Western Pipistrelle

Taxobox
name = Western Pipistrelle
status = LR/lc | status_system = IUCN2.3
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Mammalia
ordo = Chiroptera
familia = Vespertilionidae
genus = "Parastrellus"
genus_authority = Hoofer et al., 2006
species = "P. hesperus"
binomial = "Parastrellus hesperus"
binomial_authority = (H. Allen, 1864)
synonyms = The Western Pipistrelle ("Parastrellus hesperus") is a species of vesper bat in the Vespertilionidae family. It is found in Mexico and the United States. The species has historically been placed in the genus "Pipistrellus", but molecular evidence does not show any close relationship with that genus, and accordingly it was classified into its own genus, "Parastrellus", in 2006.

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 66mm, the female is larger at 73mm. They weigh around 3-6 grams.

ource

* Chiroptera Specialist Group 1996. [http://www.iucnredlist.org/search/details.php/17341/all Pipistrellus hesperus] . [http://www.iucnredlist.org 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. ] Downloaded on 09 July 2007.
*Hoofer, S.R., Van Den Bussche, R.A. & Horáček, I. 2006. Generic status of the American pipistrelles (Vespertilionidae) with description of a new genus. Journal of Mammalogy 87(5):981-992.

External Links

[http://www.flickr.com/photos/the_horned_jew_lizard/181767809/ An image of a Western Pipistrelle on Flickr.]