Black-bearded tomb bat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Black-bearded tomb bat |
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| male with prominent black beard | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Taphozous
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| Species: |
melanopogon
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| Black-bearded Tomb Bat range | |
| Synonyms | |
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The black-bearded tomb bat (Taphozous melanopogon) is a cool type of sac-winged bat that lives in parts of South and South East Asia. These bats are known for their small, dark "beard" of fur on their chin.
Contents
What's in a Name?
This bat was first described as a new species in 1841 by a Dutch scientist named Coenraad Jacob Temminck. He found the first one on an island called Java.
The bat's scientific name, melanopogon, is a mix of two old Ancient Greek words. "Mélās" means "black," and "pṓgōn" means "beard." So, its name literally means "black beard," which makes sense!
How to Spot a Black-Bearded Tomb Bat
These bats are not huge. Their forearm, which is like the main bone in our arm, is about 55 to 68 millimeters long. That's about 2 to 2.7 inches.
The black-bearded tomb bat has a small "beard" of black fur right on its chin. Its body fur is a brownish-black color. If you look closely, you'd see that each individual hair is white at its base.
Life and Habits of the Black-Bearded Tomb Bat
These bats love to live in big groups, which scientists call being "highly colonial". They can form huge gatherings of up to 15,000 bats when they are resting!
They usually rest, or "roost," in places like old temples, ancient ruins, or inside caves.
Bat Babies
Black-bearded tomb bats are "seasonal breeders." This means they have their babies at certain times of the year. After a mother bat is pregnant for about 120 to 125 days, she usually gives birth to one baby bat. Sometimes, though, two babies are born at once!
Where Do These Bats Live?
This bat species lives across a wide area in Asia and Southeast Asia. You can find them in many countries, including:
- Brunei
- Cambodia
- China
- India
- Indonesia
- Laos
- Malaysia
- Myanmar
- Philippines
- Singapore
- Sri Lanka
- Thailand
- Timor-Leste
- Vietnam
They have been found living in places as high as 800 meters (about 2,625 feet) above sea level.
See also
- List of mammals in Hong Kong
