Inland forest bat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Inland forest bat |
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The inland forest bat (Vespadelus baverstocki) is a tiny bat that lives in the dry, central parts of Australia. It was first discovered in 1987. This small flying mammal is only about 12 millimeters (half an inch) long! During the day, it rests in small holes in trees or buildings. At night, it flies out to hunt for insects, especially moths.
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About the Inland Forest Bat
The inland forest bat is a very small type of bat. It weighs about five grams, which is like a few paperclips! Its forearm, from elbow to wrist, is about three centimeters long.
What Does It Look Like?
The fur on its back can be greyish-brown or a lighter sandy brown. Its belly is usually pale or white. Some bats might be darker underneath, making them look grey-brown all over. The bat's face is pinkish. It has a small part of its ear called the tragus that is often white. This white tragus is lighter than the rest of its ear.
Here are some average measurements for this bat:
- Forearm length: 2.6 to 3.1 centimeters
- Head and body length: 3.5 to 4.3 centimeters
- Tail length: 2.6 to 3.4 centimeters
- Ear length: 0.9 to 1.1 centimeters
- Weight: 3.6 to 7.0 grams (average 4.8 grams)
Where Do They Live?
Inland forest bats live in groups, called colonies. A colony can have just a few bats or as many as sixty bats living together. They share a hollow space in a tree or a building.
It can be hard to tell the inland forest bat apart from other similar bats. For example, it looks a lot like the southern forest bat. Scientists often look at specific features to tell them apart.
Naming the Bat
Scientists first described the inland forest bat in 1987. They first put it in a group called Eptesicus. Later, they decided it belonged in a different group, the Vespadelus genus.
The first bat used to describe the species is called the type specimen. This special bat was found in Yuinmery, a place in Western Australia. It was an adult male bat found in February 1980.
What's in a Name?
This bat is also known as 'Baverstock's forest bat'. It was named after Peter Raymond Baverstock. He was a scientist who studied how Australian bats are related to each other.
Where They Live and What They Eat
The inland forest bat lives in many dry, inland parts of Australia. You can find them in the central and eastern states. There is also a group living in the midwest of Western Australia.
These bats like to live in small holes in rocky areas. They leave these spots at night to hunt for insects. We don't know everything about their diet, but they definitely eat moths. They also find small hollows in trees, even old, large trees, to rest in. Their homes can be in different types of woodlands or shrublands in desert areas.
Threats to Their Home
The inland forest bat faces some challenges. Their homes and hunting grounds are shrinking. This happens because of changes in farming and logging practices. These changes can harm the natural environment where the bats live.
See also
In Spanish: Vespadelus baverstocki para niños
