Sheath+tailed+bat

The feeding activity of the bat takes place on its preferred, coastal environments . **//__ The Seychelles sheath-tailed bat is a sac winged bat. It occurs in the central granitic islands of the Seychelles Islands north of Madagascar but it has declined drastically and is now extinct on most islands.It is one of the most endangered animals, fewer than 100 are believed to exist in the world. The Seychelles sheath-tailed bat has suffered from habitat deterioration due to the effects of introduced plant species.The weight of Seychelles sheath-tailed bats averages about 10 - 11 g (0.4 oz).In the 1860s, the Seychelles sheath-tailed bat was reported to fly around clumps of bamboo towards twilight, and in the daytime to be found roosting in the clefts of the mountainside facing the sea and with a more or less northern aspect.it feeds on a wide variety of insect species.it is possibly the rarest bat in the world with only about 30-100 individuals left in Seychelles.In the 1800s it was described as being common on Mahé but declined throughout the 1900s. __//**

__//**FAMILY OF THE SHEATH TAILED BAT**//__
__//**This bat belongs to an ancient family of sheath-tailed bats, so-called because of the nature of the membrane which stretches between the hind legs. By adjusting the hind legs in flight, this membrane can be lengthened or shortened as it slips over the tail.**//__ __//**CELLS membrane and skin cells**//__ **//__blood cells__//**

REPRODUCING AGES

9 months females -- 21 months males

Seychelles sheath-tailed bats mate in late August and early September and give birth to the young ones in the late November or early December.

KINGDOM anamalia

PHYLUM Chordata

HABITAT

rain forest trees,coastal rocky field caves with stable cool temperatures and access to palm woodland or marsh habitat

FOOD

The feeding activity of the bat takes place on its preferred, coastal environments, with abundant insects, especially moths and beetles. AIR the bat breathes through his nose to get his need of air WATER the bat gets its water from moist cave drinking it as it falls from the walls SPECIAL FEATURES the bat has a webed body wich gives it stronger flights and longer strides ADAPTIONS the sheath tailed bat adapts by staying in one place to hunt its pray at one time

FACTS

The colonies of these bats are divided into harem groups, each of which is led by a single male and includes adult females and their young ones.

The young ones of Seychelles sheath-tailed bats gain independence when they are 3- 4 weeks old and have reached 50% of their mother’s body weight.

The young bats have only 24% of the female body weight and are well furred, with their eyes open

The hiding places of these bats are generally covered with large endemic palm leaves

The West coast of Mahe has three roosts of Seychelles sheath-tailed bats. The roosts are usually located in the rocky caves that sometimes, occur in remote or difficult to access locations. However, still, these bats become susceptible to encroachments and development