Hilgendorf's tube-nosed bat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hilgendorf's tube-nosed bat |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Chiroptera |
| Family: | Vespertilionidae |
| Genus: | Murina |
| Species: |
M. hilgendorfi
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| Binomial name | |
| Murina hilgendorfi Peters, 1880
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The Hilgendorf's tube-nosed bat (scientific name: Murina hilgendorfi) is a special type of bat. It belongs to a big family of bats called Vespertilionidae, often known as "common bats" or "evening bats." This bat gets its name from its unique tube-shaped nostrils.
In Japan, people call this bat 'tengu komori'. This name comes from a legendary creature called the Tengu, which is often shown with a long nose. For a while, scientists thought this bat was just a subgroup of another bat, the Murina leucogaster. But now, they know it's its own distinct species!
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Where Do These Bats Live?
Hilgendorf's tube-nosed bats are found in many parts of Asia. You can find them in countries like China, Russia (especially in areas like Primorye and Sakhalin), Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Korea, and Japan. In Japan, they live on the main islands of Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu.
What Do They Look Like?
This bat has a slender face and, as its name suggests, tube-shaped nostrils. Its ears are oval-shaped and have a noticeable part called a tragus. This tragus is more than half the height of the ear itself.
Their fur is soft and curly. It's usually a dark gray color, mixed with long, shiny, silvery hairs. When they fly, they tend to stay quite low to the ground. They are also known for being able to hover in the air.
Their Home and Food
Hilgendorf's tube-nosed bats like to live in different places. They can be found in forests, old mines, dark caves, and even tunnels. Sometimes, they might even choose to live in buildings.
Unlike some bats that live in huge groups, these bats usually live alone or in small groups. They don't form large colonies. Their diet mainly consists of insects. They love to eat moths and beetles, catching them while flying at night.
Protecting These Bats
The IUCN Red List is a list that tells us about the conservation status of different species around the world. In 2008, the IUCN said that the Hilgendorf's tube-nosed bat is "widespread" but naturally rare. This means they are found in many places, but there aren't a lot of them in any one spot.
In Japan, this bat is considered Vulnerable. This is mainly because many old-growth forests, which are their natural homes, are being cut down. However, for now, scientists don't think the species is declining quickly across its entire range. But they do warn that as more logging happens, losing their habitat could become a bigger problem in the future. Because of this, it's important to keep an eye on these bats and study them.
Other Tube-Nosed Bats
There are other types of tube-nosed bats too!
 | May Edward Chinn |
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