Discover
/
Article

Orange-nectar bat uses pumping-tongue trick to sip liquids

SEP 28, 2015
Physics Today

Nature : Whereas the tongues of most bats are covered with hair-like papillae to lap up nectar from flowers, the tongue of an orange-nectar bat (Lonchophylla robusta) is almost hairless. Instead, it has two lateral grooves on either side, which when combined with capillary action, allow the bat to sip continuously without moving it. To get liquids, the orange-nectar bat sticks and holds its tongue in the nectar until it is finished drinking. Marco Tschapka of the University of Ulm in Germany and his colleagues, who used a high-speed camera to observe the technique, say the pumping tongue probably evolved so the bat could better access deep pools of liquid.

Related content
/
Article
The finding that the Saturnian moon may host layers of icy slush instead of a global ocean could change how planetary scientists think about other icy moons as well.
/
Article
/
Article
After a foray into international health and social welfare, she returned to the physical sciences. She is currently at the Moore Foundation.
/
Article
Modeling the shapes of tree branches, neurons, and blood vessels is a thorny problem, but researchers have just discovered that much of the math has already been done.

Get PT in your inbox

pt_newsletter_card_blue.png
PT The Week in Physics

A collection of PT's content from the previous week delivered every Monday.

pt_newsletter_card_darkblue.png
PT New Issue Alert

Be notified about the new issue with links to highlights and the full TOC.

pt_newsletter_card_pink.png
PT Webinars & White Papers

The latest webinars, white papers and other informational resources.

By signing up you agree to allow AIP to send you email newsletters. You further agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.