Head to head
Greater Long-nosed Bat vs Lesser Long-Nosed Bat
Greater Long-nosed Bat
VS Lesser Long-Nosed Bat
The greater long-nosed bat and lesser long-nosed bat are close relatives in the genus Leptonycteris, both migratory nectar bats of Mexico and the southwestern United States that depend on agaves.
| Greater Long-nosed Bat | Lesser Long-Nosed Bat | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Leptonycteris nivalis | Leptonycteris yerbabuenae |
| Relationship | A close relative of the lesser long-nosed bat, in the same genus | A close relative of the greater long-nosed bat, in the same genus |
| Diet | Nectar and pollen of agaves and cacti, along with some fruit | Nectar and pollen of agave and columnar cactus flowers, occasionally supplemented with fruit |
| Migration | Migrates north from Mexico each spring, timed to the flowering of agaves | Migrates seasonally between roosting and feeding sites in Mexico and the southwestern United States, tracking desert plant flowering |
| Role as pollinator | Pollinates agaves, the plants used to make tequila and mezcal | A primary pollinator of numerous agave species, of direct economic importance |
| Roost | Large colonies in caves, which it relies on for rearing young | Caves and abandoned mines, sometimes in large seasonal colonies |
| Range | Desert and mountain habitat from central Mexico north into the southwestern United States, including parts of Texas | Desert habitat across a migratory corridor spanning Mexico and the southwestern United States |
| Conservation status | Endangered, with a decreasing population | Least Concern, increasing after recovery that led to removal from the United States endangered listing |
Greater Long-nosed Bat vs Lesser Long-Nosed Bat: common questions
Which long-nosed bat is endangered?
The greater long-nosed bat, which is Endangered because of cave disturbance and loss of the agave stands it feeds on.
Why are long-nosed bats important to agaves?
Both pollinate agaves, the plants used to make tequila and mezcal.
Which long-nosed bat has recovered?
The lesser long-nosed bat, whose recovery through roost and habitat protection led to its removal from the United States endangered listing.