Ozimops lumsdenae facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ozimops lumsdenae |
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Ozimops lumsdenae is a type of bat found only in Australia. It's a special kind of bat called a molossid bat, also known as a free-tailed bat. This bat is the biggest one in its group, the Ozimops genus.
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Naming This Special Bat
Ozimops lumsdenae is part of a group of bats called Ozimops. Scientists recently gave this group its own name. Before that, these bats were sometimes called 'Mormopterus species 1' or even thought to be another bat called Mormopterus beccarii.
The first time this specific bat was officially described was in 2014. Its scientific name, lumsdenae, honors a bat expert named Lindy Lumsden. She has done a lot of important research on bats.
The very first Ozimops lumsdenae specimen that scientists studied was a male bat. It was found on September 13, 2002, near a water dam in Queensland, Australia.
What Does It Look Like?
Ozimops lumsdenae is a larger microbat. Microbats are insect-eating flying mammals. This bat looks strong and is the biggest bat in its Ozimops group.
Its forearm, which is like its wing bone, measures about 35 to 40 millimeters long. The bat usually weighs between 11 and 19.5 grams. That's about as much as a few grapes! Its fur is a rich brown color on its back. The fur on its belly is a bit lighter.
Where Does It Live?
This bat is an endemic species, meaning it is found only in the Australian mainland. It lives across the northern parts of the continent. These areas can be up to 700 kilometers away from the coast.
The bat lives in many different places, from dry areas to very wet ones. It prefers places that get between 200 and 1500 millimeters of rain each year. In some areas, like the Top End and Pilbara regions, not many of these bats are found.
Ozimops lumsdenae likes to live near permanent water sources. You can find it near farm dams and rivers in areas with eucalypt woodlands. It also lives in tropical places with lots of rain. These habitats include rainforests, areas along rivers, and wet woodlands.
Living Together and Staying Safe
Ozimops lumsdenae often lives alongside other bats from the Ozimops group. For example, it has been seen living with Ozimops ridei, O. cobourgianus, and O. halli. It might also live with O. petersi.
The conservation status of Ozimops lumsdenae is listed as "least concern" by the IUCN Red List. This means scientists are not too worried about it becoming extinct right now. However, the number of these bats might go down in the future. This could happen because of changes in how land is used. For example, some farming methods can harm the places where these bats live.
