Bokermann's nectar bat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bokermann's nectar bat |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Chiroptera |
| Family: | Phyllostomidae |
| Genus: | Lonchophylla |
| Species: |
L. bokermanni
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| Binomial name | |
| Lonchophylla bokermanni Sazima et al., 1978
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The Bokermann's nectar bat (Lonchophylla bokermanni) is a special type of bat. It lives only in Brazil, in South America. This bat loves to drink nectar from flowers. Sadly, it is an endangered species, which means it's at risk of disappearing.
Contents
How This Bat Got Its Name
Who Discovered the Bokermann's Nectar Bat?
Scientists Ivan and Marlies Sazima found this bat in 1974. They were exploring Serra do Cipó National Park in Brazil. Later, in 1978, Ivan Sazima, Luiz Vizotto, and Valdir Taddei officially described the species.
Why Is It Called Bokermann's Bat?
The bat was named after Werner Carlos Augusto Bokermann. He was a famous Brazilian scientist who studied reptiles and amphibians. He also used to lead the bird section at the São Paulo Zoo.
About This Bat's Family Tree
How Scientists Classify This Bat
For a while, scientists thought this bat lived in many places. But in 2013, they studied it more closely. They found that some bats thought to be L. bokermanni were actually a new species. This new bat was named Peracchi's nectar bat.
Why This Bat Is Endangered
This discovery was very important. It meant that Bokermann's nectar bat lived in fewer places than thought. Because of this, the IUCN changed its status. In 2016, they listed it as an endangered species.
What Bokermann's Nectar Bat Looks Like
Size and Weight of the Bat
This bat is one of the larger bats in its group, called Lonchophylla. Its forearm is about 38.7–41.3 mm (1.52–1.63 in) long. The bat's total body length is about 60–65 mm (2.4–2.6 in). When its wings are spread, they measure about 28 cm (11 in) across. This bat weighs around 12 g (0.42 oz).
Special Features of Its Face and Body
The bat has a special nose-leaf, which is about 7 mm (0.28 in) long. Its ears are short and wide, with rounded tips. They are about 14 mm (0.55 in) long. The lower lip has small bumps on it.
This bat has a very long tongue. It can stick its tongue out far to reach nectar. The tongue has tiny bumps at the tip. Its flight membranes, which are like its wings, are dark and have no hair.
Its Fur and How to Tell It Apart
The fur on its back is yellowish-brown or grayish-brown. The fur on its belly is lighter, usually ash gray. Its ears and nose-leaf are light brown.
Scientists can tell this bat apart from others by its teeth. It has short rows of teeth. Its lower front teeth have three lobes, which is a unique shape.
How Bokermann's Nectar Bat Lives
What Does This Bat Eat?
This bat is a nectarivore, meaning it mostly eats nectar. It flies around, visiting flowers one after another. This is called "trap-lining." The bat hovers in front of flowers to drink their sweet nectar. It is known to feed from Encholirium glaziovii and Bauhinia flowers. Each visit to a flower is very quick, lasting less than a second.
Other Foods and Habits
Scientists have studied the bats' stomachs. They found that these bats also eat pollen and even small ants. Between feeding times, they rest for 5 to 30 minutes on short trees. These bats usually forage alone. They might even travel short distances to find food when flowers are scarce.
Where Bokermann's Nectar Bat Lives
Its Home in Brazil
This bat is found only in a part of Brazil called the Cerrado. In 2010, scientists thought its home might be expanding. But this led to the discovery of the new species, Peracchi's nectar bat.
Specific Locations
Bokermann's nectar bat has only been confirmed in a few places. These are Jaboticatubas, Itambé do Mato Dentro, and Diamantina. All these places are in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais.
Protecting This Special Bat
Its Changing Conservation Status
In 1996, the IUCN first listed this bat as vulnerable. This meant it was at risk. In 2008, they changed its status to "data deficient." This meant there wasn't enough information about it. However, with new research, it has since been listed as endangered. This means it faces a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
 | Victor J. Glover |
 | Yvonne Cagle |
 | Jeanette Epps |
 | Bernard A. Harris Jr. |
