Variegated butterfly bat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Variegated butterfly bat |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| A specimen of Glauconycteris variegata | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Glauconycteris
|
| Species: |
variegata
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Chalinolobus variegatus (Tomes, 1861) |
|
The variegated butterfly bat (Glauconycteris variegata) is a small and unique type of vesper bat. People sometimes call it the leaf-winged bat or just the butterfly bat because of the cool patterns on its wings. This bat is not currently in danger of disappearing, but it could face problems in some areas if its home is destroyed.
What Does the Butterfly Bat Look Like?
Variegated butterfly bats are quite small. They are about 10 centimetres (3.9 in) long from head to tail. Their tail is around 4.7 centimetres (1.9 in) long, and they weigh about 11 grams (0.39 oz). Female bats are a bit bigger than males. Females have a wingspan of about 32 centimetres (13 in), while males usually have a wingspan of 31 centimetres (12 in).
Their bodies are covered in long, soft fur. The fur color can be very different from one bat to another. It is often yellowish or light grey. Unlike some other bats, they do not have strong patterns on their fur. The fur on their belly is white or very light grey. The fur on their face and ears is brown.
The wing membranes, which are the skin parts of their wings, also have some hair. They have a special pattern of dark veins that look like a net. This net-like pattern is why they are called "butterfly bats."
This bat has a rounded head and a short nose. There is a deep groove between its nostrils. The lower lip is large and padded. However, the upper lip is simpler and does not have folds like some other bat species. Their ears are fairly short and have a small tragus, which is a small flap of skin inside the ear.
The wings of the butterfly bat are long and narrow. This shape suggests that they are good at moving quickly in the air. However, they are not built for very fast flight. When they are looking for food, they fly at about 4 metres per second (13 ft/s).
Where Do Butterfly Bats Live?
The variegated butterfly bat lives in many different places south of the Sahara desert. You can find them in forests, savannas, and bushveldt areas. They live at heights of up to 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) above sea level.
Their home range stretches across Africa. It goes from Senegal in the west all the way to southern Ethiopia and Somalia in the east. They also live in much of southern and eastern Africa. This includes places like northern Namibia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa, but not the tropical rainforests.
Scientists recognize two main types, or subspecies, of this bat. Their exact classification has changed a lot over the years:
- Glauconycteris variegata variegata: These bats live in the southern parts of the bat's range.
- Glauconycteris variegata phalaena: These bats live in the northern parts of the bat's range.
Butterfly Bat Behavior and Life Cycle
Variegated butterfly bats are nocturnal animals. This means they are active at night. During the day, they rest in trees in small groups. These groups usually have up to ten bats. Unlike many other bats, they do not wrap themselves completely in their wings when they are resting.
At night, they fly around looking for flying insects to eat. They especially like moths. They hunt in open areas, close to the ground or over open water. To find their food, they use ultrasonic calls. These calls are like high-pitched sounds that bounce off objects. The bats listen to the echoes to create a picture of their surroundings. Their calls change in frequency, sweeping from 70 to 30 Hz.
These bats have one breeding season each year. This happens during the winter months. The exact time of year for breeding changes depending on where the bats live. For example, it might be in December in the north and August in the south. A female bat usually gives birth to one baby after being pregnant for about three months. The baby bat is fed by its mother until it is about two months old.
