For the Painted Wooly Bat specie we found, the body and tail are the same length, approximately 50 mm each, the wingspan was 300 to 350 mm in length & weight of 10 to 15 grams. It was timid & non offensive type.

1. The painted bat or painted wooly bat (Kerivoula picta)
(The Photographs are taken by self but information has been taken from Internet sources, with only intent of mass education)
On late evening of 08-07-2013, one of FACEBOOK friend (Mr. Ravindra Thombare) from neighboring village
CHINCHVAN called up requesting for identification of BAT specie accidently entered his house. He bought that
specie all the way to PANVEL (CHINCHAVAN is approximately 8 kilometers from PANVEL) & we were
surprised to know that it was “ The painted bat (Kerivoula picta) “. The most stunning mammal. This is a
species of vesper bat in the Vespertilionidae family. I have attached few Photos, one video & some internet
information about this Specie.

2. The painted bats or painted wooly bat (Kerivoula picta) are bright orange or scarlet, with black wings and
orange along the fingers, possesses long, wooly, rather curly hair. A small, fragile form, large funnel-shaped
ears and sharp teeth. They are one of the most beautiful bats in world, thanks to it’s vivid colours.
They are found in Southern and eastern India to southern China, also in Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal, Sri
Lanka, and Vietnam. It is terrestrial. They are often found in the most unlikely roosts such as in the suspended
nests of weaver finches and sunbirds.
For the specie we found, the body and tail are the same length, approximately 50 mm each, the
wingspan was 300 to 350 mm in length & weight of 10 to 15 grams. It was timid & non offensive type.

3. Being rare not much is known of their reproductive habits. Internet sources mention that Painted bats have
nuclear family that is, a mother, a father, and young, say group of 2 to 6. Hunting flights last around 1 to 2
hours.
They are listed as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution, presumed large population, it occurs in a
number of protected areas, has a tolerance of a degree of habitat modification, and because it is unlikely to be
declining fast enough to qualify for listing in a more threatened category. Nocturnal in nature, which means
active in the night time and roosts during the day, the ‘Painted Bat’ is a species of Vesper bat (Evening Bats). It
hides inside the folds of banana leaves during daytime. At night they appear like large colorful moths. Internet
mentions that these species has been recorded from protected areas in India like Borivaii National Park in
Maharashtra.

4. Bats account for about 20 percent of all mammal species, With more than 1,200 species included in the order
Chiroptera, bats represent one of the largest orders of mammals. They are surpassed only by the order
Rodentia, which boasts a whopping 2,277 species — 40 percent of all mammalian species. Chiroptera is
separated into two suborders: Megabats and microbats. Megabats, commonly known as fruit bats or flying
foxes, have excellent vision and feast on fruit and nectar. Microbats, like the painted bat of southest Asia
(pictured), are characterized by their use of echolocation and an appetite for insects or blood. Bats are found
across the planet Like birds, flight has allowed bats to travel and settle in all corners of the Earth, with the
exception of the Arctic and Antarctic. Bats generally roost in caves, crevices, foliage and manmade structures
like attics or under bridges. Following table is taken from Internet.
Painted bat
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 2.3)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Chiroptera
Family: Vespertilionidae
Genus: Kerivoula
Species: K. picta
Binomial name
Kerivoula picta (Pallas, 1767)
Regards.
Santosh Takale,
Scientific Officer, BARC
Ph : 0-9967584554.
santoshatbarc@gmail.com
Print only if essential.......SAVE TREES
" Go GREEN, Save Earth "
Bats account for about 20 percent of all mammal species, With more than 1,200 species included in the order
Chiroptera, bats represent one of the largest orders of mammals. They are surpassed only by the order
Rodentia, which boasts a whopping 2,277 species — 40 percent of all mammalian species. Chiroptera is
separated into two suborders: Megabats and microbats. Megabats, commonly known as fruit bats or flying
foxes, have excellent vision and feast on fruit and nectar. Microbats, like the painted bat of southest Asia
(pictured), are characterized by their use of echolocation and an appetite for insects or blood. Bats are found
across the planet Like birds, flight has allowed bats to travel and settle in all corners of the Earth, with the
exception of the Arctic and Antarctic. Bats generally roost in caves, crevices, foliage and manmade structures
like attics or under bridges. Following table is taken from Internet.
Painted bat
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 2.3)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Chiroptera
Family: Vespertilionidae
Genus: Kerivoula
Species: K. picta
Binomial name
Kerivoula picta (Pallas, 1767)
Regards.
Santosh Takale,
Scientific Officer, BARC
Ph : 0-9967584554.
santoshatbarc@gmail.com
Print only if essential.......SAVE TREES
" Go GREEN, Save Earth "
Bats account for about 20 percent of all mammal species, With more than 1,200 species included in the order
Chiroptera, bats represent one of the largest orders of mammals. They are surpassed only by the order
Rodentia, which boasts a whopping 2,277 species — 40 percent of all mammalian species. Chiroptera is
separated into two suborders: Megabats and microbats. Megabats, commonly known as fruit bats or flying
foxes, have excellent vision and feast on fruit and nectar. Microbats, like the painted bat of southest Asia
(pictured), are characterized by their use of echolocation and an appetite for insects or blood. Bats are found
across the planet Like birds, flight has allowed bats to travel and settle in all corners of the Earth, with the
exception of the Arctic and Antarctic. Bats generally roost in caves, crevices, foliage and manmade structures
like attics or under bridges. Following table is taken from Internet.
Painted bat
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 2.3)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Chiroptera
Family: Vespertilionidae
Genus: Kerivoula
Species: K. picta
Binomial name
Kerivoula picta (Pallas, 1767)
Regards.
Santosh Takale,
Scientific Officer, BARC
Ph : 0-9967584554.
santoshatbarc@gmail.com
Print only if essential.......SAVE TREES
" Go GREEN, Save Earth "