Southern forest bat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Southern forest bat |
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The southern forest bat (Vespadelus regulus) is a type of bat that lives in Australia. It belongs to a family of bats called vespertilionids, which are also known as "evening bats."
Contents
About the Southern Forest Bat
What is Taxonomy?
Taxonomy is how scientists classify and name living things. It helps us understand how different species are related. The southern forest bat is part of a group of small bats called Vespadelus. These bats are also known as microbats.
The southern forest bat was first described by a scientist named Oldfield Thomas in 1906. The first bat specimen used for this description was found near the King River, Western Australia.
Over time, scientists have sometimes changed which group they thought this bat belonged to. It was once called Pipistrellus regulus and also Eptesicus regulus. But now, it's officially known as Vespadelus regulus.
Some other names for this bat include "little bat," "King River little bat," and "King River pipistrelle."
What Does It Look Like?
The southern forest bat is a small bat. It has reddish-brown fur on its back and lighter, greyish-brown fur on its belly. Its fur is thick, with hairs about five millimeters long. The ears and wings are dark grey.
Here are some measurements for this bat:
- Forearm length: 28 to 35 millimeters
- Weight: 4 to 7 grams
- Head and body length: 36 to 46 millimeters
- Tail length: 28 to 34 millimeters
- Ear length: 9 to 13 millimeters
This bat has a very short nose and large ears. Its head looks a bit flat from the side and triangular from above.
How Does It Hunt?
Southern forest bats are echolocation experts. This means they use sound to find their way around and hunt for food in the dark. They send out high-pitched sounds that bounce off objects. By listening to the echoes, they can create a mental map of their surroundings and find insects to eat.
Their echolocation calls are usually between 38 and 46 kHz (kilohertz). Bat detectors can pick up these sounds, which often look like "curved calls" on a sonogram.
How Does It Fly?
These bats are very energetic and agile flyers. They can twist and turn quickly in the air to catch insects. Their flight often involves spiraling and long gliding movements. They are known for being very good at maneuvering, even better than some other Australian bats.
Where Do They Live?
Habitat and Distribution
The southern forest bat is found only in Australia. It lives in Tasmania and the southern parts of the mainland. You can find them in coastal areas and places a bit further inland. Their range stretches from southeast Queensland, along the coast to the Eyre Peninsula, and then into the forests of Southwest Australia. They also live on Kangaroo Island.
These bats live in many different types of places, including:
- Mallee woodlands
- Other semi-arid woodlands
- Wet sclerophyll forests (forests with tough-leaved trees)
- Remnant bushland in farming and city areas
They can live from sea level up to 1700 meters high in places like Victoria.
Roosting Habits
Southern forest bats usually sleep, or "roost," in tree hollows. Sometimes, they might also roost in buildings. They often share their roosting spots with other bats of the same gender.
They really like large, old trees that have many suitable hollows. For example, in the Jarrah Forest of Southwest Australia, they prefer hollows in big jarrah and marri trees. These trees are usually found in mature forests near rivers.
Even though they prefer tree hollows, these bats don't seem to use bat boxes that people put up to help them.
Life and Conservation
What Do They Eat?
Southern forest bats are insect eaters. They hunt for insects at all levels of their habitat, from close to the ground to high above the forest canopy. They are fast and agile, making them excellent predators of small moths and other insects.
Social Life and Reproduction
These bats live in colonies, which can have up to one hundred individuals. They have been seen sharing roosts with other bat species, like the chocolate wattled bat and the lesser long-eared bat.
Female bats usually give birth to a single baby after being pregnant for about three months.
Conservation Status
The southern forest bat is currently listed as "least concern" by the IUCN Red List. This means that their population is stable, and they are not considered to be at high risk of extinction right now.
They are found in many protected parks and reserves, which helps keep them safe. They also seem to be able to cope well with changes to their habitat, such as when land is used for farming or cities.
See also
In Spanish: Vespadelus regulus para niños
