Fun Spotted Bat Facts For Kids

The spotted bat Euderma maculatum is one of the more recognizable bat species in North America with their large pink ears and white spots on their back. They are predominantly found in the western United States, British Columbia, and parts of Mexico. Racoons, skunks, and owls are some of the spotted bat’s natural predators.

While they don’t face any major threats from humans, the use of pesticides, overgrazing, and construction of dams could potentially harm them in their habitat range. Initially thought to be rare and endangered, recent studies have confirmed the spotted bat’s abundance. Although the exact population size remains unknown, it is believed to exceed 10,000. It is not easy to spot spotted bats because they are high fliers and their roost sites are not easily accessible. As a result, there is little information available about the population distribution of the spotted bat. Like other major bat species, they use echolocation to communicate and catch their prey. But unlike other bat species, their calls can be heard by humans. Knowledge about the spotted bats may be scarce, but they are an important part of our ecosystems and they need to be preserved.

Read on for more facts about the spotted bat euderma maculatum.

For more relatable content, check out these hoary bat facts and red bat facts for kids.
 

What type of animal is a spotted bat?

The spotted bat or Euderma maculatum is a species of bat belonging to the Vespertilionidae family. They are a family of widely distributed microbats.

What class of animal does a spotted bat belong to?

The spotted bat (Euderma maculatum) species belongs to the Mammalia class and Vespertilionidae family.

How many spotted bats are there in the world?

Initially, the spotted bat was thought to be an extremely rare species. Now, they are known to exist in a large area. While the exact size of their population is unclear because of their patchy distribution, it is estimated to be over 10,000. In Canada, the population of the spotted bat is estimated to be less than 1000. The lack of clarity in the numbers is primarily due to their choice of habitat and roosting in crevices of tall cliffs.

Where does a spotted bat live?

Spotted bats are widely distributed throughout western North America range. They are predominantly found in the rock range of southern British Columbia, the western United States, and parts of Mexico. In British Columbia, they are primarily present in the valleys of Okanagan, Similkameen, Chilcotin, Fraser, and Thompson. In the United States, places like California, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Texas, and Washington have all reported the existence of spotted bats.

What is a spotted bat's habitat?

Spotted  bats lives in diverse habitats from arid desert to marshlands to open forests and rock cliffs. They tend to prefer large open habitats for foraging because of the low frequency of their echolocation. They often live near rugged rock landscapes with canyons and vertical cliffs and some water sources such as lakes or springs. Spotted bats roost in crevices and cracks in tall, vertical cliff faces that sometimes reach 3000 m (9842 ft) above sea level. These places are also used for rearing their young.

Who do spotted bats live with?

The spotted bat euderma maculatum is generally known for roosting and hunting alone or in small groups. Although the social structure of this bat species is unknown, they are not considered to be social. Unlike other bats, they do not have large hibernating colonies in the desert.

How long does a spotted bat live?

While the life span of spotted bat euderma maculatum is unknown, it is estimated to be around 20 years in wildlife. They roost alone usually.

How do they reproduce?

Female spotted bats give birth to one offspring each year. It is believed that these bats mate in spring and give birth in June or July during peak insect activity. The newborn does not have the distinctive spots nor the large ears of the adults. The exact age of sexual maturity for a female spotted bat in wildlife is not known.

What is their conservation status?

The spotted bat has been given the conservation status of “Least Concern” by the IUCN. But in Canada, they were designated as “Vulnerable” conservation status by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). Currently, their habitats do not face any major threats due to human intervention.

What do spotted bats look like?

The spotted bat euderma maculatum body measures in the range of 4.5 -5 in (12-13 cm) and weighs 0.5-0.7 oz (16-20g). They have large pink ears and large white spots on their body with black fur.  

How cute are they?

While bats are generally depicted to be scary and disgusting creatures, the spotted bat with their large pink ears can be considered to be cute. The large white spots on their black fur also make them quite recognizable.

How do they communicate?

Spotted bats communicate mainly through echolocation. They emit low frequencies in the 9-12 kHz range to call each other. They are also one of the few bat species whose calls can be heard by humans. They are known for roosting alone or in small groups.

How big is a spotted bat?

The spotted bat is a large bat that can reach up to 4.5 in (12 cm). Their wingspan is generally 14 in (35.56 cm)long, and their huge ears are about 1.5 in (4 cm) long.

How fast can a spotted bat run?

The exact speed of a spotted bat is not known. But bats are generally fast creatures that can sometimes reach up to 100mph.

How much does a spotted bat weigh?

A fully grown adult weighs around 0.5-0.7 oz (16-20 g). A newborn baby usually weighs twenty percent of that.

What are the male and female names of the species?

The male and female species do not have separate names.

What would you call a baby spotted bat?

Baby bats are generally called pups.

What do they eat?

Spotted bats are insectivores, and they are known for foraging and catching their prey using echolocation. Their diet mainly consists of moths, flies, and beetles. With moths, they eat only the abdomen portion after foraging. Owls, raccoons, and skunks are some of the spotted bats natural predators.

Are they aggressive?

Most bats tend to avoid humans and are not aggressive towards them on purpose. They are considered to be gentle animals.

Would they make a good pet?

No, spotted bats are not considered to be good pets. They do not survive well in home environments. They need large open spaces to thrive.

Did you know…

When the Spotted Bat is resting, its ears are rolled up around its head. And the ears get inflated with blood and unroll when they become active again.

Naming the spotted bat

The spotted bats are named so because of the three distinctive white spots they have on each shoulder and on the back.

Why is the spotted bat important?

Although the spotted bats are rarely sighted, they play an essential role in maintaining the ecosystem of North America. They are insectivores and they consume moths, flies, etc. which helps farmers reduce the usage of pesticides.

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 rice rat facts and Arctic fox facts pages.

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