Kuhl's pipistrelle

Kuhl's pipistrelle is a species of vesper bat that occurs in large areas of North Africa, Southern Europe and West Asia. It lives in temperate forests, subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation, temperate grassland, rural gardens, and urban areas.

Taxonomy

Kuhl's pipistrelle was first described in 1817, under the name Vespertilio kuhlii, in a work by Heinrich Kuhl entitled Die deutschen Fledermäuse. The specific epithet was chosen by Johann Natterer, who had collected the first specimens, and commemorates Kuhl; under the rules of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, however, Kuhl himself is regarded as the authority, as the first to report the name.
The population in Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Sudan was formerly known as Pipistrellus deserti, which is now considered to be a junior synonym of Pipistrellus kuhlii.

Description

Kuhl's pipistrelle's fur is dark brown to yellowish, while the wings are black or dark brown. Some individuals have a white stripe at the wing edges. It has a body length of with a long tail, and it weighs around. Its wingspan is. It is slightly sexually dimorphic, with males larger than the females.

Distribution and habitat

Kuhl's pipistrelle lives in a variety of habitats, including commonly in urban areas. It occurs from sea-level to an elevation of. As it is common across a large and increasing range, it is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Behaviour and ecology

Kuhl's pipistrelle is a generalist insectivore, with a widely varying diet depending on the individual and location. In some cases, it may also feed on small amounts of fruit. It feeds by catching its prey in flight by scooping them up in its wings or tail membrane. It typically hunts near other Kuhl's pipistrelles.
To attract females, males will emit mating calls distinct from the normal echolocation calls, often in large groups.