São Tomé leaf-nosed bat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids São Tomé leaf-nosed bat |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Macronycteris
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| Species: |
thomensis
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| São Tomé leaf-nosed bat range | |
The São Tomé leaf-nosed bat (Macronycteris thomensis) is a special kind of bat. It belongs to a group of bats called Hipposideridae. This bat lives only on São Tomé Island, which is a small island in the Gulf of Guinea. This island is off the coast of western Africa. These bats like to live in warm, wet forests and inside caves.
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About the São Tomé Leaf-Nosed Bat
What's in a Name?
This bat was first studied in 1891 by a scientist named José Vicente Barbosa du Bocage. He gave it the name Hipposideros thomensis. The "thomensis" part of its name tells us it lives only on São Tomé.
For a while, scientists thought this bat was the same as another bat, Macronycteris commersoni. But later, they found out they were different. The M. commersoni bat lives only in Madagascar. In 2017, scientists used new tests to show that the São Tomé bat is unique. They moved it to its own group, called Macronycteris.
Where They Live and What They Eat
The São Tomé leaf-nosed bat lives in warm, wet forests. These can be forests that have never been cut down or ones that are growing back. You might also find them in farms or other places built by people.
These bats like to sleep and rest in different spots. They have been seen roosting in caves and in cracks in rocks. They also use old lava tubes and even water pipes!
The São Tomé leaf-nosed bat mostly eats large insects. Their favorite foods include big beetles and cicadas.
Life Cycle and Reproduction
These bats have babies once a year. This usually happens during the rainy season. After about four months, the mother bat gives birth to one baby, called a pup.
When the mother goes out to find food, she might carry her baby with her. The young bats drink their mother's milk for about fourteen weeks. After that, they are ready to find food on their own.
Conservation Status
The São Tomé leaf-nosed bat is found only on São Tomé Island. Scientists say there are quite a few of them. Sometimes, groups of up to one hundred bats have been found sleeping together.
Because there are many of these bats and no big threats have been found, their future looks good. The International Union for Conservation of Nature says this bat is a "least concern" species. This means they are not currently in danger of disappearing.
