The proboscis bat (Rhynchonycteris naso ) is a bat species from South and Central America. This is a small bat, around 6 centimetres (2.4 inches) long and 4 grams (0.14 ounces) in weight. Males in northern South America were found to average 56.48 millimetres long, females 59.18. The tail is about 1.6 centimetres long. Pregnant females can weigh up to 6 grams. The species is characterised by its long, fleshy, and pointed nose. Its fur is soft and dense and is brownish-grey in colour, with two white stripes down the back. Proboscis bats live in groups. The colonies are usually between five and ten individuals, and very rarely exceed forty. The bats are nocturnal, sleeping during the day in an unusual formation: they line up, one after another, on a branch or wooden beam, nose to tail, in a straight row.
Photographer: Dave Saunders