Fun Bornean Bat Facts For Kids

The animal kingdom shows versatility in its wide variety of animals. The world still remains oblivious of innumerable species existing outside its reach. One such uncommon bat species is the Borneo bat. It belongs to the Rhinolophus genus that comprises all horseshoe bat species. Better known as the Bornean horseshoe bat (scientific name: Rhinolophus borneensis), the mammal was identified as a new bat species by Wilhelm Peters, a German naturalist in 1861. Later, four distinct subspecies had been identified and described in the third edition of 'Mammal Species of the World' that includes R. borneensis chaseni, R. borneensis spadix, R. borneensis importunus, and R. borneensis borneensis. Like most bats, the Bornean horseshoe bat is nocturnal as most of its activities take place in the darkness of the night. These bats engage in diurnal roosting in hollow bamboos and trees, rock crevices, and young banana leaves. The Bornean horseshoe bat implements two unique strategies while foraging. The first technique involves a slow flight at a lower height that would benefit capturing prey from the substrate among bushes and trees. The second technique involves perch feeding where these bats engage in roosting on perches and capture insects that fly past.

If you want to learn more about the Bornean horseshoe bat, keep reading. Reward your inquisitive mind with some mind-boggling facts about the hoary bat and goblin bat.

What type of animal is a Bornean bat?

The Bornean horseshoe bat is a species of bat belonging to the Rhinolophidae family. It has been categorized under the phylum Chordata.

What class of animal does a Bornean bat belong to?

The Bornean horseshoe bat is a member of the Mammalia class and Rhinolophus genus. The genus comprises 106 around species. The members of this genus are characterized by the horseshoe-like nose-leafs that can detect ultrasound pulses.

How many Bornean bats are there in the world?

Due to the dearth of quantification details, the population density of the species cannot be stated with utmost accuracy. However, these flying mammals of the Rhinolophidae family are widespread in the forests of Borneo and can be sparsely found in other places. They're also common in the forests of southern Vietnam.

Where does a Bornean bat live?

It's evident from the name of the species that the Bornean horseshoe bat is a resident of Borneo. These bats can be found in the Malay Peninsula region. Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Indonesia, Sumatra, and the islands of South Natuna and Karimata also host the Bornean horseshoe bat.

What is a Bornean bat's habitat?

Both primary, as well as secondary forests, are inhabited by the Bornean horseshoe bat. Habitats of the species also include caves and mountains.

Who do Bornean bats live with?

Do you know that a group of bats is called a colony? Normally, bats are highly sociable and dwell in large colonies but some exceptions prevail. For instance, the silver-haired bat and hoary bats of the Mammalia class tend to live solitarily.

How long does a Bornean bat live?

The lifespan of the Bornean horseshoe bat needs to be analyzed but in general, horseshoe bats have an average life expectancy of six to seven years. Some bats can even outlive this span.

How do they reproduce?

Since the Bornean horseshoe bat belongs to the class of mammals, it is viviparous which means that the females don't lay eggs. After copulation, fertilization and development of the embryo occur inside the female body. The gestation period stretches for about seven weeks. A female usually gives birth to a pup annually and post-birthing, the pups are nursed on the mother's breast milk. Pups attain sexual maturity by the age of two. Detailed information about the breeding season or courtship behavior of the Bornean horseshoe bat is lacking.

What is their conservation status?

As per the records of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, the population of the Bornean horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus borneensis) is widespread within its geographical boundaries, therefore, qualifying the species to the Least Concern group.

What do Bornean bats look like?

Specific details about the appearance of this hard-to-find Bornean horseshoe bat are lacking but in general, horseshoe bats come in shades of brown but very few are red. The average length of the ears is about 0.63-0.67 in (16-17 mm). The species possesses the horseshoe-like nose-leafs that distinguish it from other bat species. All mammals of phylum Chordata have the post-anal tail, notochord, pharyngeal slits, and dorsal nerve cord.

How cute are they?

Many animal lovers consider bats to be adorable while most people are either scared or grossed out at the sight of a bat due to their shabby brown-red appearance.

How do they communicate?

The Bornean horseshoe bat interacts through high-frequency screeches, songs, and chirps. The species possesses nose-leafs used to echolocate. The highly developed echolocation aids in preying on insects. These bats can detect and communicate via higher frequency sounds that go undetected by humans.

How big is a Bornean bat?

On average, a Bornean horseshoe bat size falls in the range of 1.62-1.72 in (41.2-43.7 mm). The length of the species is less than half the size of the Mexican free-tailed bat that can grow up to 4-5 in (10.1–12.7 cm) in length.

How fast can a Bornean bat move?

Scientific research is lacking on the speed limit of the Bornean horseshoe bat but this class of flying mammals shows swift movements and great reflexes in flight.

How much does a Bornean bat weigh?

Rhinolophus borneensis has an approximate weight of 0.03 lb (13 g).

What are the male and female names of the species?

Neither the male nor female bats have been given special names. They're always regarded as male and female bats.

What would you call a baby Bornean bat?

A baby Bornean horseshoe bat is referred to as a pup. Did you know that the pups feed on their mother's breastmilk like other babies of mammals? When a pup starts foraging and hunting its food, it becomes an adult.

What do they eat?

A Bornean horseshoe bat indulges in an insectivorous diet. Members of the Rhinolophidae family primarily feed on a variety of insects, occasionally consuming arthropods like spiders.

Are they aggressive?

Bats are known to be some of the most harmless mammals in the animal kingdom. If you find a bat flying at you, it's most probably chasing an insect. They're not known to be aggressive. Even the ghost bat, which possesses a spooky appearance, is totally non-aggressive.

Would they make a good pet?

No, horseshoe bats don't make good pets simply because their habitat includes forests, mountains, and caves. Moreover, they're pretty shy of human interactions. These flying mammals should not be estranged from their natural habitat and confined inside houses.

Did you know...

The Bornean horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus borneensis), like the red bats, indulges in an insectivorous diet. These bats play a crucial role by maintaining balance in nature as they consume a wide range of insects, restricting their population growth.

Naming the Bornean bat

As the name of the species suggests, the Bornean horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus borneensis) has derived its name from its location, that is, Borneo. The horseshoe is attributed because of its large horseshoe-shaped nose-leafs.

How many species of bats are there in Borneo?

Ninety distinct bat species abound in the rainforests of Borneo. For instance, the Borneo roundleaf bat (Hipposideros doriae) is a member of the Hipposideridae family. Unlike the Bornean horseshoe bat, Hipposideros doriae has been attributed the Near Threatened status by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. Another popular bat species of the region is the Borneo fruit bat (Aethalops aequalis) of the Pteropodidae family that can be spotted in the mountains of Borneo. It is not known whether these bat species are related to the Borneo horseshoe bat in any way.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these woodrat facts and wire fox terrier facts for kids.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable Bornean bat coloring pages.

*We've been unable to source an image of a Bornean bat and have used an image of a greater horseshoe bat instead. If you are able to provide us with a royalty-free image of a Bornean bat, we would be happy to credit you. Please contact us at [email protected].