Greater long-tongued bat
A species of Glossophaga Scientific name : Glossophaga longirostris Genus : Glossophaga
Greater long-tongued bat, A species of Glossophaga
Scientific name: Glossophaga longirostris
Genus: Glossophaga
Content
Description General Info
Description
The Miller flower bat, like most flower bats, has an elongated muzzle and a very long tongue. Belonging to the family of leaf noses, it also has a striking nose leaf of 6.1 mm in length. It is the largest species of the genus Glossophaga, but can be distinguished from their sister species usually only by differences in the characteristics of the teeth. The females are on average slightly larger than the males (total females: 58-80 mm, males: 52-75 mm), but weigh less on average (females: 12.8 g, males 13.3 g). The coat is bicoloured, with the peritoneum usually reddish-brown and the back fur cinnamon-brown. As with most bats, partial albinism can occur, as manifested by random white patches in the otherwise uniformly colored coat. There are currently six subspecies, but the IUCN points out that the assignment of species and subspecies should be revised.
General Info
Lifespan
5-10 years
Diet
Greater long-tongued bat is predominantly nectarivorous. It employs its elongated muzzle and tongue to extract nectar from tubular flowers such as Bromeliaceae and Heliconiaceae. Occasionally, it supplements its diet with insects.
Appearance
Greater long-tongued bat is a small bat with a slender body and long, narrow snout. It's covered in short, smooth fur that's a mix of dark brown and grey. Its wing membranes are dark, contrasting with its lighter body color. The species’ most distinctive feature is its long tongue, which can extend to roughly one and a half times the body length. Males and females look similar, with no prominent differences between them.
Behavior
Greater long-tongued bat exhibits distinct nocturnal nectarivorous activity, using its long, slender rostrum to feed from deep, tubular flowers. Typically solitary, this species displays territorial behavior around dense flower patches which it guards diligently. Adaptations for its diet include an agile, hovering flight similar to hummingbirds enabling unique foraging behaviors.
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Mammals Order
Bats Family
Leaf-nosed bat Genus
Glossophaga Species
Greater long-tongued bat 
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