Semon's leaf-nosed bat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Semon's leaf-nosed bat |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Hipposideros
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| Species: |
semoni
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| Semon's roundleaf bat range | |
The Semon's leaf-nosed bat or Semon's roundleaf bat (Hipposideros semoni) is a type of bat. It belongs to the Hipposideridae family. You can find this bat in Australia and Papua New Guinea.
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About Semon's Bat
This bat was first described in 1903. A German scientist named Paul Matschie gave it its scientific name. The name "semoni" honors another German scientist, Richard Semon. Richard Semon found the first bat of this kind during his trip to Australia. This bat helped Matschie describe the new species.
What Semon's Bat Looks Like
Semon's bat is quite small. Its head and body are about 40 to 50 millimeters (1.6 to 2 inches) long. Its wings can spread out to about 320 millimeters (12.6 inches) wide. These bats usually weigh between 6 and 10 grams (0.2 to 0.35 ounces). They have long, narrow ears with sharp, pointed tips. Their fur is a dark, smoky gray color. The individual hairs on their body are quite long.
Where Semon's Bat Lives and What It Eats
Semon's bat is a nocturnal animal. This means it is active at night. During the day, it rests in safe, hidden spots. These spots include old mines, caves, hollow trees, and cracks in rocks. It might roost alone or in small groups.
This bat is an insectivore. This means it eats insects and other small creatures. It hunts for arthropods like spiders, beetles, and moths. When it hunts, it flies very close to the ground. It usually stays less than 2 meters (6.5 feet) high. Sometimes, the ghost bat might hunt Semon's bat. Ghost bats are known to eat other types of bats.
Protecting Semon's Bat
The IUCN says Semon's bat is of "least concern". This is the lowest level of worry for a species. However, its situation is more serious in Australia.
In Queensland, Australia, it is listed as endangered. This means it is at high risk of disappearing. Nationally, Australia lists it as vulnerable. This means it is also at risk, but perhaps not as immediately as endangered.
To help these bats, people recommend protecting their roosting places. It is important to stop disturbing or destroying these spots. Scientists also need to find out how many of these bats there are in Australia. They also need to learn what kind of roosts the bats need to survive.
