A medium-sized nectar-feeding bat. Critical pollinator of agave and columnar cacti.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
The lesser long-nosed bat is a medium-sized bat found in Central and North America. It is sometimes known as Sanborn's long-nosed bat or the Mexican long-nosed bat, though the latter name is better avoided since it is also used for the entire genus Leptonycteris and for one of the other species in it, the greater long-nosed bat.
Source: Wikipedia — Lesser long-nosed bat Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Medium brown bat with elongated rostrum and long tongue adapted for nectar feeding.
Similar species. Mexican Long-nosed Bat (very similar; sister species).
Voice. Ultrasonic echolocation.
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. Nectar and pollen of agave, saguaro, and other desert plants; also eats fruit.
Behavior. Critical pollinator of saguaro cacti and agaves. Federally endangered. Migrates between US and Mexico.
§ Range
Southwestern US, Mexico
§ Habitat
Desert riparian areas, agave habitats
§ Threats
Habitat loss, agave overharvest, climate change.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the lesser long-nosed bat is currently classified as Near Threatened.
§ What helps
Support desert riparian conservation. Plant native agaves.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Lesser long-nosed bat
- www.fws.gov — authoritative profile of Leptonycteris yerbabuenae
- IUCN Red List · taxon 11697
- iNaturalist · taxon 40157
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Leptonycteris yerbabuenae
§ Sources cited
- USFWS Lesser Long-nosed Bat Recovery
- Bat Conservation International
- IUCN Red List 2018
