Angulate pipistrelle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Angulate pipistrelle |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Pipistrellus
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| Species: |
angulatus
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The angulate pipistrelle (Pipistrellus angulatus), also known as the New Guinea pipistrelle, is a small type of vesper bat. You can find this bat in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.
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What Does the Angulate Pipistrelle Look Like?
This bat looks very much like another bat called the Papuan pipistrelle. Both bats have fur on their backs that is two colors: brown tips over a black base. The fur on their bellies is black at the bottom with cinnamon brown tips. Their snouts, lips, ears, wings, and feet are dark brown. Their tail membrane has a light amount of fur.
However, there are a few ways to tell them apart:
- The angulate pipistrelle has a forehead that curves inward quite a bit.
- Its first top front tooth has two points.
- The second top front tooth is smaller than the back part of the first tooth.
- The small flap of skin inside its ear (called the tragus) gets only a little narrower at the top.
- The bump opposite this flap (called the antitragus) is fairly tall.
Where Do Angulate Pipistrelles Live?
The angulate pipistrelle lives on the island of New Guinea. It also lives on many nearby island groups. These include the Bismarck, Admiralty, D'Entrecasteaux, and Louisiade Islands.
In Papua New Guinea, these bats have been found from sea level up to 2,400 meters high. They live in many different areas, including East New Britain, East Sepik, New Ireland, and Milne Bay islands. They also live on Superiori Island in Indonesia and on several islands in the Solomon Islands, like Fauro and Guadalcanal.
How Do Angulate Pipistrelles Live?
New Guinea pipistrelles like to rest during the day in different places. They can be found roosting in caves, inside bamboo plants, and even in buildings.
When evening comes, these bats fly out from their resting spots. They hunt for flying insects in both old and new forests. Scientists found a group of about 200 mother bats and their babies in a cave in New Ireland in June 1981. They were all gathered in a hole in the cave ceiling. Another group was found living between the roof shingles and wall of a school building. Both female bats examined from this group were pregnant.
In July 1968, scientists observed four male bats hunting at dusk near the top of Mount Kaindi. These bats fly slowly and make many quick, unpredictable turns in the air.
Are Angulate Pipistrelles in Danger?
This bat species lives in a very wide area. You can find it on many islands, from the Solomons to Biak. Because it is found in so many places, it is not currently in danger of extinction. As of 2020, the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) lists it as a least-concern species.
