Moss-forest blossom bat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Moss-forest blossom bat |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Chiroptera |
| Family: | Pteropodidae |
| Genus: | Syconycteris |
| Species: |
S. hobbit
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| Binomial name | |
| Syconycteris hobbit Ziegler, 1982
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| Moss-forest blossom bat range | |
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The moss-forest blossom bat (Syconycteris hobbit) is a type of megabat. These bats are found in New Guinea. They belong to the Pteropodidae family. Their favorite places to live are subtropical and tropical dry forests.
Discovering the Moss-Forest Blossom Bat
This special bat was first found in New Guinea in 1911. Later, in 1982, a scientist named Ziegler discovered more of them. He found them in places like Habema, Tembagapura-Timika, and Lian Jaya in Indonesia.
Ziegler described the bat, which he named hobbit, after studying an adult and a younger bat. These bats were found in the Marobe Province of Papua New Guinea. They were living high up, about 2,400 meters (about 7,874 feet) above sea level. In 1990, another one was found even higher up. It was near the top of Mount Kaindi, also in Marobe Province.
What Does the Moss-Forest Blossom Bat Look Like?
The moss-forest blossom bat has dark grayish-brown fur on its back. The fur is darkest on its head and neck. Its front back is a bit lighter on the sides. The back part of its body is much paler.
Bats from Irian Jaya have very thick, soft fur all over their backs. Their belly fur is not as thick. The fur is shortest on the front and sides of their head. They have rusty brown fur on their forearms and sides. This color goes all the way down to their back legs. Sometimes, their rump (the back part) is light brown. The middle of their belly often has a whitish color.
Bats from Tembagapura-Timika are lighter in color. They are not as dark as their relatives in the Habema Highlands.
Size and Weight
Moss-forest blossom bats from Tembagapura-Timika usually weigh about 18 grams (0.63 ounces). This is about the weight of three U.S. nickels.
Bats from Irian Jaya are a bit heavier. Adult bats from Irian Jaya weigh about 15.7 grams (0.55 ounces) on average. Their skulls and teeth are also a little bit bigger than the bats from New Guinea.
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