Lesser Sheath-tailed Bat (Emballonura monticola) lives in tropical rainforest across Southeast Asia. It feeds on insects and spiders. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
Fascinating facts about the Lesser Sheath-tailed Bat
- They can fly straight and fast due to the shape of their bodies, allowing them to follow gaps formed by streams or paths in the forest. Their forearm measures just 43 to 45 mm, a length that fits into a wingspan of 26.1 to 26.58 cm, giving them a sleek, aerodynamic profile. Weighing only 4 to 5 g, these bats zip through low-land rainforests like a paper airplane cutting through a hallway, exploiting narrow corridors.
- Lesser sheath-tailed bats breed twice each year, first from February through March and again from October through November. Each birth yields a single pup that weighs about a quarter of the mother's weight. The newborn clings to the mother's body until it becomes too heavy to carry, then weans within a year and reaches sexual maturity at one year of age.
- Day-time roosts usually hold 2 to 20 individuals, but some caves host colonies of 100 to 150 bats. In the limestone-rich Merapoh region, surveys recorded up to 19 species sharing a single cave, underscoring how these bats aggregate in large numbers when suitable shelter exists.
- Although listed as Least Concern, the species is declining because deforestation for palm oil removes its low-land forest and cave habitats. Malaysia and Indonesia together supply about 88 % of the world's palm oil, driving illegal logging and forest fires that erase roost sites. Retailer Migros has pledged to source palm oil without contributing to deforestation.
- Their echolocation call lasts only 6 to 8 milliseconds, sweeping up then holding a steady frequency between 48 and 51 kHz before sweeping down. In Singapore, recordings showed a maximum frequency of 49.3 kHz and a minimum of 46.0 kHz.
Sources
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At a glance
RangeSoutheast Asia
HabitatTropical rainforest
DietInsects and spiders
About the Lesser Sheath-tailed Bat
In the twilight skies of the tropical forests, the lesser sheath-tailed bat dances on the wind, its delicate form silhouetted against the fading light as it pursues the evening's insect prey with agile, aerobatic ease. With each beat of its wings, the bat navigates the dense canopy with precision, its high-pitched calls echoing through the trees as it expertly exploits the abundant insect life that throngs the forest's upper reaches. As it flits and weaves, the bat's remarkable adaptability and agility are a testament to its enduring presence in these rich, vibrant ecosystems.
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