Wildlifeof Sri Lanka
Painted Bat
Bats
Photo: Ameet Mandavia · CC BY 4.0 (May be cropped or resized)
Kerivoula picta
Basic stats
Diet
Small insects, caught in flight
Habitat
Old weaver and sunbird nests, banana leaves and hut eaves
Litter size
1
Size
Body 3-5.5cm, wingspan 18-30cm
Weight
About 5g
The painted bat is tiny, about 5 g, with body and tail each 3 to 5.5 cm and a wingspan of 18 to 30 cm. It is bright orange or scarlet with black wings and orange along the fingers. It hunts small insects in flights of one to two hours, using its tail membrane as a net (Wikipedia, general species account).
It roosts in small groups of two to six, in the suspended nests of weaver finches and sunbirds, in banana leaves or under hut eaves, and family units of a mother, father and one young are reported. Breeding is thought to be between June and August. The page lists mainland and Southeast Asian countries and does not mention Sri Lanka, which the national list does include. Nationally Near Threatened (Sri Lanka National Red List 2012).
Quick answers
- What does the Painted Bat eat?
- Small insects, caught in flight
- What habitat does the Painted Bat live in?
- Old weaver and sunbird nests, banana leaves and hut eaves
- What is the litter size of the Painted Bat?
- 1
- How big is the Painted Bat?
- Body 3-5.5cm, wingspan 18-30cm
- How much does the Painted Bat weigh?
- About 5g