Spotted bat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Spotted bat |
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| Side view | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Euderma
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| Species: |
maculatum
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| Synonyms | |
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Euderma maculata (Allen, 1891) |
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The spotted bat (Euderma maculatum) is a special kind of vesper bat. It is the only species in its group, called Euderma. These bats are known for their unique look.
Contents
What Does It Look Like?
The spotted bat was first described in 1891. This was done by a scientist named Joel Asaph Allen. He worked at the American Museum of Natural History.
Spotted bats can grow to be about 12 centimeters long. Their wings can spread out to 35 centimeters wide. They usually weigh around 15 grams.
They are easy to spot because of their black fur. On their back, they have three clear white spots. These spots make them stand out.
One of their most amazing features is their ears. Their ears can grow up to 4 centimeters long! This makes them have the biggest ears of any bat in North America.
Life Cycle
Spotted bats usually mate in the autumn. Female bats give birth to their young in June or July. They typically have one baby bat at a time.
What Do They Eat?
The main food for spotted bats is insects. They especially love to eat grasshoppers and moths. They hunt these insects at night.
Where Do They Live?
Spotted bats live in many different places. These places are called habitats. They like quiet spots on cliffs. You can find them along the Grand Canyon in Arizona.
They also live in forests. These can be forests with leaves that fall (deciduous) or trees with needles (coniferous). They are found in open areas and dense ones.
Their homes also include hay fields, deserts, and marshes. They live near rivers (riparian areas) and in dry shrub-steppe grasslands.
You can find spotted bats in several states in the USA. These include Arizona, California, Colorado, Oregon, New Mexico, and Utah. They also live in British Columbia, Canada.
What Are the Threats?
In the 1960s, chemicals like DDT were used. These were pesticides, meant to kill insects. But they also harmed the spotted bat population. This caused a big drop in their numbers.
However, recent observations show good news. It seems there are more spotted bats now than people thought before. Scientists are still learning about how many bats there are. They also want to know what else might threaten them.
