Vespertilionids form the largest family of bats. Sometimes called ‘evening bats’, they are characterised by the absence of noseleafs, a long tail fully enclosed within the tail membrane, and a conspicuous tragus of variable shape and size.

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There are just two subfamilies within the southern African vespertilionids: Vespertilioninae and Kerivoulinae.

 

Vesper bats have an average wingspans and wing areas, so they are flexible in their foraging behaviour and often switch between open-air and clutter-edge space.