Silver-haired bat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Silver-haired bat |
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Lasionycteris
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| Lasionycteris noctivagans |
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The silver-haired bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans) is a special type of bat. It is the only member of its group, called the genus Lasionycteris. This means it's quite unique! People sometimes call these bats "Silverwings" because of their cool look.
You can find silver-haired bats in several places. They live in Bermuda, Canada, Mexico, and the United States. They are very common in forests, especially in the United States.
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What Does a Silver-Haired Bat Look Like?
Silver-haired bats are mostly black. What makes them special is the silvery tips on the hairs on their back. This gives them a shiny, frosted look!
They are a medium-sized bat. They have a lot of fur, which helps keep them warm. An adult silver-haired bat usually weighs about 8 to 12 grams. That's about as much as two quarters! Their total length is around 100 millimeters (about 4 inches). Their tail makes up about 40 millimeters of that length.
Where Do Silver-Haired Bats Live?
These bats live across a wide area. You can find them in Bermuda, Canada, Mexico, and the United States. In the summer, they might be as far north as southeastern Alaska. When winter comes, they fly south to places like northeastern Mexico.
Silver-haired bats often live in dry areas. They prefer lower elevations, especially when they are moving from one place to another. During these migrations, they like to rest in tree holes. They also hide in cracks in tree bark.
What Do Silver-Haired Bats Eat?
Silver-haired bats love to eat insects. They mostly look for insects with soft bodies, like moths. But they will also eat spiders and harvestmen.
They are good at finding food. They often fly low over still water or rivers. They also hunt in open spaces within forests. Even though they fly slowly, they can turn very quickly. This helps them catch their prey. Silver-haired bats use echolocation to find insects. This means they send out sounds and listen for the echoes to figure out where their food is. They can find prey that is not too far away using this special skill.
Silver-Haired Bats in Stories
A famous silver-haired bat is a character named Shade. He is the main character in the novel Silverwing by Kenneth Oppel. Shade is a young silver-haired bat who is a bit smaller than others.
See also
In Spanish: Murciélago canoso para niños
