Pallas’s Long-tongued Bat
We first came across this small-medium bat in a roost with Carollia perspicillata in an unused cellar under a builing in Misiones. These two species often roost together.
Glosophaga soricina is one of only two species of nectivorous bat in Argentina although it will also consume fruit and insects. This species is very rare in Argentina and is classed as vulnerable
It has a long tongue which is around half the lengh of its body with which it probes flowers for nectar. The snout is slightly elongated and the nose leaf is small. Fur is mid brown with a pale base. Ears are medium sized and rounded. It can be confused with the larger Carollia perspicillata but does not have the warts on the chin as does this species. Glosophaga soricina has a serrated groove in the chin.
The tail is about one third the size of the uropatagium and around 2mm sticks out on the dorsal side.
It is an important pollinator of plants and is only found in 5 provinces in Argentina.
We captured this species in Corrientes in October 2019 – the first registration ever for the province. See scientific report
