Bronze sprite

{{Short description|Species of bat}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}} {{speciesbox | image = Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.MAM.14899.b dor - Arielulus circumdatus - skin.jpeg | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 16 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=Bates, P. |author2=Bumrungsri, S. |author3=Francis, C. |author4=Csorba, G. |author5=Walston, J. |author6=Molur, S. |author7=Srinivasulu, C. |author8=Kruskop, S.V. |date=2019 |title=''Arielulus circumdatus'' |volume=2019 |article-number=e.T41534A22005596 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T41534A22005596.en}}</ref> | genus = Arielulus | species = circumdatus | authority = (Temminck, 1840) | range_map = Arielulus circumdatus distribution (colored).png | synonyms = {{species list |Vespertilio circumdatus | Temminck, 1840 |Pipistrellus circumdatus| (Temminck, 1840)}} }} The '''bronze sprite''' ('''''Arielulus circumdatus'''''),<ref>{{Cite mdd|title=''Arielulus circumdatus'' (Temminck, 1840)|id=1005508|access-date=2021-09-14}}</ref> also known as the '''black-gilded pipistrelle''', is a species of vesper bat found in China, India, Myanmar, and Nepal.

==Taxonomy== The bronze sprite was described as a new species in 1840 by Dutch zoologist Coenraad Jacob Temminck, who placed it in the genus ''Vespertilio'' with a scientific name of ''Vespertilio circumdatus''.<ref name="Temmick 1840">{{cite book|last=Temminck| first= C. J.| date= 1840| title= Monographies de mammalogie, ou Description de quelques genres de mammifères, dont les espèces ont été observées dans les différens musées de l'Europe|trans-title=Monographs of mammalogy, or Description of some kinds of mammals, whose species have been observed in the different museums of Europe|language=fr|volume=2|pages=223–224| url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=chi.37465248&view=1up&seq=223| publisher= Paris}}</ref>

==Description== Its forearm length is {{cvt|41-44|mm|in}}. The fur of its back is black with some hairs tipped in orange. Its belly fur is paler than its back and brown.<ref name="Smith 2010">{{cite book | title=A Guide to the Mammals of China | publisher=Princeton University Press | editor1-first=Andrew T.|editor1-last= Smith| editor2-first= Yan| editor2-last= Xie| editor3-first= Robert S.| editor3-last= Hoffmann| editor4-first= Darrin| editor4-last= Lunde| editor5-first= John| editor5-last= MacKinnon| editor6-first= Don E.| editor6-last= Wilson| editor7-first= W. Chris| editor7-last= Wozencraft| year=2010 | pages=355–356 | isbn=978-1-4008-3411-2|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ka-9f68nPT4C&pg=PA355}}</ref>

==Range and habitat== The bronze sprite is found in South and Southeast Asia, including the following countries: Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam. It has been documented at a range of elevations from {{cvt|1300-2100|m|ft}} above sea level.<ref name="iucn status 16 November 2021" />

==Conservation== As of 2019, the bronze sprite is evaluated as a least-concern species by the IUCN. It meets the criteria for this designation due to its large geographic range, and thus, presumably large population. Additionally, it is not thought to be experiencing rapid population decline.<ref name="iucn status 16 November 2021" />

==References== {{Reflist}}

Category:Arielulus Category:Taxa named by Coenraad Jacob Temminck Category:Mammals described in 1840 Category:Mammals of Nepal Category:Bats of Asia Category:Taxonomy articles created by Polbot