Vespadelus facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Vespadelus
Little forest bat (Vespadelus vulturnus)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Chiroptera
Family:	Vespertilionidae
Genus:	Vespadelus Troughton, 1943

Vespadelus is a group of small bats that live in Australia. These bats belong to the family called Vespertilionidae, which includes many different kinds of bats. They are often called "forest bats," "cave bats," or "little brown bats" because of where they live and their size.

What is a Vespadelus Bat?

Vespadelus bats are small, flying mammals. They are known for living in forests and caves. These bats are nocturnal, meaning they are active at night. They use echolocation to find their way around and hunt for insects in the dark.

How the Name Vespadelus Came to Be

The name Vespadelus was first used by scientists Ellis Le Geyt Troughton and Tom Iredale in 1934. However, it wasn't fully described until Troughton did so in 1943. This made the name official.

Before this, some of these bats were thought to be part of other bat groups, like Pipistrellus or Eptesicus. But later studies, especially by scientists like Darrell Kitchener, showed that these bats were unique. They had enough differences to be placed in their own special group, Vespadelus.

Types of Vespadelus Bats

There are currently nine different types, or species, of Vespadelus bats that scientists recognize. Each one has its own unique features and preferred habitats.

Here are the different species of Vespadelus bats:

• Vespadelus baverstocki (Inland forest bat)
• Vespadelus caurinus (Northern cave bat)
• Vespadelus darlingtoni (Large forest bat)
• Vespadelus douglasorum (Yellow-lipped bat)
• Vespadelus finlaysoni (Finlayson's cave bat)
• Vespadelus pumilus (Eastern forest bat)
• Vespadelus regulus (Southern forest bat)
• Vespadelus troughtoni (Eastern cave bat)
• Vespadelus vulturnus (Little forest bat)

See also

In Spanish: Vespadelus para niños