For the light aircraft manufacturer, see Pipistrel.

Pipistrellus is a genus of bats in the family Vespertilionidae and subfamily Vespertilioninae.^[1] The name of the genus is derived from the Italian word Pipistrello, meaning "bat".

The size of the genus has been considerably reduced as a result of work during the 1990s and 2000s (decade), with genera like Arielulus, Hypsugo, Falsistrellus, Neoromicia, Parastrellus, Perimyotis, Scotozous and Vespadelus being split off. Still, molecular evidence suggests that the genus is not monophyletic. Several other genera in the subfamily Vespertilioninae have also been merged with Pipistrellus in previous classifications. Species in the genus may be referred to as "pipistrelles" or "pipistrelle bats", though these terms are also used for species now placed in other genera, such as the western pipistrelle (Parastrellus hesperus) and eastern pipistrelle (Perimyotis subflavus) of North America.

They are somewhat distinguished from their much larger cousins, the noctule bats Nyctalus by their weak, fluttery flight reminiscent more of a butterfly than anything else, though a few species are more direct in their flight.

Species

• Japanese pipistrelle, Pipistrellus abramus
• Adams's Pipistrelle, Pipistrellus adamsi
• Mt. Gargues Pipistrelle, Pipistrellus aero
• Angulate Pipistrelle, Pipistrellus angulatus
• Kelaart's Pipistrelle, Pipistrellus ceylonicus
• Greater Papuan Pipistrelle, Pipistrellus collinus
• Indian Pipistrelle, Pipistrellus coromandra
• Egyptian Pipistrelle, Pipistrellus deserti
• Endo's Pipistrelle, Pipistrellus endoi
• Grandidier's Pipistrelle, Pipistrellus grandidieri
• Hanaki's Dwarf Bat, Pipistrellus hanaki
• Dusky Pipistrelle, Pipistrellus hesperidus
• Aellen's Pipistrelle, Pipistrellus inexspectatus
• Java Pipistrelle, Pipistrellus javanicus
• Kuhl's Pipistrelle, Pipistrellus kuhlii
• Madeira Pipistrelle, Pipistrellus maderensis
• Minahassa Pipistrelle, Pipistrellus minahassae
• Christmas Island Pipistrelle, Pipistrellus murrayi (†?, last sighting in August 2009)
• Tiny Pipistrelle, Pipistrellus nanulus
• Nathusius's pipistrelle, Pipistrellus nathusii
• Lesser Papuan Pipistrelle, Pipistrellus papuanus
• Mount Popa Pipistrelle, Pipistrellus paterculus
• Dar-Es-Salaam Pipistrelle, Pipistrellus permixtus
• Common pipistrelle, Pipistrellus pipistrellus
• Soprano Pipistrelle, Pipistrellus pygmaeus
• Racey's Pipistrelle, Pipistrellus raceyi
• Rüppell's Pipistrelle, Pipistrellus rueppellii
• Rusty Pipistrelle, Pipistrellus rusticus
• Narrow-winged Pipistrelle, Pipistrellus stenopterus
• Sturdee's Pipistrelle, Pipistrellus sturdeei († 2000)
• Least Pipistrelle, Pipistrellus tenuis
• Watts's Pipistrelle, Pipistrellus wattsi
• Koopman's Pipistrelle, Pipistrellus westralis

References

Wikispecies has information related to: Pipistrellus

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