Northern leaf-nosed bat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Northern leaf-nosed bat |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Hipposideros
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| Species: |
stenotis
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| Northern leaf-nosed bat range | |
The northern leaf-nosed bat (Hipposideros stenotis) is a small bat found only in northern Australia. It belongs to a group called 'leaf-nosed' bats because of the special skin folds around their noses. These bats are very good at flying. They use echolocation to find insects to eat at night.
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About the Northern Leaf-Nosed Bat
This bat is a type of Hipposideros bat. It has soft, grey-brown fur. Around its nostrils, it has a special 'nose-leaf' feature. Its ears are rounded with a pointed tip. These ears are about 17 to 22 millimeters long. The nose-leaf and ear shapes help the bat use echolocation. Echolocation is like a natural sonar system. The bat sends out sounds and listens for the echoes. This helps it find prey in the dark.
The northern leaf-nosed bat's wings are shaped for slow flight. This lets it flutter close to plants. It searches for flying insects among the leaves. These bats are quite shy. They are not often seen or caught by scientists.
The fur on its belly is lighter in color. It has light brown to whitish hair where its body meets its wings. This bat is quite small. Its forearm is about 42 to 46 millimeters long. Its head and body together measure 40 to 46 millimeters. On average, it weighs about 5.5 grams. This is about the same as a few paper clips!
How It Was Named
The northern leaf-nosed bat was first described in 1913. A British zoologist named Oldfield Thomas gave it its scientific name. The first bat used to describe the species was collected by Knut Dahl. It was found near the Mary River in Australia.
The scientific name "stenotis" comes from Ancient Greek words. "Stenós" means "narrow," and "ōt" means "ear." So, "stenotis" means "narrow-eared." Thomas chose this name because he thought its ears were "remarkably narrowed."
People also call this bat by other names. These include the narrow-eared roundleaf bat.
Where It Lives and Its Home
The northern leaf-nosed bat lives in the northern parts of Australia. You can find it in the Top End of the Northern Territory. It also lives in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. And it's found in the Gulf Country of Queensland, west of Mount Isa. Some bats also live on islands off the coast, like those in the Buccaneer Archipelago.
These bats like to live in sandstone caves or piles of large rocks. They have also been found roosting in old, abandoned mines. When they hunt for food, they fly through woodlands and rainforests. They also fly over open, hilly areas where a plant called spinifex grows.
Conservation Status
The northern leaf-nosed bat is currently listed as a "least concern" species by the IUCN. This is the lowest level of concern for a species. It means that this bat is not in danger right now. It has a large area where it lives. Also, its population is not decreasing quickly.
