List of vespertilionines

Vespertilioninae is one of the four subfamilies of Vespertilionidae, itself one of twenty families of bats in the mammalian order Chiroptera and part of the microbat suborder. A member of this subfamily is called a vespertilionine, or a vesper bat. They are found in all continents besides Antarctica, primarily in caves, forests, and rocky areas, though some species can also be found in shrublands, grasslands, or deserts. They range in size from the pygmy bamboo bat, at 2 cm (1 in) plus a 2 cm (1 in) tail, to the Schreber's yellow bat, at 13 cm (5 in) plus a 10 cm (4 in) tail. Like all bats, vespertilionines are capable of true and sustained flight, and have wing lengths ranging from 2 cm (1 in) to 7 cm (3 in). They are all insectivorous and eat a variety of insects and spiders, with the exception of the greater noctule bat, which regularly eats small birds.^[1][2] Almost no vespertilionines have population estimates, though seven species—the New Caledonian wattled bat, Guadeloupe big brown bat, Socotran pipistrelle, Rosevear's serotine, Japanese noctule, Madeira pipistrelle, and Genoways's yellow bat—are categorized as endangered species, and five species—the New Zealand long-tailed bat, New Caledonian long-eared bat, New Guinea big-eared bat, Canary long-eared bat, and Sardinian long-eared bat—are categorized as critically endangered with populations as low as 40. Three species—the Lord Howe long-eared bat, Christmas Island pipistrelle, and Sturdee's pipistrelle—have been made extinct since 1500 CE.

The 275 extant species of Vespertilioninae are divided between 45 genera, ranging in size from 1 to 33 species. A few extinct prehistoric vespertilionine species have been discovered, though due to ongoing research and discoveries the exact number and categorization is not fixed.^[3]