The name Glossophaga is from the greek roots "glossa", meaning tongue, and "phaga", meaning to eat (Webster and Jones 1993).
Glossophaga species emit sound signals through their nostrils. The leaf-like structure of the nose functions like a megaphone. Their typical calls include constant frequency (CF) components followed by a short frequency modulated (FM) component. Constant frequencies are used to pick up objects from distances and aren't very accurate. Frequency modulated calls are used up close to get a better fix on the location of the target (Webster and Jones 1993).
These bats also have keen eyesight and sense of smell.
Communication Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic ; chemical
Perception Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic ; echolocation ; chemical
Although local habitat destruction may threaten local populations, these bats remain fairly common throughout their range.
US Federal List: no special status
CITES: no special status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern
There are no negative impacts of G. commissarisi.
Two dozen plant families and more than 500 different species depend on pollination by G. commissarisi and other nectar-feeding bats, many of which are of great ecological or economic value. Glossophaga commissarisi individuals are the only known pollinators of hanging markea vines. Quinata bombacopsis seeds are dispersed by G. commissarisi. This wood is used to make windows, doorframes, firewood, posts, and plywood (Nowak 1994, Wilson 1997).
Positive Impacts: pollinates crops
Glossophaga commissarisi individuals are important pollinators in the ecosystems in which they live. Their feeding habits allow then to cross pollinate plants in the forest and by eating fruits they also provide a seed dispersal service. Quinata bombacopsis is a tree species that benefits from seed dispersal (Wilson 1997).
Ecosystem Impact: disperses seeds; pollinates
Glossophaga commissarisi is specialized for extracting nectar from flowers with their long, papillate tongue. By hovering in the air they insert their tongue and tip of their snout into the blossoms to extract pollen and nectar. They then fly on to the next flower and repeat the process, similar to a humming bird. They also eat soft fruits and insects, especially during the parts of the year when fruits and nectar are unavailable.
Animal Foods: insects
Plant Foods: fruit; nectar; pollen
Primary Diet: herbivore (Nectarivore )
Glossophaga commissarisi is found from Southern Mexico to Panama (Hellebuyck 1985).
Biogeographic Regions: neotropical (Native )
Glossophaga commissarisi is found in forests and mountainous areas roosting in hollow trees, caves, and houses. These bats are common in evergreen forests, banana groves, and clearings. They are more common in wetter forests than dry forests. Glossophaga commissarisi is generally found close to food sources, flowering plants and fruits (Eisenberg 1989).
Range elevation: 400 to 1600 m.
Habitat Regions: tropical ; terrestrial
Terrestrial Biomes: forest ; rainforest ; mountains
Other Habitat Features: agricultural
The lifespan of G. comissarisi is unknown, but an individual of a related species, G. soricina lived to 10 years in captivity.
These are medium-sized bats ranging in length from 43 to 65 mm and averaging 9.5 g in weight. Coloration varies from dark brown to lighter brown to reddish brown. The tongue is long and covered with bristle-like papillae. The cheeck teeth are narrow and elongated and the lower incisors are very small. The upper incisors are not procumbent and lower incisors are clearly separated from each other and evenly spaced. The rostrum is shorter than some other nectar-feeding phyllostomids (Nowak 1983, Emmons 1990).
Average mass: 9.3 g.
Range length: 43 to 65 mm.
Range wingspan: 32 to 42 mm.
Other Physical Features: endothermic ; homoiothermic; bilateral symmetry
Sexual Dimorphism: sexes alike
As are most bats, Commissaris' long-tongued bats avoid predation mainly by being active at night, being cryptically colored, roosting in safer structures, and through agile flight. Bats are preyed on by nocturnal or crepuscular birds of prey, particularly owls, and by snakes and other small predators capable of climbing into roosts.
Anti-predator Adaptations: cryptic
Little is known of social behavior and mating systems in these bats or their relatives.
Breeding behavior is unknown and pregnancies have occured in various months throughout the year. Pregnancies have been recorded in from January through April, July, and September to October. It is assumed that these are year round breeders and have young when food is plentiful (Nowak 1994, Wilfried 1984).
Breeding season: Breeding occurs throughout the year.
Range number of offspring: 1 to 2.
Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; year-round breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; viviparous
Little is known about parental invesment in these bats. In most bat species, females care for and nurse their young until they become volant, within a few months of birth.
Parental Investment: no parental involvement; altricial ; pre-fertilization (Protecting: Female); pre-hatching/birth (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female); pre-weaning/fledging (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female)
Commissaris's long-tongued bat (Glossophaga commissarisi) is a bat species from South and Central America.
The bat's length ranges from 43 to 65 mm, has a wingspan of 32 to 42 mm, and weighs on average 9.3 to 9.5 grams. Colour varies from dark, light, and reddish, brown. The species presents no sexual dimorphism, and has a long tongue with bristle-like papillae.[2]
It is found from Southern Mexico to Panama, as well as in Guyana. It is found in the lowlands and up to 2,400 metres (7,900 ft). Its habitats range from tropical to sub-tropical.[2]
Commissaris's long-tongued bat (Glossophaga commissarisi) is a bat species from South and Central America.
