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Order : CHIROPTERA
Family : Vespertilionidae
Species : Pipistrellus spp.
Forearm Length : species
vary between 2.9 and 4.6 cm
Weight : species vary between 3 and 22 grams
There are more than 30
species of bat in the genus Pipistrellus, around half of which occur
in Southeast Asia and eastwards to Papua New Guinea.
Pipistrelles are small, insectivorous bats which inhabit a variety of open
niches : some species are known to hunt for insects over water bodies, while
others fly undetected amongst the treetops.
They weigh between 3 and 22 grams, and their manner of flight is similar to
that of large butterflies or moths, with wing beats which have a
'fluttering' motion.
Pipistrelles typically have small, rounded ears, and a short muzzle. Their
eyes are small, and their fur is dense. Many species are superficially
similar in appearance and can only be separated on the basis of dentition
and by the characteristics of the baculum (the bone inside the penis).
Fig 1 : Javan Pipistrelle Pipistrellus javanicus from
Singapore, found on the campus of a local university. This species is
wide-ranging and has adapted to disturbed forests and urban areas. Photo thanks to Adeline Yong.
Figs 2 to 4 : Two examples of Javan Pipistrelle Pipistrellus javanicus
found in the grounds of a condominium in Singapore, near a large forested
area.
References : M5, M6
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