Little forest bat

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Little Forest Bat

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Chiroptera
Family: Vespertilionidae
Genus: Vespadelus
Species:
V. vulturnus
Binomial name
Vespadelus vulturnus
(Thomas, 1914)
Synonyms
  • Eptesicus vulturnus Thomas, 1914
  • Eptesicus pumilus vulturnus Thomas 1914
  • Vespertilio pygmaeus Becker 1858 (not Leach 1825)

The little forest bat (Vespadelus vulturnus) is a species of

Pipistrellus westralis, is possibly smaller, weighing on average around 3 g (0.11 oz).[2] It is the smallest bat in Tasmania[5]

Biology and ecology

The little forest bat is one of the most commonly observed bats in south-eastern Australia, it is found in a variety of habitats including

tree hollows.[2][3]

Females become sexually mature in their first year and males in their second year. It is assumed the males wake from torpor and mate with the females during winter. A single pup is born in spring (October–November).[6]

Identification

The little forest bat is very small with pale grey or brownish fur. The tragus is usually white and the skin on the face, feet and forearm is usually pinkish. Adults usually weigh between 2.5 and 5 g (0.088 and 0.176 oz) and the forearm is usually less than 30 mm (1.2 in) (mean =28.5 mm (1.12 in)). The wingspan can range up to 15 cm (5.9 in) and the body length is up to 5 cm (2.0 in).[7] Females are slightly larger than males.[2]

The little forest bat is very similar in appearance and often confused with a number of other bats that it co-occurs with (

cryptic species that have not yet been identified within the species.[9]

Echolocation call

The

kilohertz depending on the region where it is found.[10][11] This is more than double the maximum frequency of the human hearing range and cannot be heard without the assistance of a bat detector
.

References

  1. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T7945A209533303.en
    . Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  2. ^
    OCLC 225635210
    .
  3. ^
    doi:10.1071/WR04039
    .
  4. S2CID 21710868
    .
  5. ^ "Tasmania PWS - Wildlife - Bats". Archived from the original on 21 July 2008. Retrieved 11 March 2008.
  6. doi:10.1071/zo9930021
    .
  7. Museum of Victoria. Archived from the original
    on 27 February 2011.
  8. ^ Sue Churchill (2008) Australian bats (Reed New Holland, Frenchs Forest) p. 177.
  9. ^ "The Action Plan for Australian Bats - Taxonomy and Selection of Taxa for This Action Plan". Archived from the original on 20 February 2008. Retrieved 12 March 2008.
  10. ^ "Bat calls of NSW - region-based guide to the echolocation calls of Microchiropteran bats". Archived from the original on 2 March 2008. Retrieved 11 March 2008.
  11. doi:10.3161/001.004.0208
    .
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