The southern long-nosed bat (Leptonycteris curasoae ) is a South American species of bat in the family Phyllostomidae.
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NocturnalNocturnality is an animal behavior characterized by being active during the night and sleeping during the day. The common adjective is "nocturnal",...
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HerbivoreA herbivore is an animal anatomically and physiologically adapted to eating plant material, for example, foliage, for the main component of its die...
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NectarivoreIn zoology, a nectarivore is an animal that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of the sugar-...
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ZoochoryZoochory animals are those that can disperse plant seeds in several ways. Seeds can be transported on the outside of vertebrate animals (mostly mam...
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PollinatorA pollinator is an animal that moves pollen from the male anther of a flower to the female stigma of a flower. This helps to bring about fertilizat...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
Among animals, viviparity is the development of the embryo inside the body of the parent. The term 'viviparity' and its adjective form 'viviparous'...
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MonogamyMonogamy is a form of relationship in which both the male and the female has only one partner. This pair may cohabitate in an area or territory for...
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MigratingAnimal migration is the relatively long-distance movement of individual animals, usually on a seasonal basis. It is the most common form of migrati...
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starts withSouthern long-nosed bats are of average size for leaf-nosed bats, being intermediate in size between their close relatives, the greater and lesser long-nosed bats. They have short, greyish-brown fur, with a long, narrow snout, relatively short ears, and a small, triangular nose-leaf. The tongue is long and easily extended to lap up nectar, a task made easier by the presence of hook-like papillae on the tip.
Southern long-nosed bats are found in northern Colombia and Venezuela, and the neighbouring islands of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao. They inhabit semi-arid to arid habitats from coastal islands to the Andes, including thorn forest, scrubland, and patches of Pachycereus cactus. Although the bats of Curaçao were once considered a separate subspecies, this is no longer recognised, and the species is currently considered monotypic.
The species is thought to have arisen around 540,000 years ago, separating from the lesser long-nosed bats when they dispersed along a temporary corridor of semi-arid habitat connecting Mexico and South America.
Southern long-nosed bats spend the day roosting in caves and abandoned mines, often shared with a number of other bat species. They are highly gregarious, with colonies numbering in the thousands of individuals. They are agile fliers, feeding on nectar, pollen, and fruit. For most of the year, around 90% of their diet is derived from various species of cactus, although they also feed on Agave and Ceiba when those plants are in bloom. They have been identified as important pollinators of local cacti.
Breeding takes place between November and December, and births in May. The young are born and raised in a limited number of maternity caves, often located on islands. The young are weaned at around two months, and the bats live for up to ten years.
Social animals are those animals that interact highly with other animals, usually of their own species (conspecifics), to the point of having a rec...