# 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.

- **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.

## About

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.

## Sources

- Plate: https://gaia-dex.com/species/89acf826-1f6f-49c9-a98f-f89f5ba98309
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/41396
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhynchonycteris naso
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List category, as recorded by Gaia-Dex
- Photo: https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/359884774/medium.jpeg ((c) Charles J. Sharp
, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), CC-BY-SA, via iNaturalist)

Habitat, diet, size and similar notes are AI-written summaries; check them against the linked sources before relying on them.