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    Saguaro

    National Park Arizona

There are park alerts in effect.
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  • Fire Restrictions in effect for Saguaro National Park

    Due to increased fire danger in southern Arizona, Saguaro National Park will implement fire restrictions in both the Rincon and Tucson Mountain Districts, beginning Wednesday, May 22, 2013. More »

  • Bottled water no longer for sale in Saguaro National Park

    Water bottle filling stations have been installed at both visitor centers and the Rincon Mountain District bike ramada for visitors to refill their reusable water bottles. A variety of BPA-free waterbottles are available inside the visitor centers. More »

  • Tucson Mountain District (west) road re-opened

    The Golden Gate Road has been re-opened north of Sendero-Esperanza and is is now rated for high clearance vehicles due to the rough nature of the terrain. More »

Nectarivorous Bats

mexican long-tongued bat

NPS/saguaro national park

Mexican Long-tongued Bat
(Choeronycteris mexicana)
This migratory, nectar- and pollen-feeding bat depends on plants adapted for bat pollination (like the agave). The Mexican long-tongued bat follows the flowering agave northward during the spring, arriving in Arizona in early summer. The agave gets a pollinator that transports its pollen, while the bat gets a meal of rich nectar and protein-filled pollen. To make it even easier on the bat, the flowers are thrust high into the sky, light colored, and easily spotted at night. The Mexican long-tongued bat, as the name implies, has a long tongue tipped with brush-like projections for lapping nectar.
Body Length: 55-78 mm

 
lesser long-nosed bat

NPS

Lesser Long-nosed Bat
(Leptonycteris curasoae)
This summer visitor to Saguaro National Park arrives just in time for the flowering of the Saguaro cactus. The lesser long-nosed bat migrates north along the west coast of Mexico, feeding at the flowers of the cardon cactus, organ pipe cactus, and other plants that accommodate bat pollinators. The flowers of these plants have flowers high above the ground; they are lightly-colored, visible at night, and promise a meal of pollen and nectar.
Body Length: 69 - 84 mm
Diet: Nectar, pollen, some insects.

Did You Know?

The flower of a Staghorn Cholla

Many of the plants of the Sonoran Desert are not only edible, they are great sources of nutrition, including the buds of the Staghorn cholla which is a great source of calcium and magnesium.