Paraguana moustached bat facts for kids
The Paraguana moustached bat (Pteronotus paraguanensis) is a special kind of bat. It lives only on the Paraguaná Peninsula in Venezuela. These bats use just three caves for their homes. One of these caves has faced problems from people. Their entire home area is quite small, less than 400 square kilometers (about 154 square miles). To protect these bats, the Cuevas de Paraguaná Wildlife Sanctuary was created in 2008. This was the very first wildlife sanctuary in Venezuela!
Quick facts for kids Paraguana moustached bat |
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| Conservation status | |
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| Genus: |
Pteronotus
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| Species: |
paraguanensis
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Contents
About the Paraguana Moustached Bat
Scientists are still learning about the Paraguana moustached bat. They are trying to figure out if it is a unique species or a type of subspecies. In 2008, based on how the bats looked (their body shape), scientists decided it was a full species. Later, genetic tests also confirmed that it is its own species.
Protecting the Paraguana Bat
The Paraguana moustached bat needs our help. In 2008, the IUCN (a group that tracks endangered animals) said it was critically endangered. This means it was at very high risk of disappearing forever. By 2016, its status improved slightly to just endangered.
In 2013, Bat Conservation International added this bat to its list of 35 top priority species to protect worldwide. They even started raising money in 2015 for special bat detectors. These detectors help them find and study the bats' important habitats.
Threats to the Bats
Sadly, these bats are sometimes harmed by people. In 1997, thousands of dead bats were found in one cave. Locals had mistakenly set tires on fire at the cave entrance. Some people in Venezuela wrongly believe that all bats are vampire bats. They think all bats should be gotten rid of.
Helping the Bats Survive
To keep the bats safe, a special gate was put up in 2003. This gate is at the entrance of one of their caves. It has openings big enough for bats to fly through easily. But the gaps are too small for humans to enter. After the gate was installed, many more bats started using that cave. This shows that protecting their homes really helps them!
See also
In Spanish: Murciélago bigotudo de Paraguaná para niños
