Greater Long-nosed Bat
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| Leptonycteris nivalis (Saussure, 1860) |
The Greater Long-nosed Bat or Mexican Long-nosed Bat (Leptonycteris nivalis) is a species of bat in the Phyllostomidae family. It is found in Mexico, the United States, and possibly Guatemala. Its natural habitat is temperate forests. It is threatened by habitat loss. This species of bat is the pollinator of the Blue Agave plant, the source of Tequila.
Mexican long-nosed bats synchronize their arrival in Texas with the summer blooming cycle of agave plants on which they rely for pollen and nectar. In Mexico, they also eat the nectar, pollen, and fruit of giant columnar cacti. Like hummingbirds, they hover in front of plants and insert their long noses and tongues deep into the flowers to sip nectar.
In Texas, these bats occur in agave and desert-scrub woodlands at elevations of 4,900 to 7,500 feet. They are seldom found far from the agaves and cacti upon which they depend. These bats are found north of the US border only from June to August. They roost in caves, abandoned mines, and cliff-face cavities in groups ranging from a few to several thousand. Many appear to make relatively long seasonal migrations, remaining active in warm climates year-round. These bats are seldom seen except at night at hummingbird feeders.
[edit] Source
- Chiroptera Specialist Group 2000. Leptonycteris nivalis. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 30 July 2007.
- Species Profile at Bat Conservation International [1]
- Article from BATS magazine, "Long-Nosed Bats and Agaves: The Tequila Connection" by Arita, Hector T., Wilson, Don E. [2]
