# Nathusius' Pipistrelle (*Pipistrellus nathusii*) Nathusius' Pipistrelle is a small bat that loves to fly around at night. They help keep the insect population down by eating lots of bugs! - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests ![Nathusius' Pipistrelle](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Pipistrellus_nathusii.jpg&width=800) Photo: Mnolf, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pipistrellus_nathusii.jpg) ## Appearance The Nathusius' Pipistrelle is a small bat with soft, reddish-brown fur on its back, contrasting with a paler grey-brown belly. It has a distinct dark mask around its eyes, dark ears, and dark wing membranes. Its broad, short wings make it look different from many other pipistrelle species. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Chiroptera - **Family:** Vespertilionidae - **Genus:** Pipistrellus ## Interesting facts - Mother bats nurse their young for about 4 weeks before they learn to fly. - They can twist and turn in the air with amazing agility to catch prey! - They undertake incredible migrations across Europe, sometimes thousands of kilometers! - This tiny bat can hear sounds far too high-pitched for human ears. ## Special abilities - **Sound Navigator:** Nathusius' Pipistrelle can use echolocation because of its highly sensitive ears and vocal cords that produce ultrasonic calls. - **Migration Marvel:** Nathusius' Pipistrelle has strong wings and an internal compass that helps them undertake long seasonal migrations across continents. - **Aerial Acrobat:** Nathusius' Pipistrelle can perform swift, agile maneuvers in the air because of its wing structure that allows for precise turns and dives. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 4.4-5.8 cm - **Wingspan:** 22-32 cm - **Weight:** 0.006-0.015 kg - **Lifespan:** 2-12 years - **Speed:** 35 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1-2 - **Gestation:** 45-50 days ## Diet & Feeding These tiny bats are expert hunters, feasting on small flying insects at night! - **Primary Foods:** Moths, Midges, Mosquitoes, Caddisflies, Small beetles - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Common Kestrel (*Falco tinnunculus*) — hunts bats during migration or near roosts. - **Eaten by:** [Barn Owl](https://www.snappit.app/explore/barn-owl) (*Tyto alba*) — Nocturnal hunter preying on small mammals, including bats. - **Hunts:** Scottish Midge (*Culicoides impunctatus*) — Main food source in many wetland habitats. - **Hunts:** [Large Yellow Underwing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/large-yellow-underwing) (*Noctua pronuba*) — Common moth species preyed upon by bats. - **Hunts:** Common House Mosquito (*Culex pipiens*) — Helps control mosquito populations near water. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Echolocation](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/echolocation): Echolocation is a biological sonar used by animals to navigate, hunt, and communicate by emitting sound waves and interpreting the echoes. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Bats are usually harmless, but it's best to watch them from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Nathusius' Pipistrelle? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Nathusius' Pipistrelle? 4.4-5.8 cm ### What is Nathusius' Pipistrelle's wingspan? 22-32 cm ### How much does Nathusius' Pipistrelle weigh? 0.006-0.015 kg ### How long does Nathusius' Pipistrelle live? 2-12 years ### How fast can Nathusius' Pipistrelle move? 35 km/h ### What does Nathusius' Pipistrelle eat? These tiny bats are expert hunters, feasting on small flying insects at night! ### Where is Nathusius' Pipistrelle usually found? Forests ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Nathusius' Pipistrelle: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/nathusius-pipistrelle)