Long-tongued fruit bat
{{Short description|Species of bat}}
{{Speciesbox
|status=LC
|status_system=IUCN3.1
|image=Macrog sobrin 120912-0046 tdp.jpg
|image_alt=Long-tongued fruit bat (Macroglossus sobrinus)
|genus=Macroglossus
|species=sobrinus
|display_parents=3
|authority=K. Andersen, 1911
|range_map=Long-tongued Fruit Bat area.png
|range_map_caption=Long-tongued fruit bat range
|synonyms={{species list
|Macroglossus minimus sobrinus| K. Andersen, 1911 }}
}}
The long-tongued fruit bat (Macroglossus sobrinus) is a species of megabat. It is nectarivorous, feeding on nectar from primarily banana flowers. It is found in several countries in South and Southeast Asia.
Taxonomy and etymology
It was described as a new subspecies in 1911 by Danish mammalogist Knud Andersen. Andersen described it as a subspecies of the long-tongued nectar bat, with the trinomen Macroglossus minimus sobrinus.{{cite journal| last1=Andersen| first1= K.| year=1911| title= LXXV.—Six new fruit-bats of the genera Macroglossus and Syconycteris| journal= Journal of Natural History |series=8| volume=7| issue=42| pages= 641–643| url=https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/22098603| doi= 10.1080/00222931108692987}}
Beginning in approximately 1983, it has been considered a full species rather than a subspecies.{{cite book| last1=Hill| first1= J. E.| year=1983| title= Bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) from Indo-Australia| publisher= British Museum (Natural History)}} Its species name "sobrinus" means "cousin;" Andersen possibly chose this name to reflect what he believed was its close relationship to M. minimus minimus.
Description
Andersen noted that it differed from the long-tongued nectar bat in several ways. Overall, it is a larger species with a longer snout. Its forearm is {{convert|42-48.5|mm|in|abbr=on}} long and individuals weigh {{convert|18-26|g|oz|abbr=on}}.
Biology and ecology
The long-tongued fruit bat feeds on nectar almost exclusively from banana flowers. It is nocturnal, foraging at night and roosting during the day in trees. It roosts singly or in small, "well-spaced parties."{{cite journal|doi=10.1111/j.1095-8312.1983.tb01593.x| url=https://academic.oup.com/biolinnean/article/20/1/115/2666315| title=Bats, flowers and fruit: Evolutionary relationships in the Old World| journal=Biological Journal of the Linnean Society| volume=20| pages=115–135| year=1983| last1=Marshall| first1=Adrian G| url-access=subscription}}
Range and habitat
Conservation
It is currently assessed as least concern by the IUCN—its lowest conservation priority.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Pteropodidae|M.}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q2031149}}
Category:Mammals described in 1911
Category:Bats of Southeast Asia