Head to head
Seychelles Sheath-tailed Bat vs Egyptian Tomb Bat
Seychelles Sheath-tailed Bat
VS Egyptian Tomb Bat
The Seychelles sheath-tailed bat and Egyptian tomb bat belong to the same sheath-tailed bat group, but one is on the verge of extinction on a few islands while the other is widespread across Africa and Arabia.
| Seychelles Sheath-tailed Bat | Egyptian Tomb Bat | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Coleura seychellensis | Taphozous perforatus |
| Group | A sheath-tailed bat, whose tail tip pokes through the membrane between the legs | Also a sheath-tailed bat, with the tail tip poking through the membrane |
| Range | Only the Seychelles, an island group in the western Indian Ocean | Desert, savanna, and farmland from the Sahel and northeastern Africa to the Arabian Peninsula |
| Roost | Caves and crevices between boulders and rock faces | Ancient tombs, ruins, caves, and mines, in colonies |
| Size | Tiny, weighing only about as much as a few coins | Not specifically documented |
| Hunting | Small flying insects over forest and open ground | Flying insects on the wing, often high over open country, on long, narrow wings |
| Main threats | Loss of forest and roosts, and introduced predators and competitors | Needs undisturbed roosts in caves, mines, and old buildings |
| Conservation status | Critically Endangered, with a decreasing population | Least Concern, with a stable population |
Seychelles Sheath-tailed Bat vs Egyptian Tomb Bat: common questions
What is a sheath-tailed bat?
A sheath-tailed bat is one whose tail tip pokes through the membrane between its legs.
Which bat is critically endangered?
The Seychelles sheath-tailed bat, which survives in only a few small colonies in the Seychelles.
Why is it called the Egyptian tomb bat?
It roosts in ancient tombs, ruins, caves, and mines, which gave the species its name.