Image of Common Sword-nosed Bat

Description:

On Saturday night last, a Trinibats-lead expedition consisting of Geoffrey Gomes and Luke Rostant , along with a contingent from the University of Glasgow, lead by Gillian Simpson, ventured deep into the evergreen mountain forests of Trinidad's northern range, and turned up this magnificent creature, the Sword-nosed Bat - Lonchorhina aurita. This very rare species on Trinidad is primarily a hunter of insects; it flies slowly and undetectably over the forest floor at night, employing its ultra-sensitive, and truly extraordinary ears, to listen for the movements or courtship calls of its prey. When prey is detected, the bat emits subtile high frequency echolocation signals to home in on and glean prey off the forest floor, or vegetation. This bat also includes fruit in its diet. Aside from its role as an amplifying and directional device for the bat's echolocation call signals, the reason this bat's noseleaf is so extraordinarily long still remains largely a mystery. There are senses being employed by this bat to navigate and hunt that science is yet to fully understand. Tragically, according to current, terribly outdated local wildlife laws, this, and all 68 species of Trinidad and Tobago's bats continue to be designated, vermin. Photo: Geoffrey Gomes (Trinibats).