Sorensen's leaf-nosed bat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sorensen's leaf-nosed bat |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Chiroptera |
| Family: | Hipposideridae |
| Genus: | Hipposideros |
| Species: |
H. sorenseni
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| Binomial name | |
| Hipposideros sorenseni Kitchener & Maryanto, 1993
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| Sorensen's leaf-nosed bat range | |
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The Sorensen's leaf-nosed bat, scientifically known as Hipposideros sorenseni, is a special kind of bat. It is part of the Hipposideridae family, which are often called "leaf-nosed bats" because of their unique nose shapes. This bat is found only in Indonesia.
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About Sorensen's Leaf-Nosed Bat
Sorensen's leaf-nosed bat was first identified as a new species in 1993. Two scientists, Darrell Kitchener and I. Maryanto, described it. The very first bat of this species that scientists studied was found in 1976. It was collected by Bapak Sudarmanu in a cave called Gua Kramat, near the town of Pangandaran in West Java.
The bat was named "sorenseni" to honor Kurt Sorensen. He helped support research by the Western Australian Museum and the Bogor Zoology Museum in Indonesia.
What Does This Bat Look Like?
Sorensen's leaf-nosed bats are medium-sized bats. Their forearms, which are like their "arms" or wings, are about 55 to 60 millimeters (2.2 to 2.4 inches) long. Their ears are also quite noticeable, measuring about 20 to 23 millimeters (0.8 to 0.9 inches) in length.
These bats love to live together in big groups. They are very social and gather in large numbers inside caves.
Where Do These Bats Live?
Sorensen's leaf-nosed bat lives only on the Indonesian island of Java. This means it is an endemic species, found nowhere else in the world. They have been seen living at different heights, from sea level up to about 1,000 meters (3,300 feet) above sea level. During the day, they rest and sleep inside caves.
Why Is This Bat Important?
As of 2021, the Sorensen's leaf-nosed bat is listed as an endangered species by the IUCN. This means there is a high risk that this species could disappear forever.
The caves where these bats live are protected, which is good. However, if something were to disturb these caves, the bat populations could quickly drop. This could make them even more endangered, or even lead to them becoming extinct. One possible danger to these bats is mining for limestone, which can destroy their cave homes.
 | Dorothy Vaughan |
 | Charles Henry Turner |
 | Hildrus Poindexter |
 | Henry Cecil McBay |
