Underwood's long-tongued bat

Underwood's long-tongued bat (Hylonycteris underwoodi) is a species of bat in the family Phyllostomidae. It is the only species within the genus Hylonycteris. It is found in Belize, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Panama. Hylonycteris underwoodi feed on nectar, pollen grains, agave and fruits.^[2] This choice of food has allowed them to gain the ability of hovering flight, thereby evolving their body mass and size to compensate for the same.^[3]

Underwood's long-tongued bat
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Chiroptera
Family:	Phyllostomidae
Genus:	Hylonycteris Thomas, 1903
Species:	H. underwoodi
Binomial name
Hylonycteris underwoodi Thomas, 1903

Taxonomy

It was described as a new species in 1903 by British mammalogist Oldfield Thomas. The holotype was collected by Cecil F. Underwood, who is the eponym for the species name "underwoodi".^[4]

Predation

Predators of these bats likely include birds of prey, such as falcons and owls, snakes, and other small, arboreal predators.^[5]