Abstract
The physiology and biochemistry of nectarivorous bats ( Leptonycteris sanborni) and bat-pollinated flowers are discussed. It is found that: 1. 1. The bats must supplement their carbohydrate diet with pollen; pollen from bat-adapted plants provides sufficient nitrogen to maintain adult Leptonycteris. 2. 2. The environment of the bats' gastrointestinal tracts allows access to pollen cell contents despite the resistant exine. 3. 3. Chiropterophilous flower pollen is higher in protein than closely related flowers pollinated by other means. 4. 4. A full complement of amino acids is present in chiropterophilous pollen; abundance of certain amino acids may fulfill particular needs of the bats.
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