Tomes's Sword-nosed Bat (Lonchorhina aurita) lives in tropical rainforest across Central and South America. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
Fascinating facts about the Tomes's Sword-nosed Bat
- In 2006, the bat was rediscovered in the Santa Cruz Department of Bolivia by scientists Aideé Vargas and Kathrin Barboza Marquez. Prior to their find, it was believed that the bat had been extinct in Bolivia for 72 years, showing how a single expedition can overturn decades-long assumptions about a species' range. The discovery spurred the creation of an Ecological Sanctuary at San Juan de Corralito, illustrating how fresh data can trigger immediate protection measures for vulnerable wildlife.
- The bat inhabits lowlands up to 1,500 m (4,900 ft) above sea level, spanning elevations from sea-level forests to mountain foothills. Its range stretches across Central and South America, including countries from Mexico to Brazil and even the Bahamas, where only a single specimen has ever been recorded. This broad altitudinal and geographic spread demonstrates the species' adaptability to varied tropical habitats.
- Its nose-leaf can grow up to 20 mm (0.79 in). The forearm measures 47-57 mm (1.9-2.2 in), while individuals weigh 10-22 g (0.35-0.78 oz).
- Colonies can hold anywhere from 10 to 500 bats, forming dense night-time communities. These roosts are often shared with other bat species, yet L. aurita stays hidden until complete darkness, even if its neighbors leave earlier.
- Weighing just 10 to 16 g (0.35 to 0.56 oz) and measuring 53-67 mm in length, this bat. Its skull never exceeds 22.7 mm, underscoring a compact head.
Sources
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At a glance
RangeCentral and South America
HabitatTropical rainforest
DietInsects and fruits
About the Tomes's Sword-nosed Bat
In the velvety blackness of the tropical night, the Tomes's Sword-nosed Bat emerges, its long, pointed snout slicing through the darkness like a spectral scimitar as it pursues the abundant insects that dance in the moon's silver glow. With wings beating in a slow, hypnotic rhythm, this singular creature navigates the forest's labyrinthine corridors, its acute echolocation calls piercing the shadows to unveil a hidden world of sound and movement. As it flits and weaves through the trees, its remarkable, sword-like nose leads the way, a unique and wondrous adaptation that sets this bat apart from all others.
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