Bat Has Longest Tongue of Any Mammal

In the cloud forests of the Andes a funnelled flower has inspired the most spectacular tongue of any mammal on the planet.

At around 9cm, or 3.5in, the extraordinary proboscis of the tube-lipped nectar bat, Anoura fistulata can reach 150 per cent of its body length. After use it retracts into its rib cage.



This is longer, relative to body length, than that of any other mammal known and second only to the chameleon among vertebrates.

The degree to which the bat can extend its tongue is equivalent to a cat being able to lap milk from a bowl placed two feet away.

The animals evolved to feed on the flowers where the nectar is hidden at the end of long funnels called corollas.