Southern Bent wing bat

 Evolution 

All Subspecies: In Australia three subspecies of Miniopterus schreibersii are recognised: Miniopterus schreibersii orianae, Miniopterus schreibersii oceanensis and Miniopterus schreibersii bassanii (the Southern Bent-wing Bat)

How long has this mammal been in existence:  The Australasian Southern bent-wing bat was first around 50 million year ago.

Closest living relative to this species: Southern bent-wing bats are closely related to two other subspecies, the M. schreibersii orianae found in WA and NT, and the M. schreibersii oceanensis, found along the east coast from QLD to VIC

3 ancestors of this species: As for ancestors of this species it directs back to the main subspecies of this mammal containing the schreibersii orianae and the schreibersii oceanensis

Description 

physical description of the animal: The Southern Bent-wing Bat is a tiny microbat, It has dark brown to reddish brown fur on the back, grey-brown fur on the belly and a distinctive domed forehead

Point key characteristics of the species

Size: The southern bent winged-bat comes to a measuring 52-58 mm long (head to body)

Weight: As this Mammal weights as about 15.7 g or about roughly 0.034 Lbs

Life span: With this mammal it contains a lifespan of 20 years max 

Differences between Males and Females: Aside from their genitalia, most male and female wing bat species look identical at first glance. However, a detailed examination during mating season reveals odor-producing glands or structures that are only present in male bats.

Distribution 

Continents this mammal is found in? this Little Mammal can be found in all but 1 continent possible but for sure 4 of the 7 including Asia, Australia/oceania, south america and Africa

are these invasive species at all? The investigators identified threats of 37 invasive species to 40 bat species. Ten bat species were threatened by more than one invasion pathway. 

Diet 

what does it eat? The Southern Bent-wing Bat eats insects and is known to roost in caves near the coastal cliffs of south western Victoria and south eastern South Australia. They forage each night using a regular flight path.

How often does it eat? They need to be fed approximately every two hours around the clock when very young. By 3-4 weeks old you should be able to reduce this to every four hours- as they get older they drink more and need less regular feeds. You need to judge this by each bat- they will let you know how hungry they are.

how does it get its food? bats are insectivorous. Insect-eating bats capture their prey by foraging on the wing, catching flying insects from a perch, or collecting insects from plants. Some bats seize insects with their mouths. Other bats use their wings or tail membrane to trap prey.

Any special foods? They do have favorite foods such as beetles, moths, mosquitoes, and more

Social Structure 

Do these mammals stay in packs or solo? Bats roost in trees, caves, mines and barns — any place that provides shelter from the weather, protection from predators and seclusion for rearing their young. They generally live together in groups called colonies, which can contain anywhere from 100 to several thousand individuals. 

What are there roles within the community? Wing Bats play an essential role in pest control, pollinating plants and dispersing seeds. Recent studies estimate that b these bats ats eat enough pests to save more than $1 billion per year in crop damage and pesticide costs in the United States corn industry alone. 

Led by mostly males or females? The group is mostly universlal as there is not neither more male or female led 

what individuals make up the groups?  Mostly males and females make up the groups as they are evenly distributed 

How do they interact with each other? They would scramble about among the vines and creepers, chasing or being chased, biting each other playfully, squeaking the high, nasal squeak of very young bats. 

Reproduction 

How often do they mate?  They mate about once annually from between January to December for that range of about 4 weeks

How many mates do they have? many Bent wingbats roost together in colonies so often they share their roost with other wing bats 

Time of the year for mating? Between January and December 

Mating rituals? When a female landed, the male would fly over to her, nuzzle her, and wrap his wings around her; if she accepted him and didn't fly away, they would copulate. Over a three-day period, the males stayed in the chambers, but very few females remained during the day. 

Numbers of offspring produces at a time? Most bat species produce one pup in May, June, or July; the specific dates depend on the species, locality, and weather. The young, called pups, are born and raised in nursery colonies occupied only by breeding females and their young. 

any unique characteristics of their mating?   Bats do not lays eggs because they are mammals like other mammals bats give birth to their pups and nurse them with milk from their bodies. Bats are considered one of the slowest reproducing animals in the world and female bats often only produce one offspring per year. 

Stages of development?  These stages include infancy, early childhood, middle childhood, adolescence, early adulthood, middle adulthood, and old age. According to the Biodynamic System, a child's development goes through a series of specific overlapping age phases from the second trimester in the womb to the age of 12. 

how old do they have to be before sexual maturity? as for wing bats they operate like regular bats in this situation as  Female bats are sexually mature near the end of their first year. Male bats take slightly longer and will reach sexual maturity after their first year. 

Activates and environment stages? 

difference between male and females in development? As from before aside from their genitalia, most male and female bat species look identical at first glance. However, a detailed examination during mating season reveals odor-producing glands or structures that are only present in male bats 

Causes of death

predotors they have? Bats have few natural predators — disease is one of the biggest threats. Owls, hawks and snakes eat bats 

Sexual competition? Bats as these small mammals Do not encounter any sexual competition 

Disease they carry?  White-nose sydndrome  is s fungal disease killing these bats which was intorduce from Europe 

other causes of death? Bats can die for a number of other reasons as overheating in their roost, or other threats. Parasites, such as worms, mites, and insects can cause death and are more easily transmitted among other bats while roosting in colonies. 

competition

Inter species within species? The southern wingbat does not infact have competition within their species.

intra species within other species?  Intra species these bats compete with include carp, opossums, forgs, lizzards, chamelons, geckos, nighttinglales, swallows, echidnas, numbats, anteaters, armadillos, aardvark, pangolins, aardwolfs, other bat species and spiders

what do they compete over? for food or foraging habitats 

Affect of invasive species? Although appreciable bat population reductions owing to invasive species are often unproven, invasions are likely to exacerbate effects of other vulnerabilities. Multiple invaders and synergistic interactions may ultimately lead to species losses 

IUCN Rating 

what is their Rating?  The Rating for these species are listed as Critically Endagered

Their population?  There has been a severe decline in the Southern Bent-wing Bat. The total population size was estimated to be approximately 200,000 several decades ago, now it is down to less than 45,000 mature individuals across its entire range. 

Population trend?  They decrease at an extreme rate over the years of existing usually decades 

Impact of humans 

what impacts have occurred? A range of threats have been identified as potentially impacting the bat and contributing to the decline including; loss and modification of roosting caves (particularly maternity sites) and feeding habitats, people entering roost caves disturbing the bats, bioaccumulation of pesticides and toxins which may also reduce food availability, disease, and introduced predators. Climate change, including drought, is also predicted to negatively affect food availability. The risk posed by windfarm development and collision with turbines is being investigated. 

protentional future impacts? An emerging threat is the likely introduction of White-nose Syndrome to Australia, which is predicted to severely impact the Southern Bent-wing Bat across its entire distribution 

How long have humans interacting with species? humans have been interacting with these species of bats since the late 1950'5 

efforts being made to minimize impacts? Efforts to save of minimize impacts on the species are being supported by a $50,000 grant through the Victorian Government's Biodiversity On-Ground Action Icon Species Grants program, which funds targeted actions designed to protect and conserve Victoria's threatened species