It was freed, warmed and dried, photographed, and then released with no apparent harm, apart from a small puncture in its interfemoral membrane.


Bent-winged bats often feed on insects, particularly moths, which swarm around electric lights at night.  A 10-second shutter speed captured this image (above), as bats twisted and turned in their efforts to capture erratic flying insects.



Order : CHIROPTERA
Family : Vespertilionidae
Species : Miniopterus spp.

Forearm Length : species vary between 34 and 53 cm
Weight : species vary between 10 and 16 grams

References : M1, M2, M3, M4

Thanks to Frank J. Bonaccorso for assistance in identifying these images.

Bent-winged or Long-fingered Bats are so named because of the relatively long terminal bones of the fingers, particularly the middle finger, when compared with the middle bone. When roosting, the lower part of the wing is  held in a bent position.

	Gomantong Cave, Sabah, Borneo. Typical roosting place for colonies of Bent-winged Bats and other species.

The true number of species of Miniopterus bats is highly debated, but at least 11 are generally agreed to exist. There are great similarities between all species, which are often distinguished only on the basis of forearm length and weight. Identification of species on the basis of photographs alone is not possible.

In all species the fur is thick and generally brown-black to brown, or sometimes reddish. The ears are relatively small and rounded, and the eyes small.

Many bent-winged bat species roost in large colonies in caves : these bats may become spectacularly abundant in tropical rainforests where karst limestone habitats provide cave systems for roosting. For example in parts of Borneo there are colonies of over 100,000 bats. These colonies are well organised : it is known that thousands of juveniles may be left together by night under the care of a few females while their parents are out foraging for food.

These bats feed on flying insects, often high in the canopy, but may be attracted to insects swarming around lights in villages and small towns.

Some species are wide-ranging across  Southeast Asia and New Guinea. The Common Bent-winged Bat Miniopterus schreibersi has a range that extends from parts of Africa, across southern Europe and Asia to Australia and Oceania. The range of elevations is also large : in New Guinea some species occur up to 3200 metres above sea level.