Finlayson's cave bat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Finlayson's cave bat |
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Eptesicus finlaysoni |
The Finlayson's cave bat (Vespadelus finlaysoni) is a small bat that lives only in Australia. It's a type of vespertilionid bat, which are often called "common bats" or "evening bats."
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About the Finlayson's Cave Bat
This bat was officially described as a new species in 1987. Before that, it was sometimes confused with another bat called Vespadelus pumilus. The bat is named after H. H. Finlayson, a researcher from South Australia who studied mammals in the areas where this bat lives. The first official specimen of this bat was found in Cossack, Western Australia.
What Does It Look Like?
The Finlayson's cave bat is a small microbat. It usually weighs between 3 and 7 grams. Its forearm, which is part of its wing, is about 30 to 37 millimetres long.
Fur and Skin
The fur on its back is dark brown. Its belly fur is a bit lighter. Some parts of its brown fur can look almost black with a reddish tint. The skin on its face and wings is also very dark. Its face doesn't have any special markings.
Size Details
Here are some average measurements for this bat:
- Head and body combined: 34 to 46 millimetres
- Forearm: 29.8 to 36.7 millimetres
- Tail: 31 to 42 millimetres long
- Ear (from notch to tip): 9 to 13 millimetres
- Average weight: 4.3 grams (can range from 2.8 to 6.3 grams)
Flight Style
When this bat flies, its movements are quick and fluttery. It can turn sharply, especially when it's hunting for food over water.
Bat Life and Habits
Finlayson's cave bats live in groups called colonies. They like to make their homes in caves or rocky places. They also sometimes live in old, unused mining tunnels.
Where They Hunt
These bats hunt for their food near water. You might see them living alongside other types of bats. Sometimes, they share their homes with Saccolaimus bats (also known as sheathtail bats). They can also live near the ghost bat, Macroderma gigas, which is known to sometimes eat smaller bats like the Finlayson's cave bat.
Reproduction
Female Finlayson's cave bats usually give birth to one or two babies at a time. In the northern parts of Australia, they can have babies for most of the year. In the southern parts, they usually have babies in November and December.
Diet
These bats are insectivores. This means their diet is made up entirely of insects.
Where Do They Live?
The Finlayson's cave bat is found across a large part of Australia. It lives in the western and central regions of the continent. You'll often find them near rocky areas and mountain ranges.
Habitat
They live inland from the coast in the west. Their range stretches across the dry, arid middle of Australia. It also reaches into the tropical grasslands up to the Cape York Peninsula in the north. These bats are quite common in these areas. They prefer to roost, or rest, in caves, cliffs, or other suitable cracks in rocks.
Protecting the Species
The Finlayson's cave bat is listed as a species of "least concern" in Queensland and the Northern Territory. This means that, for now, there are no major worries about them becoming endangered.
See also
In Spanish: Vespadelus finlaysoni para niños
