Rüppel's pipistrelle  (Pipistrellus rueppellii)

Classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List (1).

Rüppel’s pipistrelle is one of the few bats in the genus Pipistrellus that is easy to identify, due to its distinctive pure white underparts (3). Rüppel’s pipistrelle has greyish-brown to sandy coloured fur on the back (2) (4), and blackish limbs which contrast with the pale grey wing membranes (5). The relatively long ears are dark brown, with a long, knife-shaped tragus (a fleshy projection that covers the entrance to the ear) (3).

Rüppel’s pipistrelle is not a very common or widespread species, and has a discontinuous distribution in Africa (5). The largest continuous part of its range stretches from northern Sudan south to northern Zimbabwe. In West Africa, it has been recorded from the Senegal coast and the Senegal / Mauritania border, and in North Africa it can be found in eastern Morocco, western Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt (1).

Rüppel’s pipistrelle occurs in semi-desert and desert habitats (1), where it is said to favour forest close to rivers (2) (3).

Thought to roost under rocks, in crevices (4) (6), and in buildings (5), Rüppel’s pipistrelle usually emerges from its roost at dusk to hunt for flying insects. A slow but acrobatic flier (3), Rüppel’s pipistrelle probably hunts close to the ground (4), using echolocation to detect potential prey (6).

Not much is known about the biology of Rüppel’s pipistrelle; however, other species within the Pipistrellus genus are known to roost in colonies numbering from around 30 to 100 individuals (1). Pipistrellus bats typically mate in the summer months, when females may form maternity roosts (7) (8), and give birth to two young after a gestation period of around 50 days (9).

Currently, the main threat to Rüppel’s pipistrelle is the use of pesticides that are used to control locusts (1). However, as a widespread species, it is not considered to be threatened with extinction at present (1).

There are no known specific measures in place for the conservation of Rüppel’s pipistrelle (1). An investigation into the impacts of pesticide use on this species, and how this threat may be reduced, has been recommended (1).

To learn more about bat conservation see:

• Organization for Bat Conservation:
  http://www.batconservation.org
• Bat Conservation International:
  http://www.batcon.org