The canyon bat also known as the Western Pipistrelle, is a species of vesper bat

Vesper bat

Vesper bats , also known as Evening bats or Common bats, are the largest and best-known family of bats. They belong to the suborder Microchiroptera . There are over three hundred species distributed all over the world, on every continent except Antarctica...

 in the Vespertilionidae family. It is found in Mexico

Mexico

The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...

 and in the western United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

. The species has historically been placed in the genus Pipistrellus

Pipistrellus

Pipistrellus is a genus of bats in the family Vespertilionidae and subfamily Vespertilioninae. The name of the genus is derived from the Italian word Pipistrello, meaning "bat"....

, but molecular evidence does not show any close relationship with that genus, and accordingly it was classified into its own genus, Parastrellus, in 2006.

Characteristics

The Western Pipistrelle is characterised by its erratic and butterfly-like flight. It is known to be the smallest bat in the United States; an adult male averages a length of 66 mm, the female is larger at 73 mm. They weigh around 3–6 grams. Their flight speed has been measured as 5 miles per hour (8 km/h), which is low compared to other bats but consistent with their size.

Distribution and habitat

The canyon bat is found in the western United States and Mexico, and is most common in deserts and dry brushland. They roost in small rock crevices.

External links

• An image of a Western Pipistrelle on Flickr.
• Western Pipistrelle Fact Sheet