Saussure's long-nosed bat
Encyclopedia
The Saussure's long-nosed bats or Mexican long-nosed bats form the genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...

 Leptonycteris within the leaf-nosed bat family Phyllostomidae. Like all members of the family, they are native to the Americas. According to ITIS
Itis
Itis may refer to* Integrated Taxonomic Information System, a partnership designed to provide consistent and reliable information on the taxonomy of biological species...

, three species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...

 are currently recognised, though varying placements of the populations into species and subspecies will be encountered. The species recognised by ITIS are:
  • Southern Long-nosed Bat
    Southern Long-nosed Bat
    The Southern Long-nosed Bat is a species of bat in the family Phyllostomidae. It is found in Aruba, Colombia, Venezuela, and the Netherlands Antilles. Its roosts in caves and mines, but only breeds in specific caves on islands....

    , Leptonycteris curasoae
  • Big Long-nosed Bat or Mexican Long-nosed Bat, Leptonycteris nivalis
  • Lesser Long-nosed Bat
    Lesser Long-nosed Bat
    The Lesser Long-nosed Bat is a medium-sized bat found in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and the United States...

     or Mexican Long-nosed Bat, Leptonycteris yerbabuenae.


In view of the thorough ambiguity of the term "Mexican long-nosed bat", which can refer to the genus or to either of two of its species, the alternative common names are preferable.

These migratory bats are the main pollinator
Pollinator
A pollinator is the biotic agent that moves pollen from the male anthers of a flower to the female stigma of a flower to accomplish fertilization or syngamy of the female gamete in the ovule of the flower by the male gamete from the pollen grain...

s of several nocturnal blooming cactus
Cactus
A cactus is a member of the plant family Cactaceae. Their distinctive appearance is a result of adaptations to conserve water in dry and/or hot environments. In most species, the stem has evolved to become photosynthetic and succulent, while the leaves have evolved into spines...

species
The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
x
OK