Northern pipistrelle
Species of bat
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The northern pipistrelle (Pipistrellus westralis), also known as Koopman's or the mangrove pipistrelle, is a species of vesper bat found only in Australia.[1] It is one of Australia's smallest bat species. On average, it weighs 3 g (0.11 oz).
| Northern pipistrelle | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Chiroptera |
| Family: | Vespertilionidae |
| Genus: | Pipistrellus |
| Species: | P. westralis |
| Binomial name | |
| Pipistrellus westralis Koopman, 1984 | |
 | |
Range and habitat
P. westralis thrives primarily in mangrove habitats, but it is also found in adjacent thickets and riverine forests. Its range is along the coasts of northern Western Australia, Northern Territory, and north western Queensland.
Although its habitat is limited, it is common across its range and its population seems to be stable. The only current major threat to the species is habitat loss. It is present in a number of protected areas including Kakadu and Keep River National Parks, and the Prince Regent Nature Reserve.
