ipanema bat

The Ipanema Bat resides in northern Argentina, southeastern Brazil, Paraguay, and Bolivia.[7][5] Their preferred habitats are tropical forests, subtropical forests, and secondary forests.[8] Although atypical, they are sometimes found in the coastal shrublands of Brazil.[8] This suggests that perhaps P. bilabiatum can expand its habitat into dryer, more sparsely vegetated areas.[8]

P. bilabiatum is frugivorous, specializing in fruit that is easily digested.[3] These fruits are usually very ripe and fleshy, with few seeds.[3] The fruit choices of the Ipanema bat are diverse, including the fruits of Lucuma caimito, Miconia brasiliensis, and trees of the genus Celtis, as well as Maclura tinctoria, Solanum granuloso-leprosum, and Ficus enormis.[2][3][9][10] Some may also feed on nectar.[3]

Migration patterns may be influenced by rainfall amount and/or temperature. P. biliabatum appears to prefer regions with a minimum annual rainfall of 1500 mm (59 in) and moderate temperatures of 16-23 °C (61-73 °F)[7] Food availability and foraging capabilities seem to be an important factor in the timing and distance traveled during migration[7] Females and males migrate differently.[7] Males tend to linger in lower elevations, while females reside at intermediate and high elevations.[7]

P. bilabiatum usually reproduces in either the fall or the winter.[3] It is thought that they give birth during the later end of the dry period and wean their young at the beginning of the wet period.[10] This strategy coordinates birth with the highest amount of fruit attainability.[10] Females only carry one fetus at a time.[3] Additionally, nipples have been found on females, but it is unclear whether or not they are involved in lactation.[3]