The common pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus ) is a small pipistrelle microbat whose very large range extends across most of Europe, North Africa, South Asia, and may extend into Korea. It is one of the most common bat species in the British Isles. In Europe, the northernmost confirmed records are from southern Finland near 60°N.
In 1999, the common pipistrelle was split into two species on the basis of different-frequency echolocation calls. The common pipistrelle uses a call of 45 kHz, while the soprano pipistrelle echolocates at 55 kHz. Since the two species were distinguished, a number of other differences, in appearance, habitat and food, have also been discovered.
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NocturnalNocturnality is an animal behavior characterized by being active during the night and sleeping during the day. The common adjective is "nocturnal",...
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CarnivoreA carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of a...
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InsectivoresAn insectivore is a carnivorous plant or animal that eats insects. An alternative term is entomophage, which also refers to the human practice of e...
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ArborealArboreal locomotion is the locomotion of animals in trees. In habitats in which trees are present, animals have evolved to move in them. Some anima...
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PredatorPredators are animals that kill and eat other organisms, their prey. Predators may actively search for or pursue prey or wait for it, often conceal...
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AltricialAltricial animals are those species whose newly hatched or born young are relatively immobile. They lack hair or down, are not able to obtain food ...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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CongregatoryCongregatory animals tend to gather in large numbers in specific areas as breeding colonies, for feeding, or for resting.
Among animals, viviparity is the development of the embryo inside the body of the parent. The term 'viviparity' and its adjective form 'viviparous'...
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HibernatingHibernation is a state of minimal activity and metabolic depression undergone by some animal species. Hibernation is a seasonal heterothermy charac...
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MigratingAnimal migration is the relatively long-distance movement of individual animals, usually on a seasonal basis. It is the most common form of migrati...
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starts withThe Common pipistrelle is a very small species of bat whose very large range extends across most of Europe, North Africa, southwestern Asia, and may extend into Korea. It is one of the most common bat species in the British Isles. This microbat is common in woodland and farmland but is also found in towns, where the females roost in lofts and buildings when rearing young.
Common pipistrelles have a Palearctic distribution. They occur in the British Isles, southern Scandinavia, much of Continental Europe, and parts of Northwest Africa. They are also found in India, China, and Myanmar in Asia. Common pipistrelles occur in woodlands, shrubland, grasslands, near wetlands, and in agricultural and urban areas.
Common pipistrelles are nocturnal gregarious creatures that live in large colonies. They roost during the day in trees or in buildings and right before sunset head to hunt their prey. They prefer to forage along woodland edges and along isolated tree lines catching their favorite insect prey such as mosquitoes, midges, and gnats. In order to locate their prey pipistrelles use echolocation; the frequencies used for echolocation lie between 45 and 76 kHz and have an average duration of 5.6 ms. With the start of the cold, around mid-October Common pipistrelles become less active and prepare for winter hibernation which lasts until spring. They usually choose warm and sheltered places for hibernation in buildings, hollow trees, deep in rock crevices, or bat boxes.
Common pipistrelles are carnivores (insectivores). Their diet includes mosquitos, midges, flies, caddisflies, lacewings, mayflies, and moths.
Common pipistrelles mate in the fall, just before hibernation but females become pregnant in May and June due to their ability to delay fertilization. Males attract females by creating courtship territories approximately 200 m (660 ft) in diameter; these territories are maintained from mid-July through the end of October, with the peak of activity in September. Courtship territories are usually located in the vicinity of popular winter roosts. Males will patrol these territories while "singing" to attract the attention of females as they travel to winter roosts. Male courtship territories are densely-packed and offer females choice akin to a lek mating system. After hibernation pregnant females form large aggregations in roosts, called maternity colonies. These colonies can consist of dozens or even hundreds of individuals. Gestation lasts around 50 days and parturition usually occurs in June. Females typically give birth to a single pup, though in some populations, twins are regularly produced. The pups are born altricial; they are naked, blind, and helpless. The females nurse their young within 3 weeks at which time pups are able to fly to and become independent. Females reach reproductive maturity at one year of age while males start to breed when they are 2 years old.
The main threat to Common pipistrelles is the loss of foraging habitat due to agriculture intensification. They also suffer from timber treatment, building renovation and construction, pollution, the use of pesticides, and collisions with auto transport.
According to IUCN, the Common pipistrelle is widespread throughout its range but no overall population estimate is available. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are stable.
Social animals are those animals that interact highly with other animals, usually of their own species (conspecifics), to the point of having a rec...