Ozimops halli facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ozimops halli |
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Ozimops halli is a type of bat found in Australia. It lives in the Cape York Peninsula. These bats are also known as "freetail bats." They belong to a family called molossid bats.
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About the Cape York Freetail Bat
What is Ozimops halli?
Ozimops halli is a specific kind of bat. It is part of the Ozimops group of bats. Scientists officially named and described this bat in 2014. Before that, it was known by a different scientific name.
The common name for this bat is the Cape York free-tailed bat. This name helps people know where it lives and what kind of bat it is.
How it Got its Name
The name halli was chosen to honor a special person. This person was Leslie Hall. He was a biologist who studied bats. The scientists who discovered this bat wanted to thank him for his important work.
The first bat specimen used to describe the species was a male. It was found on November 7, 2006. This happened at the Ironbark Dam. This dam is located in the Oyala Thumotang National Park.
Appearance and Features
What Does Ozimops halli Look Like?
Ozimops halli is a microbat. This means it is a small bat. It is also an insectivorous animal. This means it eats insects. It is the second largest bat in its group, the Ozimops genus.
This bat looks strong and sturdy. Its forearm length is about 31 to 35 millimeters. That's about the length of a small paperclip. It weighs around 9 grams. This is about the weight of two quarters.
Fur and Skin Color
The bat's fur is a rich orange-brown color. The fur on its back and front is almost the same color. This is different from some other bats. It has a yellowish color on the fur at the side of its neck.
The skin of Ozimops halli is very dark brown. You can see this dark skin on its snout and ears. It is also visible on its patagium. The patagium is the skin membrane that forms its wings.
Where They Live and Their Home
Distribution and Habitat
Scientists have found Ozimops halli in only a few places. These places are all in the northern part of Queensland, Australia. There are only about a dozen known records of this bat. The places where they have been found are about 500 kilometers apart.
Scientists think the bat might live in many more places. However, these areas have not been fully explored for bats. The main known area where they live is near the Oyala Thumotang National Park. This is where the first bat was found.
Finding Their Homes
Scientists often use special nets called mist nets to catch bats. They set these nets near water. Ozimops halli has been found in open eucalypt woodlands. These are forests with eucalyptus trees.
Scientists believe these bats probably live in tree hollows. Tree hollows are holes or spaces inside trees. Many other bats that live in similar areas use tree hollows as homes.
Bat Behavior and Conservation
Living with Other Bats
Ozimops halli can live in the same areas as other Ozimops bats. Scientists have seen it living alongside Ozimops ridei. It likely also lives with O. lumsdenae. When different species live in the same area, it is called sympatry.
Conservation Status
The conservation status of Ozimops halli is "data deficient". This status is given by the IUCN Red List. "Data deficient" means scientists do not have enough information about the bat. They don't know how many of these bats there are. They also don't know if their population is growing or shrinking. More research is needed to understand how to protect this bat.
