Proboscis bat

This is a small bat, around long and in weight. Males in northern South America were found to average long, females . The tail is about long. Pregnant females can weigh up to . Proboscis bats (81721).jpg|in Costa Rica Proboscis Bat JCB.jpg|in Costa Rica. The two on the lower left are carrying young Long-nosed proboscis bats (Rhynchonycteris naso) Rio Napo.jpg|in Ecuador, juvenile on left ==Habitat==

This species is found in the lowlands of the northern half of South America, throughout Central America, and into southeastern Mexico. From Ecuador south, it is limited to east of the Andes; its range extends south to the northern half of Bolivia and much of Brazil. It seldom occurs above in elevation. It usually lives around wetlands and is frequently found in riparian forests, pastures swamps, and all near water. ==Habits==

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: most of them line up, one after another, on a branch or wooden beam, nose to tail, in a straight row. A colony of proboscis bats usually has a regular feeding area, typically a small patch of water. Here the bats catch insects (in the form of midges [including chironomids], mosquitoes, beetles, and caddisflies) using echolocation. They have no specific breeding season, forming stable year-round harems. One young is born per female. Both sexes disperse after weaning at around 2–4 months. This small species of bat has been found to occasionally fall prey to the large spider Argiope submaronica. ==References==