Rüppell's horseshoe bat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rüppell's horseshoe bat |
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| Near Limpopo River, South Africa | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Rhinolophus
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| Species: |
fumigatus
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| Rüppell's horseshoe bat range | |
The Rüppell's horseshoe bat (scientific name: ''Rhinolophus fumigatus) is a type of bat. It belongs to the Rhinolophidae family. You can find these bats living in Africa. They like to live in warm, dry forests and savanna areas. They also make their homes in caves and other underground places.
This bat is quite common in many areas. Because of this, experts say it is a "least concern" animal. This means it is not currently in danger.
What Does It Look Like?
The Rüppell's horseshoe bat is a small bat. However, it is fairly large compared to other bats in Africa. Its fur on top is grey to brownish-grey. Each hair has a light greyish-brown base with a dark tip. The fur on its belly is a bit lighter.
This bat has small ears. It also has a special nose-leaf. This nose-leaf looks like a small triangle. It has slightly curved sides and a round tip. The "horseshoe" part of its nose-leaf is about 10 millimeters (0.4 inches) wide. It covers most of its snout. Its wings are dark brown or dark grey.
How to Tell It Apart
It can be tricky to tell this bat apart from other species. It looks similar to the eloquent horseshoe bat and Hildebrandt's horseshoe bat. However, those two bats are usually a bit bigger.
Where Does It Live?
The Rüppell's horseshoe bat lives only in Africa. You can find it south of the Sahara desert. It lives across a large part of western and central Africa. Its range goes from Senegal and Gambia in the west. It stretches east to Sudan, Ethiopia, and Eritrea.
The bat's home also extends south. It lives along the eastern side of Africa. You can find it in Angola, Namibia, and northern South Africa. These bats prefer both dry and wet savanna areas. They also like dry forests. They often live together in groups inside caves.
