Cimar Round Ray vs Commissaris's Long-tongued Bat

Urotrygon cimar compared with Glossophaga commissarisi

Key Differences

• Cimar Round Ray is Near Threatened while Commissaris's Long-tongued Bat is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Cimar Round Ray	Commissaris's Long-tongued Bat
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Elasmobranchii	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Myliobatiformes (Myliobatiformes)	Chiroptera (Bats)
Family	Urotrygonidae	Phyllostomidae
Genus	Urotrygon	Glossophaga
Species	Urotrygon cimar	Glossophaga commissarisi

Evolutionary Relationship

Cimar Round Ray and Commissaris's Long-tongued Bat share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (Chordates)

Conservation Status

Cimar Round Ray

NT — Near Threatened

Commissaris's Long-tongued Bat

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Cimar Round Ray	Commissaris's Long-tongued Bat
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Cimar Round Ray

Commissaris's Long-tongued Bat

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Distributed across Colombia and Ecuador.

Cimar Round Ray

The Cimar round ray (Urotrygon cimar) is a small stingray in the family Urotrygonidae, found in the eastern Pacific Ocean along the coasts of Central America and northern South America, including the waters of Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, and Ecuador. It inhabits shallow coastal and estuarine waters over sandy and muddy bottoms, typically at depths of less than 50 meters, where it feeds on small benthic invertebrates and fish. Like other round rays in the genus Urotrygon, it has a nearly circular disc outline, a relatively slender tail, and a venomous caudal spine used defensively against predators. The species is classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN, reflecting its restricted range, vulnerability to coastal habitat degradation, and incidental capture in artisanal and commercial fisheries throughout its range. Bycatch in shrimp trawls and gill nets represents a significant ongoing threat to Urotrygon species throughout the eastern Pacific. Shallow coastal habitats in Central America and Colombia face continued pressure from development, mangrove loss, and pollution. The species' reproductive biology, like that of most Urotrygon rays, involves ovoviviparity, with females giving birth to live young after internal development. Population assessments for this species remain limited, and more data on abundance and mortality rates are needed.

Commissaris's Long-tongued Bat

<em>Glossophaga commissarisi</em>, commonly known as Commissaris's Long-tongued Bat, is a small nectarivorous bat in the family Phyllostomidae. This species is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List and is native to the Neotropical region, with populations recorded in Colombia and Ecuador, among other countries in Central and South America. As its name suggests, Commissaris's Long-tongued Bat is highly specialized for nectar feeding, possessing an elongated tongue and snout adapted for reaching deep into flowers. In doing so, it serves as an important pollinator for a variety of tropical plants, particularly those with tubular flowers that bloom at night. This bat typically inhabits tropical and subtropical forests, including humid lowland and montane forests, where flowering plants are abundant throughout the year. It often roosts in small groups within caves, hollow trees, or dense foliage. Biological traits of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature.