Proboscis Bat
Rhynchonycteris naso
To avoid predators while roosting in the open on tree trunks, a colony will line up vertically and sway in unison, perfectly mimicking tree bark or lichen moving in the breeze.
- Scientific name
- Rhynchonycteris naso
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Chordata › Mammalia › Chiroptera › Emballonuridae › Rhynchonycteris
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- wetland
- Habitat
- Riparian forests, mangroves, swamps, and wetlands near slow-moving water.
- Diet
- Insectivorous, primarily feeding on midges, mosquitoes, and small flies over water.
- Range
- Belize, Brazil, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru
- Size
- Wingspan of 22-25 cm; weight of 2-4 grams
- Lifespan
- 3 to 6 years in the wild
- Active
- nocturnal
- Threats
- Habitat loss through deforestation of riparian corridors and water pollution.
- Safe to approach?
- This species is harmless and highly beneficial. If encountered roosting on a tree over water, maintain a safe distance of at least 5 meters and avoid sudden movements to prevent flushing them. Do not attempt to touch or handle them. In the extremely unlikely event of a scratch or bite, wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water and seek immediate medical attention due to general rabies risks associated with all wild bats.
The proboscis bat ( Rhynchonycteris naso ) is a bat species from South and Central America. Other common names include Long-nosed proboscis bat , sharp-nosed bat , Brazilian long-nosed bat and river bat in English, and murciélago narizón in Spanish. It is monotypic within its genus.
Photo: (c) Charles J. Sharp , some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), CC-BY-SA, via iNaturalist
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