Natal long-fingered bat
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]
| Natal long-fingered bat | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Chiroptera |
| Family: | Miniopteridae |
| Genus: | Miniopterus |
| Species: | M. natalensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Miniopterus natalensis A. Smith, 1834 | |
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
- Monadjem, A.; Griffin, M.; Cotterill, F.; Jacobs, D. & Taylor, P.J. (2017). "Miniopterus natalensis". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 2017: e.T44862A22073129. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T44862A22073129.en.
- 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.