Kalinowski's mastiff bat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kalinowski's mastiff bat |
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| Genus: |
Mormopterus
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| Species: |
kalinowskii
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The Kalinowski's mastiff bat (Mormopterus kalinowskii) is a type of bat. It belongs to a group called Molossidae, also known as free-tailed bats. These bats get their name because part of their tail sticks out past the edge of the membrane that connects their legs. This small bat lives in Peru and northern Chile.
Even though we don't know a lot about this bat, scientists believe it is quite common in the areas where it lives. Sometimes, you can even spot these bats living in cities!
Contents
About the Kalinowski's Mastiff Bat
How it Got its Name
This bat was first described as a new species in 1893 by a British zoologist named Oldfield Thomas. He gave it the scientific name Nyctinomus kalinowskii. The name "kalinowskii" was chosen to honor Jan Kalinowski. He was a Polish zoologist who moved to Peru. Thomas wanted to thank Kalinowski for collecting the first bat specimen. This first specimen is called the holotype.
Later, around 1907, scientists decided to move this bat into a different group, or genus, called Mormopterus. Since then, it has always been known as Mormopterus kalinowskii.
What Does it Look Like?
The Kalinowski's mastiff bat is a very small bat. Its forearm, which is like its arm, is about 34.5 mm (1.36 in) long. Its head and body together are about 46 mm (1.8 in) long. Its tail is about 28 mm (1.1 in) long.
This bat has pale gray fur. Its ears are smaller than many other free-tailed bats. Also, its ears are not joined together at the base. It has a special set of teeth, with 28 teeth in total.
Where Does it Live?
This bat has been found in two countries in South America: Peru and Chile. It lives in different types of places, including some cities.
How We Protect This Bat
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) looks at how many of each animal species are left. They have listed the Kalinowski's mastiff bat as a "least-concern" species. This is the lowest level of concern.
This means that scientists believe there are many of these bats. Also, their homes are not disappearing too quickly. Some areas where these bats live are even protected. This bat can also live in places where humans are, like cities. This helps it survive.
See also
- In Spanish: Murciélago de kalinowski para niños
Images for kids
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An illustration of the Kalinowski's mastiff bat.
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A map showing where the Kalinowski's mastiff bat lives.
