The Lesser Long-tongued Bat (Macroglossus minimus)

Posted on: October 25, 2021 | National Museum of the Philippines

Photo of Macroglossus minimus (E. Geoffroy, 1810) taken from Mt. Natib, Bataan Natural Park in 2015. English: Lesser long-tongued nectar bat, Tagalog: Paniki, Bisaya: Kagi, Ivatan: Panichi

Scientific illustration of the Macroglossus minimus by the National Museum artist illustrator Aissa Domingo with the flatlay of the actual skull of the M. minimus. If you zoom in on the actual skull, you will notice the small but very sharp teeth of the bat.

As your #NationalMuseumPH joins the observance of #BatWeek, we want to share with you a small amazing bat that provides an awesome service to our planet.

The Lesser Long-tongued Bat (Macroglossus minimus) is a small bat with about 65-78 mm length and 14-20 g weight. It has a narrow muzzle long tongue, hence its English name. It has large eyes compared to other small bats and has canines that are slender and sharp.

This native bat is found throughout the Philippines and in almost every habitat. They are usually observed in mangrove areas, along streams in the forests, and in agricultural areas. This nectarivore (an animal that feeds on nectar and pollen) bat is an important pollinator of bat-loving (chiropterophilous) plants in the mangrove. The flowers of these plants are usually white or pale in color and have a very strong scent so the bats can easily locate them in the dark.

The bat’s long and slender snout is well adapted for feeding on the nectar of flowers. At night while humans are in slumber, the bat makes its trip to the wooded areas where flowers of chiropterophilous plants are in bloom. They probe their narrow mouth to the funnel shaped flowers and feed on the nectar. This kind of feeding behavior contributes to the regrowth of vegetation in the forests and other wooded areas.

Text and images by the NMP Zoology Division