Western sheath-tailed bat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Western sheath-tailed bat |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Chiroptera |
| Family: | Emballonuridae |
| Genus: | Paremballonura |
| Species: |
P. tiavato
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| Binomial name | |
| Paremballonura tiavato (Goodman, Cardiff, Ranivo, Russell & Yoder, 2006)
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| Synonyms | |
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The western sheath-tailed bat (Paremballonura tiavato) is a small bat that lives on the island of Madagascar. It belongs to a group of bats called sac-winged bats. These bats get their name from special pouches (sacs) on their wings.
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Naming the Western Sheath-tailed Bat
Scientists first officially described the western sheath-tailed bat as a new species in 2006. The very first example of this bat, called a holotype, was found in January 2001. It was discovered in a place called Ankarana Reserve.
At first, scientists put this bat in a group (or genus) called Emballonura. So, its scientific name was Emballonura tiavato.
Later, in 2012, scientists discovered a new genus of bats. They named this new group Paremballonura. Both the western sheath-tailed bat and Peters's sheath-tailed bat were then moved into this new group. This is why the western sheath-tailed bat's scientific name is now Paremballonura tiavato.
The second part of its name, "tiavato", comes from the Malagasy language. It means "likes rocks". Scientists chose this name because they often found this bat living in areas with many exposed rocks.
What Does the Western Sheath-tailed Bat Look Like?
This bat is quite small. Its forearm, which is a good way to measure bats, is about 35 to 42 millimeters (1.4 to 1.7 inches) long.
The fur on its back is long and feels a bit silky. It is a grayish-brown color. The fur on its belly is lighter than the fur on its back.
Like all animals, this bat has a special set of teeth. Scientists use a "dental formula" to describe how many teeth an animal has. This bat has a specific number of teeth on its upper and lower jaws.
Where Does the Western Sheath-tailed Bat Live?
The western sheath-tailed bat is special because it is endemic to Madagascar. This means it lives naturally only on this island and nowhere else in the world.
So far, scientists have mostly found this bat on the western side of Madagascar. This area has a special type of landscape called karst. Karst areas are known for their unique rock formations, caves, and sinkholes.
These bats can be found living at different heights above sea level. They have been seen from about 10 meters (33 feet) up to 330 meters (1,080 feet) high.
How Is the Western Sheath-tailed Bat Doing?
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) keeps track of how many animals are left in the wild. As of 2017, the western sheath-tailed bat is listed as a least-concern species. This means that its population is currently stable, and it is not considered to be in danger of disappearing.
 | Roy Wilkins |
 | John Lewis |
 | Linda Carol Brown |
