Lesser Long-nosed Bat

The Lesser Long-nosed Bat is one of the most important nocturnal pollinators in the Americas, playing an irreplaceable role in desert ecosystems of Mexico and the southwestern United States. These bats have elongated snouts and tongues up to a third of their body length, perfectly adapted for reaching deep into the flowers of columnar cacti and agave plants. Without these bats, the $2.3 billion tequila industry would collapse — they are the primary pollinators of the blue agave plant. Lesser Long-nosed Bats are migratory, following the 'nectar trail' of blooming cacti and agave northward from Mexico into Arizona and New Mexico each spring. A single bat can visit 30+ cactus flowers per night, and their faces become coated with pollen that they transfer between plants. Once listed as endangered in the 1980s, concerted conservation efforts have led to a remarkable recovery, making it one of the few species to be delisted from the Endangered Species Act.