Natal long-fingered bat

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Natal long-fingered bat
Natal long-fingered bats (Miniopterus natalensis) in flight (48966808522).jpg

Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Chiroptera
Family: Miniopteridae
Genus: Miniopterus
Species:
M. natalensis
Binomial name
Miniopterus natalensis
A. Smith, 1834

The Natal long-fingered bat (Miniopterus natalensis) is a species of vesper bat in the family Miniopteridae. It can be found in the following countries: Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, possibly Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, South Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. It is found in these habitats: dry savanna, moist savanna, Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation, caves, and hot deserts. It is threatened by habitat loss.[1]

While Natal long-fingered bats normally prey on insects, they can sometimes prey on fish. For this, the long-fingered bats have been able to use their primary ability to react to a disappearing target in order to catch moving fish by reaching deeper in the water when a fish goes deeper.[2]

References[]

  1. ^ a b Monadjem, A.; Griffin, M.; Cotterill, F.P.D.; Jacobs, D.; Taylor, P.J. (2017). "Miniopterus natalensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T44862A22073129. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T44862A22073129.en. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  2. ^ Aizpurua, Ostaizka; Alberdi, Antton; Aihartza, Joxerra; Garin, Inazio (2016). "Fishing Technique of Long-Fingered Bats Was Developed from a Primary Reaction to Disappearing Target Stimuli". PLOS ONE. 11 (12): e0167164. Bibcode:2016PLoSO..1167164A. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0167164. PMC 5156352. PMID 27973529.


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