Leptonycteris nivalis
| Greater long-nosed bat | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Chiroptera |
| Family: | Phyllostomidae |
| Subfamily: | Glossophaginae |
| Genus: | Leptonycteris |
| Species: | L. nivalis |
| Binomial name | |
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Leptonycteris nivalis (Saussure, 1860) |
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The greater long-nosed bat or Mexican long-nosed bat (Leptonycteris nivalis) is a species of bat in the family Phyllostomidae. It is found in Mexico and the United States. It chiefly consumes pollen and nectar, particularly from Agave plants and cacti. Its habitat includes desert scrub and open woodlands. It is threatened by habitat loss.
They are sooty brown in color, with a darker dorsally and lighter ventrally. Individual hairs are white at the base, and silver at the tips. Their forearms are 54–59 mm (2.1–2.3 in) long. They have moderately-furred interfemoral membranes, and their short tails only have three vertebrae. Their muzzles are elongated, and their tongues are long and tipped with filiform papillae. The tongue attaches at the posterior side of the sternum. Their nose-leafs are triangular and erect. The average mass is 24 g (0.85 oz) Their ears are 15 mm (0.59 in) long. Like other nectarivores, this species has reduced teeth, missing the third molar while the other two molars are weakly cusped. Loss of teeth and dental ridges indicates accurately that their diet does not necessitate biting and chewing.
The species is found in southern Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico June through August. It is found in central Mexico throughout the rest of the year. They roost primarily in caves and mines, but can also be found in unoccupied buildings, hollow trees, and even sewers. While it has been alleged that the bats are found as far south as Guatemala, the IUCN disputes this notion, and lists its southernmost occurrence as central Guerrero.
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Wikipedia