# Pipistrelle Bat (*Pipistrellus pipistrellus*) Pipistrelle bats are tiny, friendly creatures that love to fly at night. They help keep the insect population down by eating many bugs! - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Woodlands and gardens - **Also known as:** Common Pipistrelle, Pipistrelle ![Pipistrelle Bat](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771425741/objects/4488.jpg) ## Appearance The Pipistrelle Bat is one of Europe's smallest bats, with a tiny, mouse-like body. It has soft, dark brown to reddish-brown fur, a paler underside, and small, rounded ears. Its extremely compact size visually distinguishes it from most other bats. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Chiroptera - **Family:** Vespertilionidae - **Genus:** Pipistrellus ## Interesting facts - A pipistrelle bat's heart can beat over 1,000 times per minute in flight! - Baby pipistrelles are born completely blind and hairless, relying on their mom. - Their tiny teeth are incredibly sharp for munching crunchy insect exoskeletons! - They can squeeze into gaps as small as a human thumbprint to roost! ## Special abilities - **Sound Navigator:** Pipistrelle Bats can 'see' in the dark using echolocation, emitting high-pitched sounds that bounce off objects. - **Acrobatic Flight:** Pipistrelle Bats have highly flexible wings that allow them to twist and turn sharply to catch flying insects. - **Super Sleepers:** Pipistrelle Bats can enter a deep sleep called torpor, slowing their body functions to save energy in winter. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 3.5-5.2 cm - **Wingspan:** 18-25 cm - **Weight:** 0.003-0.008 kg - **Lifespan:** 4-11 years - **Speed:** 35 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1-2 - **Gestation:** 44-50 days ## Diet & Feeding These tiny bats are expert hunters, zipping through the night to catch flying insects! - **Primary Foods:** moths, midges, mosquitoes, caddisflies, small beetles - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** Common house mosquito (*Culex pipiens*) — Pipistrelle bats actively hunt these small, biting insects. - **Hunts:** Angle Shades moth (*Phlogophora meticulosa*) — A common nocturnal moth often caught by pipistrelles. - **Eaten by:** [Domestic cat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/domestic-cat) (*Felis catus*) — Cats sometimes catch bats that fly too low or roost nearby. - **Eaten by:** [Tawny owl](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tawny-owl) (*Strix aluco*) — Nocturnal owls are opportunistic predators of bats. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [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. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Pipistrelle bats are harmless and just want to eat bugs. It's best to watch them from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Pipistrelle Bat? 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 Pipistrelle Bat? 3.5-5.2 cm ### What is Pipistrelle Bat's wingspan? 18-25 cm ### How much does Pipistrelle Bat weigh? 0.003-0.008 kg ### How long does Pipistrelle Bat live? 4-11 years ### How fast can Pipistrelle Bat move? 35 km/h ### What does Pipistrelle Bat eat? These tiny bats are expert hunters, zipping through the night to catch flying insects! ### Where is Pipistrelle Bat usually found? Woodlands and gardens ## 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: [Pipistrelle Bat: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pipistrelle-bat)