Lesser Long-nosed Bat (Leptonycteris yerbabuenae: Phyllostomidae) These bats are only 6.4-7.6 cm (2.5-3 in) long but have a 35.6 cm (14 in) wingspan and only weigh 0.4-0.7 oz (1.2-20 gm). They feed exclusively on the fruit and nectar of night-blooming cacti like Saguaro and Organ Pipe cacti as well as species of Agave. The bat on the right is covered with Agave pollen. They are long lived living to 20 years old. Photographed in Ramsey Canyon in the Huachuca Mountains (Apache for Thunder Mtns.), Cochise County, Arizona at ca. 1,646 m (5,400) ft elevation. It is in the Apache Highalnds Ecoregion in the Upper San Pedro River Basin. Specifically the area is riparian adjacent to Ramsey Creek dominated by pine, oak, juniper, and sycamore. Canon EOS 20 D with a Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM telephoto zoom, Shutter speed 1/250 with flash, f/5.6. August 2006
