Marinkelle's sword-nosed bat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Marinkelle's sword-nosed bat |
|
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Lonchorhina
|
| Species: |
marinkellei
|
 |
|
The Marinkelle's sword-nosed bat (Lonchorhina marinkellei) is a unique type of bat that lives in Colombia. It gets its name, "sword-nosed," from its very long and pointed nose. The bat's scientific name, marinkellei, honors a Dutch scientist named Cornelis Johannes Marinkelle, who did a lot of work in Colombia.
In 2013, a group called Bat Conservation International put this bat on a special list. It was one of 35 bat species around the world that needed urgent help with conservation.
Contents
About Marinkelle's Sword-Nosed Bat
This bat is the largest of all the sword-nosed bats. It has some distinct features that help scientists identify it.
Physical Appearance
Marinkelle's sword-nosed bats are quite big for a bat. Their forearms, which are part of their wings, are longer than 57 mm (about 2.2 in). Their skulls are about 25 mm (1 in) long. An adult bat usually weighs around 27 g (about 1 oz).
Their fur is long, about 12 mm (0.5 in) in length, and is a dark brown color. Most of their wings, called the patagium, are hairless.
Unique Facial Features
One of the most noticeable parts of this bat is its nose-leaf. This is a special fleshy growth on its nose. For the Marinkelle's sword-nosed bat, this nose-leaf is quite tall, about 36 mm (1.4 in) high, and 12 mm (0.5 in) wide. Their ears are also long, measuring about 38 mm (1.5 in). Inside their ears, they have a small flap called a tragus, which is about 19 mm (0.75 in) long.
Life and Habits
Scientists have studied what Marinkelle's sword-nosed bats eat by looking at their stomach contents.
What They Eat
These bats are insectivorous, meaning they mostly eat insects. They use their excellent hearing and echolocation to find and catch insects in the dark.
Reproduction
Not much is known about how these bats reproduce. Scientists have only found a pregnant female once, and that was in August. This means more research is needed to understand their breeding patterns.
Where They Live
The Marinkelle's sword-nosed bat has only been officially confirmed in two specific places in Colombia. While some old records suggested they might be in French Guiana, these are now thought to be mistakes.
Confirmed Locations
The very first Marinkelle's sword-nosed bat ever described, called the holotype, was found in a small cave. This cave was located in a humid forest. Later, other bats of this species were found flying and looking for food in open savanna areas. Like the Fernandez's sword-nosed bat, they are also found in a region called the Llanos.
Habitat and Roosts
These bats are often found near large granite rock formations called "tepui" in eastern Colombia. They like to roost, or rest, in small caves. They have been seen sharing these caves with other bat species, such as Orinoco sword-nosed bats, Seba's short-tailed bats, Yellow-throated big-eared bats, and Lesser dog-like bats. However, the Marinkelle's sword-nosed bats prefer to stay in the darkest parts of the caves.
Protecting Marinkelle's Sword-Nosed Bat
This bat is quite rare and has only been seen a few times by scientists. The sightings were about twenty years apart.
Conservation Status
Currently, the International Union for Conservation of Nature lists the Marinkelle's sword-nosed bat as a vulnerable animal. This means it faces a high risk of becoming endangered in the future if we don't protect it.
In 2008, it was actually listed as "endangered." However, its status was changed to "vulnerable" after the rules for what makes a species "endangered" were updated. Even though its status changed, it still needs a lot of help.
Threats and Protection Efforts
The main threat to this bat is habitat destruction. The two areas where it is confirmed to live are about 300 km (186 mi) apart. Both of these locations are being damaged by human activities. This means the bats are losing their homes and places to find food.
Some of the bat's habitat might be protected by nearby national parks, like Chiribiquete National Park. These parks are very important because they can help save the granite tepui formations that these bats use as their roosting spots. Protecting these areas is key to helping the Marinkelle's sword-nosed bat survive.
