Rüppell's bat
Rüppell's bat (Vansonia rueppellii), also known as Rüppell's pipistrelle, is a species of vesper bat found in Africa and Asian republics such as Iraq and Israel. It is the only member of the genus Vansonia. It is found in dry and moist savanna, subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, and hot deserts.[1]
| Rüppell's bat | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Chiroptera |
| Family: | Vespertilionidae |
| Tribe: | Pipistrellini |
| Genus: | Vansonia Roberts, 1946 |
| Species: | V. rueppellii |
| Binomial name | |
| Vansonia rueppellii (J. Fischer, 1829) | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Pipistrellus rueppellii | |
Taxonomy
It was formerly classified in the genus Pipistrellus, as its most basal member, but phylogenetic evidence supports it forming the separate genus Vansonia.[2][3] Senegalese specimens of Vansonia rueppellii can be confidently assigned to V. r. senegalensis, which is distributed from Algeria to Senegal. After testing the influence of phylogeny, V. rueppellii was found to be basal to the Pipistrellus/Nyctalus clade.[4]
Description
The species is 10 centimetres (3.9 in) long while its tail is 3.8 centimetres (1.5 in) long and its forearm is no more than 3.4 centimetres (1.3 in). It weighs only 7 grams (0.25 oz).[5][6]
Habitat
It is not unusual to find them in crevices, rocks and buildings of various kinds.[7]
References
- Monadjem, A.; Aulagnier, S.; Jacobs, D.; Palmeirim, J.; Taylor, P.J.; Cotterill, F.P.D. (2017). "Pipistrellus rueppellii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T17361A22124277. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T17361A22124277.en. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
- Kruskop, Sergei V; Solovyeva, Evgeniya N; Kaznadzey, Anna D (2018-12-17). "Unusual Pipistrelle: Taxonomic Position of the Malayan Noctule (Pipistrellus stenopterus; Vespertilionidae; Chiroptera)". Zoological Studies. 57: e60. doi:10.6620/ZS.2018.57-60. ISSN 1021-5506. PMC 6409446. PMID 31966300.
- "Explore the Database". www.mammaldiversity.org. Retrieved 2021-09-16.
- Koubínová, Darina (2013). "Hidden diversity in Senegalese bats and associated findings in the systematics of the family Vespertilionidae". Frontiers in Zoology. 10 (1): 48. doi:10.1186/1742-9994-10-48. PMC 3751436. PMID 23938084.
- Mills, M.G.L. & Hes, L. (1997). The Complete Book of Southern African Mammals. Cape Town: Struik Publishers.
- Stuart, C. & Stuart, T. (2001). Field Guide to Mammals of Southern Africa. Cape Town: Struik Publishers.
- Qumsiyeh, M.B. (1996). Mammals of the Holy Land. Texas: Texas Tech University Press. ISBN 9780896723641.