Naked-rumped pouched bat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Naked-rumped pouched bat |
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Saccolaimus
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saccolaimus
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| Naked-rumped pouched bat range | |
The naked-rumped pouched bat (Saccolaimus saccolaimus) is also called the pouched tomb bat. It's a type of sac-winged bat. These bats belong to the Emballonuridae family.
You can find them in many places. These include Australia, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. They might also live in Myanmar. In Sinhala, people call this animal පැස් පිරි-වවුලා (paes piri wawulaa).
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How Scientists Name This Bat
A scientist named Coenraad Temminck first described this bat in 1838. He gave it a new group name, or genus. The first bat he studied came from Indonesia.
Scientists have found five different types, or subspecies, of this bat. They are all part of the Saccolaimus saccolaimus species.
- Saccolaimus saccolaimus saccolaimus
- Saccolaimus saccolaimus affinis
- Saccolaimus saccolaimus crassus
- Saccolaimus saccolaimus nudicluniatus
- Saccolaimus saccolaimus pluto
One of these types, nudicluniatus, was described in 1905. It was found in Queensland, Australia. Sometimes, scientists consider it a separate species called Saccolaimus nudicluniatus.
What the Naked-Rumped Pouched Bat Looks Like
This bat is a medium-sized animal. Its head and body are about 8 to 9 centimeters (3.1 to 3.5 inches) long. Its forearm is about 7 centimeters (2.8 inches) long. When its wings are spread, they can reach up to 45 centimeters (17.7 inches) wide.
The fur on their upper body is dark. It can be reddish-brown or blackish-brown. They often have white patches that are not in a regular pattern. Their belly is usually white. However, some bats can have a dark brown belly.
These bats have a special pouch on their throat. Their wings are long and narrow. The skin on their wings is black. But parts of their wings are clear, almost see-through and whitish. This bat is the largest species with the whitest wings in its group.
Where These Bats Live
Naked-rumped pouched bats live in many parts of the world. They are found from India and Sri Lanka through South-East Asia. This includes islands like Borneo, Sumatra, Java, and Timor in Indonesia. They also live in New Guinea and North-East Queensland in Australia. You can also find them on Guadalcanal island in the Solomon Islands.
It seems this bat is not as common in Australia anymore. In western Java, they are very common. But further east, like in Bali, they are less common. Another bat, Taphozous melanopogon, is more common there.
Bat Behavior and Habitat
These bats like to live in hollow trees and cracks in rocks. Sometimes, they even live in houses. They form groups called colonies. These colonies can have a few bats or a few hundred. When they are roosting (resting), each bat keeps a little space from others.
They are very aware of their surroundings. If something disturbs them, they will quickly move around their roost. When these bats fly, you can hear their echolocation clicks. This is how they find things in the dark. Female bats usually have one baby at a time.
Scientists use special bat detectors to study them. These detectors show that the bats are common in cities and villages. They also fly over rice fields and other farmed areas. You can find them at the edges of forests. They have been heard up to 2,000 meters (6,560 feet) high in mountains. They do not often hunt over thick forests.
These bats are one of the first to come out at dusk. You can often see them flying with swiftlets. They usually fly about 15 to 40 meters (49 to 131 feet) above the ground. Their body shape suggests they hunt in open spaces. They often fly in wide circles over large areas. They have been seen eating swarms of termites when they are available.
See also
In Spanish: Saccolaimus saccolaimus para niños
