{{Short description|Species of bat}} {{Speciesbox | status = VU | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 15 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=MacArthur, E. |year=2016 |title=''Arielulus cuprosus'' |article-number=e.T40775A22134373 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T40775A22134373.en |access-date=15 November 2021}}</ref> | genus = Arielulus | species = cuprosus | authority = (Hill & Francis, 1984) | range_map = Arielulus cuprosus distribution (colored).png | synonyms = ''Pipistrellus cuprosus'' Hill & Francis, 1984 }}
The '''coppery sprite''' ('''''Arielulus cuprosus'''''), also known as the '''coppery pipistrelle''', is a species of vesper bat found only in Malaysia.<ref name="iucn status 15 November 2021" />
==Taxonomy and etymology== The coppery sprite was described as a new species in 1984 by British mammalogist John Edwards Hill and Charles M. Francis.<ref>{{cite mdd|id=1005509| title=Arielulus cuprosus| access-date=12 January 2026}}</ref> They placed it in the genus ''Pipistrellus'' with a scientific name of ''Pipistrellus cuprosus''. The holotype had been collected by Francis in 1983 in Sepilok in the Malaysian state of Sabah, which is on the island of Borneo. They chose the species name ''cuprosus'' from Latin ''cuprom'' to allude to the copper-colored tips of the hair on its back.<ref>{{cite journal| last1=Hill| first1= J. E.| last2= Francis| first2= Charles M.| year=1984| title= New bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) and new records of bats from Borneo and Malaya| journal= Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Zoology| volume= 47| pages= 312–315| doi=10.5962/p.21841| url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2281958| doi-access=free}}</ref>
A 1999 publication placed the coppery sprite into the then-subgenus ''Arielulus'', with recommendations to raise ''Arielulus'' to a full genus.<ref name="Benda 2010">{{cite journal|last=Benda| first= P.| year=2010| title= On a small collection of bats (Chiroptera) from western Sabah (North Borneo, East Malaysia)| journal= Vespertilio| volume= 13| issue=14| pages=45–76}}</ref>
==Description== The coppery sprite can be identified by the fur on its back, which is tipped in a coppery reddish color. Its forearm length is {{cvt|34.5-36.5|mm|in}}, tail length is {{cvt|38-39|mm|in}}, and ear length is {{cvt|12.5|mm|in}}. It is a small bat, weighing only {{cvt|5.3-5.6|g|oz}}.<ref>{{cite book |author1=Quentin Phillipps |author2=Karen Phillipps |title=Phillipps' Field Guide to the Mammals of Borneo and Their Ecology: Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei, and Kalimantan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0SxzCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA118 |year=2016 |publisher=Princeton University Press |isbn=978-0-691-16941-5 |page=118 }}</ref>
==Range and habitat== The coppery sprite is endemic to Malaysia and has only been found on the island of Borneo. It has been found at a range of elevations from {{cvt|0-1784|m|ft}} above sea level in forested areas.<ref name="iucn status 15 November 2021"/>
==Conservation== The coppery sprite is infrequently encountered by researchers. After its initial description from specimens found in 1983, it was not seen again until 1999.<ref name="Benda 2010"/> As of 2016, it is evaluated as a vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. It meets the criteria for this designation as its area of occupancy is very limited, estimated at only {{cvt|2000|km2|mi2}}. Additionally, the extent and quality of its habitat is declining due to deforestation from logging, forest fires, and agriculture.<ref name="iucn status 15 November 2021"/>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Vespertilionidae|V.|E.}} {{Taxonbar|from=Q946485}}
Category:Arielulus Category:Mammals described in 1984 Category:Bats of Malaysia Category:Taxonomy articles created by Polbot Category:Endemic fauna of Borneo Category:Endemic fauna of Malaysia Category:Bats of Borneo