Naked-rumped Tomb Bat (Taphozous nudiventris) lives in tropical dry forests across Southeast Asia and Australia. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
Fascinating facts about the Naked-rumped Tomb Bat
- The naked-rumped tomb bat's coat is short and sleek, but it does not cover the rump, lower belly or hind limbs, leaving roughly a third of the animal's surface hairless. This creates a sharp line where fur ends and naked skin begins, a distinctive feature of the species. The contrast is especially noticeable because the dorsal fur can be pale grey-brown, deep brown or rusty-brown, while the ventral side is lighter.
- Males have well-developed throat pouches, a feature that is much less pronounced in females. The species also lacks a nose-leaf.
- In Egypt the naked-rumped tomb bat chooses the historic Karnak Temple Complex as a roosting site, nesting among the stone arches and chambers. Within this ancient complex it coexists with several other bat species, but each occupies its own separate location, avoiding direct competition. Such use of human-made structures shows the bat's ability to exploit both natural and cultural habitats for shelter.
- In Iraq and Pakistan the naked-rumped tomb bat moves each year between different roosts. During the hot summer it seeks out cool caves or buildings where it can accumulate fat reserves, and when winter arrives it shifts to warmer structures where its metabolism can slow into torpor. This seasonal migration links the bat's need for temperature-controlled shelters with its energy strategy.
- The naked-rumped tomb bat's pregnancy lasts about nine weeks, but the female can hold sperm through the hibernation period. She delays fertilisation until the spring, allowing the embryo to develop when conditions are favourable. This timing means the young are born after the bat has emerged from torpor and food becomes abundant.
Sources
Every fact above was checked against these pages, and kept only where one of them states it.
At a glance
RangeSoutheast Asia and Australia
HabitatTropical dry forests
DietInsects and fruit
About the Naked-rumped Tomb Bat
In the sweltering twilight of the tropical forests, the Naked-rumped Tomb Bat emerges, its slender form slicing through the warm air with effortless ease, as if drawn by an unseen thread to the insect-rich canopies above. With each delicate beat of its wings, it orchestrates a mesmerizing dance, weaving in and out of the shadows in pursuit of its nocturnal prey. As it flits and swoops, the soft glow of moonlight casts an ethereal sheen on its sleek, hairless rump, a distinguishing trait that sets this enigmatic creature apart from its fellow flyers.
Hear the Naked-rumped Tomb Bat, and 4,400+ more
Real recorded sounds, 11 nature games and a free Daily 5, 1v1 quiz duels, conservation wins and a safe Kids mode. Free on Feravox.
