Lesser long-fingered bat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lesser long-fingered bat |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Miniopterus
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| Species: |
fraterculus
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The lesser long-fingered bat (Miniopterus fraterculus) is a small bat. It is also called the black clinging bat or lesser bent-winged bat. This bat belongs to a family of bats called Miniopteridae.
You can find this bat in different parts of Africa. It lives in western Southern Africa, southern East Africa, and some areas of Central Africa. Its favorite places to live are forests, bushy areas, and especially caves. It also likes other underground spots.
Scientists have looked at how many of these bats there are. The IUCN says it is a "least concern" species. This means it is not currently in danger of disappearing.
About the Lesser Long-Fingered Bat
This bat is an insectivorous animal. This means it eats insects. It helps control insect populations in its habitat.
Where These Bats Live
The lesser long-fingered bat is quite common. It lives in many small areas across Africa. You can find it in countries like the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
These bats usually live in places up to about 2,200 meters (about 7,200 feet) above sea level. They like dry bushlands and forests. They especially need places with caves, tunnels, or old mines. They also use railway tunnels and rocky overhangs. For example, in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, they have been seen in damp sandstone caves. They also use rock cracks and old mine entrances.
Protecting the Lesser Long-Fingered Bat
The IUCN Red List has listed this bat as "least concern." This is because there are not many threats to the species. It also lives in a very large area. Scientists believe there are many of these bats.
The bat is found in the Manga Forest Reserve in Tanzania. It probably lives in other protected areas too. This helps keep their populations safe.
