Editing Spectral bat (section)

{{Short description|Species of bat}}
{{About|the bat in the family [[Phyllostomidae]]|the false vampire bats in the old world|Megadermatidae}}
{{Good article}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Spectral bat
| status = NT
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=Solari, S. |date=2018 |title=''Vampyrum spectrum'' |volume=2018 |page=e.T22843A22059426 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22843A22059426.en |access-date=19 November 2021}}</ref>
| image = Spectral bat photo.jpg
| genus = Vampyrum
| parent_authority = [[Constantine Samuel Rafinesque|Rafinesque]], 1815
| species = spectrum
| authority = ([[Carl Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], [[10th edition of Systema Naturae|1758]]<ref name="Linnaeus 1758">{{cite book|last=Linnæus|first=Carl|title=Systema naturæ per regna tria naturæ, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Tomus I|year=1758|publisher=Laurentius Salvius|location=Holmiæ|page=31|url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/80764#page/41/mode/1up|edition=10th|access-date=21 November 2012|language=Latin|trans-title=By means of the three kingdoms of nature, the nature of the system, according to the classes, ordines, genera, species, with the characters, the differences, synonyms, places.}}</ref>)
| range_map = Vampyrum spectrum distribution (colored).png
| synonyms = {{collapsible list
| ''Vespertilio spectrum'' Linnaeus,&nbsp;1758
| ''Phyllostomus spectrum'' [[François Marie Daudin|Daudin]],&nbsp;1802
| ''Phyllostoma spectrum'' [[Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire|É Geoffroy]],&nbsp;1810
| ''Vampyrus spectrum'' [[Camillo Ranzani|Ranzani]],&nbsp;1820}}
}}

The '''spectral bat''' ('''''Vampyrum spectrum'''''), also called the '''great false vampire bat''', '''great spectral bat''', '''American false vampire bat''' or '''Linnaeus's false vampire bat''', is a large, carnivorous [[leaf-nosed bat]] found in Mexico, Central America, and South America. It is the only member of the genus '''''Vampyrum'''''; its closest living relative is the [[big-eared woolly bat]]. It is the largest bat species in the [[New World]], as well as the largest carnivorous bat: its wingspan is {{convert|0.7-1.0|m|ft|abbr=on}}. It has a robust skull and teeth, with which it delivers a powerful bite to kill its prey. Birds are frequent prey items, though it may also consume rodents, insects, and other bats.

Unlike the majority of bat species, it is [[monogamy in animals|monogamous]]. Colonies consist of an adult male and female and their offspring. The adult male will bring food back to the roost to provision the adult female and their offspring. Colonies generally roost in tree hollows, though individuals may roost in caves. Due to [[habitat destruction]] and its low population density, it is listed as a [[near-threatened species]] by the [[International Union for Conservation of Nature]] (IUCN).