Theobald's Tomb Bat (Taphozous theobaldi)

OTHER NAMES: Theobold's Bat
Latin Etymology: Taphozous ("tomb") theobaldi (after naturalist William Theobald)

Colony of Theobald's Tomb Bat (Taphozous theobaldi) at Angkor Wat, Cambodia - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: ?
Weight: 37g  /  Length: 7.1-7.6cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

There is something fairly iconic about bat-filled ruins, and in the famous ruins of Angkor Wat, and the nearly ruins at Angkor Thom, bats are a common presence.  Mostly just detected by chittering in certain corridors, the weather beaten stone surfaces are a perfect location for them to inhabit.  While multiple species are present, these I believe to be Theobald's Tomb Bats - a species whose very name evokes this sort of enviornment is an evocative bonus.

Related Species:
Order: Chiroptera
Family: Emballonuridae
Genus: Taphozous
SUBSPECIES: unclear

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer- ?
 A fairly common resident

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: Seen inside Angkor Wat

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Lyle's Flying Fox (Pteropus lylei)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Pteropus ("wing footed") lylei (named for naturalist Charles Lyle)

Seven Lyle's Flying Fox (Pteropus lylei) at Siem Reap, Cambodia - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 320g  /  Length: 24cm  /  Wingspan: 90cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Vulnerable

A species of flying fox restricted to the Gulf of Thailand, these huge bats are fructivores and feed on numerous species of trees that humans also eat including mango, cashew, dragonfruit, tamarind and others.  This can unfortunately put it into conflict with farmers who wish to protect their crops.  They are also threatened with being eaten as bushmeat in parts of their range.  This particular colony probably has one of the cushiest possible locations to protect it from such threats though - right in central Siem Reap where it is something of a minor tourist attraction.  The biometric dimensions of this species are a little hard to track down, as I've found some wildly varying alternatives.

Related Species:
Order: Chiroptera
Family: Pteropodidae
Genus: Pteropus
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer - ?
 A locally common resident.

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: A large colony present in the Royal Gardens at Siem Reap

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Common Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus)

OTHER NAMES: Pipistrelle, Common Bat

Latin Etymology: Pipistrellus ("pipistrelle") pipistrellus ("pipistrelle")

Adult Common Pipistrelle (subspecies P. p pipistrellus) at Geddington, Northants - August 2013

Featured Subspecies: Pipistrellus pipistrellus pipistrellus

Weight: 3-8g  /  Length: 4.5cm  /  Wingspan: 18-25cm

UK STATUS NOT EVALUTATED / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Common Pipistrelle is one of the most common bats in the UK - it is very similar to the Soprano pipistrelle and they are mostly only identifiable at close range of through use of sonic measuring equipment, although in this case as the more common species it's more likely to be the common.  A small species with a fairly conventional set of features by bat standards, chances are if you see a bat in an urban area it is this species.

Related Species:
Order: Chiroptera
Family: Verspertilionidae
Genus: Pipistrellus
SUBSPECIES: P. p. aladdin, P. p. pipistrellus

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - The most common bat species in the UK, fairly common in Summer

 - A single individual seen in Geddington, a good number of bats seen at numerous other sites were probably this species

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Daubenton's Bat (Myotis daubentonii)

OTHER NAMES: Daubenton's Myotis, Water Bat

Latin Etymology: Myotis ("mouse ear") daubentonii ("Daubenton's")

Adult Daubenton's Bat (M. d. nathalindae) at Arrocampo, Spain - April 2016

Featured Subspecies: Myotis daubentonii nathalinae
Weight: 7-15g  /  Length: 45-55mm  /  Wingspan: 240-275mm
UK Status Not Evaluated / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A fairly large bat (by European standards anyway) the Daubenton's bat is found across temperate Europe and Asia in a band that stretches from Spain to Hokkaido. It is strongly associated with water, and hunts over water - I've quite possibly seen this species in the UK when I've seen bats hunting over water, but I've never managed to identify them successfully.  The species is named after Louis-Jean-Marie Daubenton, a French naturalist .  This single individual was seen in Arrocampo in Spain in fairly decent light, though the species was identified by a picture taken by my guide Luis

Related Species:
ORDER: Chiroptera
FAMILY: Vespertilionidae
GENUS: Myotis
SUBSPECIES: M. d. daubentoni, M. d. volgensis, M. d. ussuriensis, M. d. nathalinae

 - Sighting Locations -

SPAIN - Spanish - Murciélago Ratonero Ribereño ("Waterside Buzzard Bat")

A fairly common resident.

 - SPAIN 2016 TRIP: A single individual at Arrocampo


Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Egyptian Fruit Bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus)

OTHER NAMES: Egyptian Rousette
Latin Etymology:  Rousettus ("reddish brown") aegyptiacus ("of Egypt")

Adult Egyptian Fruit Bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus) at Side, Antalya, Turkey - March 2025

Featured Subspecies: Rousettus aegyptiacus aegyptiacus
Weight: 80-170g  /  Length: 15cm  /  Wingspan: 60cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The closest any megabat species gets to Europe is this species' North most point on the South Coast of Turkey. Despite the name, their range is actually patchily dstributed across most of Africa with disjunct populations in South Africa, the Southern Arabian Penninsula, the West African Coast, Ethipia and more. One of the few fruit bats to use echolocation, albeit a less refined one than used by microbats.

Related Species:
Order: Chiroptera
Family: Pteropodidae
Genus: Rousettus
SUBSPECIES: R. a. aegypticus, R. a. leachii, R. a. unicolor, R. a. arabicus, R. a. princeps, R. a. tomensis

 - Sighting Locations -

TURKEY  -   Turkish:Mısır meyve yarasası ("Egyptian Fruit Bat")
 - ANTALYA 2025 TRIP - Several around Side

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Greater Sac-winged Bat (Saccopteryx bilineata)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology:  Saccopteryx ("sac winged") bilineata ("two lined")

Adult Greater Sac-winged Bat (Saccopteryx bilineata) at Carara National Park, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Saccopteryx bilineata centralis
Weight: 5-30g  /  Length: 5-13cm  /  Wingspan: 20-25cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A very widely distributed bat of Central and South America, their name comes from small perculiar pouches on their wings which males inbue with glandular secretions and urine, and then hover infront of prospective mates to fan her with his scent. They are also the only species of mammal outside of primates that have being recorded "babbling" as they learn their calls.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Chiroptera
Family: Emballonuridae
Genus: Saccopteryx
SUBSPECIES: S. b. villai, S. b. centralis
 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA 
A widespread resident
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Carara National Park 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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