Northern freetail bat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Northern freetail bat |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Chaerephon
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| Species: |
jobensis
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| Synonyms | |
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Nyctinomus jobensis |
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The northern freetail bat (Chaerephon jobensis) is a cool type of bat that lives in places like Yapen and Seram Island in Western New Guinea, and also in Northern Australia.
Contents
About Its Name and Discovery
This bat was first described as a new species in 1902. An American zoologist named Gerrit Smith Miller gave it its scientific name. He put it in a group called Nyctinomus, calling it Nyctinomus jobensis.
Mr. Miller probably chose the name "jobensis" because the very first bat of this kind that scientists studied (called a holotype) was found on Jobie Island. This island is near a place called Ansus. An Italian scientist named Odoardo Beccari collected this first bat.
What It Looks Like
Some people have said this bat has features that remind them of Darth Vader! From its head to its tail, it is about 98 mm (3.9 in) long. Its body and head measure about 80–90 mm (3.1–3.5 in). Its tail is a bit shorter, around 35–45 mm (1.4–1.8 in) long. The bone in its forearm is about 46–52 mm (1.8–2.0 in) long. This bat usually weighs between 20–30 g (0.71–1.06 oz).
How It Lives and Behaves
Northern freetail bats often fly and look for food in small groups of two or more. They are very fast flyers. They fly in a straight line, which is great for hunting in open spaces or above the tops of trees.
These bats are insectivores, meaning they eat insects. Their diet includes beetles, bugs, moths, lacewings, grasshoppers, cockroaches, flies, and leafhoppers.
What's really special about this bat is that it's one of the only bat species in Australia that you can actually hear when it's hunting! This is because its echolocation sounds are quite low. They are around 15-25 kHz, which is close to the highest sounds humans can hear.
Northern freetail bats are nocturnal. This means they are active at night. During the day, they rest in safe, sheltered spots. These spots can be tree hollows or caves. They are also a colonial species, so many bats can live together in one roost.
Where It Lives
This bat likes to hunt in the tropical savannas of Northern Australia. You can also find them in cities and towns. In urban areas, they use artificial lights to find insects. The lights attract the insects, making them easy prey for the bats.
Conservation Status
The IUCN has listed the northern freetail bat as a least concern species. This is the lowest level of concern for animals.
It has this status for a few good reasons. It lives across a very large area. There are also many of these bats, so their population is big. They can be found in protected areas, which helps keep them safe. Plus, they are able to live even when humans change the landscape around them. Their population seems to be stable, which is good news!
