Orange nectar bat

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Orange nectar bat
Lonchophylla robusta.jpg
Conservation status

Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Chiroptera
Family: Phyllostomidae
Genus: Lonchophylla
Species:
L. robusta
Binomial name
Lonchophylla robusta
Miller, 1912
Distribution of Lonchophylla robusta.png

The orange nectar bat (Lonchophylla robusta) is a species of bat in the family Phyllostomidae. It is found in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela.

Feeding mechanism

Orange nectar bats in Costa Rica were observed utilising a unique feeding mechanism that has not been seen in any other animal, this mechanism allows it to pull liquid against gravity using a pumping mechanism. The orange nectar bat's tongue contains two grooves filled with tiny muscles that force the nectar up into the bat's mouth. Two forces are at work here, capillary action and muscle force. The orange nectar bat likely developed this method independently of other species due to its unique mouth physiology.[2]

References[]

  1. ^ Dávalos, L.; Mantilla, H.; Medina, C.; Pineda, J.; Rodriguez, B. (2015). "Lonchophylla robusta". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T12268A22038399. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T12268A22038399.en. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  2. ^ Tschapka, Marco; Gonzalez-Terrazas, Tania P.; Knörnschild, Mirjam (2015-09-01). "Nectar uptake in bats using a pumping-tongue mechanism". Science Advances. 1 (8): e1500525. Bibcode:2015SciA....1E0525T. doi:10.1126/sciadv.1500525. ISSN 2375-2548. PMC 4643790. PMID 26601270.
  • Nectar uptake in bats using a pumping-tongue mechanism, Science Advances 25 Sep 2015: Vol. 1, no. 8, e1500525, DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.1500525


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