Mammals
Lesser Long-Nosed Bat
Leptonycteris yerbabuenae · also called lesser long-nosed bats, Sanborn's long-nosed bat
Hovering before a blooming saguaro at dusk, a lesser long-nosed bat feeds deep within the flower before continuing a seasonal migration that links agave fields in Mexico with desert habitat across the southwestern United States.
Overview
The lesser long-nosed bat, Leptonycteris yerbabuenae, is a nectar-feeding mammal native to desert habitat across a migratory corridor spanning Mexico and the southwestern United States. Its role as a primary agave pollinator, long seasonal migrations, and status as a genuine conservation recovery success make it one of the more ecologically and economically significant bats found anywhere in North America.
A bat behind the tequila supply
Every agave plant pollinated by the lesser long-nosed bat represents a small but real link between this migratory species and an entire regional industry, a connection that has helped build unusually strong cross-border support for its conservation.
Status
Least Concern, with an increasing population trend following coordinated conservation efforts that led to its removal from the United States endangered species list.
Lesser Long-Nosed Bat: common questions
Why is the lesser long-nosed bat considered a conservation success story?
This species was previously listed as endangered in the United States but was later removed from that listing following meaningful population recovery, supported by coordinated habitat protection and roost site conservation efforts across both Mexico and the United States.
Why is the lesser long-nosed bat important to agave?
This species is a primary pollinator of numerous agave species, an ecological role with direct economic importance given agave's central use in producing tequila and related spirits across parts of Mexico.
How far does the lesser long-nosed bat migrate?
This species migrates seasonally between roosting and feeding sites in Mexico and the southwestern United States, timing its movements closely to track the flowering of agave and columnar cacti along a well-established migratory corridor.
How does the lesser long-nosed bat feed from flowers?
This species can hover briefly in place while feeding from a flower, a manoeuvre that helps it access nectar deep within the tubular flowers of agave and columnar cacti such as the saguaro and organ pipe cactus.