Eastern Pipistrelle (Perimyotis [Pipistrellus] subflavus)

Nov 24, 2008

An Eastern Pipistrelle bat was clinging to the outside wall along the stairs to my dentist's office in Richardson. In a state of deep torpor, it didn't take any notice of the people staring at close range, or my camera's flash.

Eastern Pipistrelle

Pipistrelles are the smallest bats in Texas. Note the blunt nose, rather small ears and the 'elbow hooks' the bat uses to hold itself in a vertical position

Eastern Pipistrelle
The wing membranes are blackish, and the forearms are reddish. The ears are small and somewhat pointed. Eastern Pipistrelle

Inside the ear is a structure called the tragus, used in vertical sound localization.
In this species the tragus is rounded and blunt.

Eastern Pipistrelle
Eastern Pipistrelles hibernate a short distance from their summer range, typically less than 50 miles. Eastern Pipistrelle