Beccari's sheath-tailed bat


Beccari's sheath-tailed bat is a species of sac-winged bat in the family Emballonuridae. It is found in New Guinea and in some nearby islands in both Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.

Taxonomy and etymology

It was described as a new species in 1881 by German naturalist Wilhelm Peters and Italian naturalist Giacomo Doria. The eponym for the species name "beccari" is Odoardo Beccari, an Italian botanist who conducted a zoological research expedition on the island of New Guinea where the bat was first documented.

Biology

It is nocturnal, roosting in sheltered places such as caves during the day. At night, it forages for its prey—insects—along forest streams, in dense forests, and in clearings.

Range and habitat

Its range includes several islands of Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. It has been documented from above sea level.

Conservation

It is currently evaluated as least concern by the IUCN. It meets the criteria for this assessment because it has a large range, its population is thought to be large, and because its population is not likely to be in rapid decline. Some populations may be threatened by overharvesting for bushmeat.