The lesser woolly bat (''Kerivoula lanosa'') is a species of

vesper bat Vespertilionidae is a family of microbats, of the order Chiroptera, flying, insect-eating mammals variously described as the common, vesper, or simple nosed bats. The vespertilionid family is the most diverse and widely distributed of bat famili ...

in the family

Vespertilionidae Vespertilionidae is a family of microbats, of the order Chiroptera, flying, insect-eating mammals variously described as the common, vesper, or simple nosed bats. The vespertilionid family is the most diverse and widely distributed of bat familie ...

. It is found in

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and rarely

. Its natural

habitat In ecology, habitat refers to the array of resources, biotic factors that are present in an area, such as to support the survival and reproduction of a particular species. A species' habitat can be seen as the physical manifestation of its ...

s are subtropical or tropical moist lowland

forest A forest is an ecosystem characterized by a dense ecological community, community of trees. Hundreds of definitions of forest are used throughout the world, incorporating factors such as tree density, tree height, land use, legal standing, ...

s, dry

savanna A savanna or savannah is a mixed woodland-grassland (i.e. grassy woodland) biome and ecosystem characterised by the trees being sufficiently widely spaced so that the canopy does not close. The open canopy allows sufficient light to reach th ...

, and moist savanna. Members of this species typically have a dark greyish brown fur with whitish tips scattered throughout.

Ecology

The habitats that this bat lives are typically near water. Aquatic environments are generally inhabited, and when found in dryer climates such as forests or the savannah, they are generally near streams or in well watered areas. Roosting sites are often important in the ecology of bats, as the bats are subject to the conditions of their roosting sites. The nests constructed by birds, such as

speckle-fronted weaver The speckle-fronted weaver (''Sporopipes frontalis'') is a species of bird in the family Ploceidae. It is found in Africa from Mauritania and Gambia in the west to Ethiopia and Tanzania in the east. Its natural habitat is dry savanna A sava ...

, provide protection from predators and the elements. likely as a result of the benefits gained from roosting in these nests, the lesser woolly bats have been known to roost in abandoned nests previously inhabited by speckled weavers, scarlet-chested sunbirds, and several others. The average number of bats per nest is usually between 1 and 3. However, the property and survival advantages remain unstudied.Oschadleus, H. Dieter. "Bird nests as roost sites for Kerivoula bats in southern Africa." African Journal of Ecology 46.4 (2008): 693-696.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q303750 Kerivoulinae Taxonomy articles created by Polbot Mammals described in 1847 Bats of Africa Taxa named by Andrew Smith (zoologist)