Long-tongued nectar bat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Long-tongued nectar bat |
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| Pregnant individual in the Philippines | |
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| in the Philippines | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Macroglossus
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| Species: |
minimus
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| Geographic range of M. minimus | |
The long-tongued nectar bat (Macroglossus minimus), also known as the northern blossom bat, honey nectar bat, least blossom-bat, dagger-toothed long-nosed fruit bat, and lesser long-tongued fruit bat, is a species of megabat. M. minimus is one of the smallest species in the family Pteropodidae, with an average length of 60–85 mm. It has a reddish-brown colouring with relatively long hair compared to the other species. The hair on the abdomen is a lighter colour, and a dark brown stripe runs bilaterally down the top of the head and back.
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Distribution
Its wide geographical range includes Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, southern Philippines, Java, Borneo, New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and northern Australia. In Borneo, it had been recorded from Kota Kinabalu, Sepilok, Sukau, and Tawau in Sabah; Bandar Seri Begawan in Brunei; Bario, Niah and Bako in Sarawak; Gunung Kenepi, Kutai, and Sungai Tengah in Kalimantan.
M. minimus has not been recorded in colonies, which suggest they live in small groups or alone. It feeds on nectar and pollen, which it can obtain from mangroves and banana flowers in Malaysia. Ecologically, the long-tongued nectar bat plays a major role as pollinator of many trees, including the families Bignoniaceae, Bombacaceae, Leguminosae, Musaceae, Myrtaceae, and Sonneratiaceae in peninsular Malaysia. M. minimus has been recorded at elevations up to 1000 m near coastal mangroves, in dipterocarp forests, and in lower montane forests.
Biology
Of total captures, males constituted 53% and females 47%. About 77% were adults.
Estimates for the gestation period for M. minimus is approximately 120 days (± 10 days), lactation occurs for 60 to 70 days. In Negros Island, Philippines, females studies produced two or three young per year. The species reproduces aseasonally (throughout the year) and synchronously in response to food abundance.
External measurements
For young bats, the forearm grows at 0.24 millimetres (0.0094 in) per day and weight is gained at 0.07 grams (0.0025 oz) per day. A free-flying immature bat has a forearm length of 35 millimetres (1.4 in) and weighs around 9 grams (0.32 oz). The length of the head and body in adults is 60–85 millimetres (2.4–3.3 in), with the head being 26–28 millimetres (1.0–1.1 in) in length. The length of the forearm is 40–43 millimetres (1.6–1.7 in), and the weight is 12–18 grams (0.42–0.63 oz). It is shorter and lighter than Macroglossus sobrinus.
See also
In Spanish: Macroglossus minimus para niños
