Proboscis bat

Belongs to: Sac-Winged Bats, Sheath-Tailed Bats, and Ghost Bats (Emballonuridae)

(Rhynchonycteris naso)

SUBFAMILY

Emballonurinae

TAXONOMY

Rhynchonycteris naso (Wied-Neuwied, 1820), Bahia, Brazil.

OTHER COMMON NAMES

English: Long-nosed bat, sharp-nosed bat; German: Nasenfledermaus; Spanish: Murciélago de trompa.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Head and body length 1.4–1.9 in (36–48 mm); forearm 1.4–1.6 in (36–40 mm); weight 0.10–0.21 oz (3–6 g). Very small bat with two wavy, faint dorsal stripes. Upperparts with grizzled, whitish fur. Nose projecting beyond mouth. Tufts of grayish hair on forearms and wing membrane. Wing and tail membrane brown.

DISTRIBUTION

From Veracruz, Mexico, to east Brazil, north Bolivia, and Peru. From lowlands to elevations up to 1,640 ft (500 m).

HABITAT

Lives close to rivers, lakes, or mangroves. Daytime roosts are found under logs, tree trunks, or branches hanging over water.

BEHAVIOR

Colonies count up to 50 bats. Individuals align in vertical rows and maintain a minimum distance of approximately 3.9 in (10 cm) to the neighbor. If one approaches, the whole colony may suddenly fly off simultaneously and land in a similar place at some distance. The mating system is probably promiscuous as no pattern of association between individuals was detected in a study in Costa Rica.

FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET

Feed on small flies and other insects that they catch in a slow flight over water. Echolocation calls vary between 90 and 95 kHz.

REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY

Polygynous. In some areas, females give birth to a single pup early in the wet season. Males have no seasonal spermatogenic pattern.

CONSERVATION STATUS

Not threatened.

SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS

Cool to look at