Largest bat in the New World

The largest bat in the New World is the spectral bat Vampyrum spectrum. Native to southern Mexico, Central America and northern South America, it is a tailless species of false vampire bat. Its wingspan can just exceed 100 cm in the largest specimens, its head-and-body length is 12.5–13.5 cm, and it weighs 145–190 g. False vampire bats are so-called because in early scientific times they were erroneously believed to feed upon blood – hence their generic name, Vampyrum. In reality, this large species (also the largest carnivorous bat) is an active predator, preying upon small mammals (including other bats) and birds, and sometimes small reptiles and amphibians too, as well as insects.