# Proboscis Bat (*Rhynchonycteris naso*) The Proboscis Bat is a small bat with a long nose and big ears. They love to live in tropical forests and are great at catching insects in the air! - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Tropical forests - **Also known as:** Long-nosed Bat ![Proboscis Bat](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Proboscis_bats_%2881721%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Proboscis_bats_%2881721%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Proboscis Bat is a tiny bat with soft, greyish-brown fur and a unique, pointed, upturned snout, giving it its name. It also has distinctive tufts of fur on its wrists and forearms, setting it apart from other small bats. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Chiroptera - **Family:** Emballonuridae - **Genus:** Rhynchonycteris ## Interesting facts - Baby Proboscis Bats are born fully furred with open eyes, ready to cling tightly. - Proboscis Bats often shiver their wings really fast to warm up before they take flight. - These tiny bats often roost in a neat line on tree trunks, looking like bark knots! - They love to hunt near water, gracefully zipping just above the surface for bugs. ## Special abilities - **Scent Signals:** Proboscis Bats have special wrist tufts that release scents to help them communicate and mark territories with other bats. - **Bark Blending:** Proboscis Bats can blend perfectly with tree bark because of their patchy fur pattern, making them nearly invisible to predators. - **Sound Navigator:** Proboscis Bats can "see" in the dark using echolocation, sending out sounds to find bugs and avoid obstacles. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 3.6-5 cm - **Wingspan:** 20-25 cm - **Weight:** 0.003-0.005 kg - **Lifespan:** 3-5 years - **Speed:** 25 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1 - **Gestation:** 115-125 days ## Diet & Feeding These tiny bats are expert hunters, feasting mainly on small flying insects found near water. - **Primary Foods:** mosquitoes, gnats, midges, small moths, caddisflies - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** Common House Mosquito (*Culex pipiens*) — Hunts flying insects, including mosquitoes, near water sources. - **Eaten by:** [Barn Owl](https://www.snappit.app/explore/barn-owl) (*Tyto alba*) — Owls might catch bats at night when they are active. - **Shelter:** Jungle Fig (*Ficus insipida*) — Roosts on tree trunks, blending in with the bark during the day. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Echolocation](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/echolocation): Echolocation is a biological sonar used by animals to navigate, hunt, and communicate by emitting sound waves and interpreting the echoes. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Rainforest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rainforest): This habitat trait refers to species found in tropical rainforests, characterized by high annual rainfall, high biodiversity, and dense tree cover. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Bats are wild animals and should be observed from a distance. Never try to touch or catch one. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Proboscis Bat? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Proboscis Bat? 3.6-5 cm ### What is Proboscis Bat's wingspan? 20-25 cm ### How much does Proboscis Bat weigh? 0.003-0.005 kg ### How long does Proboscis Bat live? 3-5 years ### How fast can Proboscis Bat move? 25 km/h ### What does Proboscis Bat eat? These tiny bats are expert hunters, feasting mainly on small flying insects found near water. ### Where is Proboscis Bat usually found? Tropical forests ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Proboscis Bat: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/proboscis-bat)