Northern pipistrelle
species of mammal
The northern pipistrelle (Alionoctula westralis), also known as Koopman's or the mangrove pipistrelle, is a species of vesper bat found only in Australia. It is one of Australia's smallest bat species. On average, it weighs 3 g (0.11 oz).
Range and habitat
A. westralis thrives primarily in mangrove habitats, but it is also found in adjacent thickets and riverine forests. Its range is along the coasts of northern Western Australia, Northern Territory, and north western Queensland.
Although its habitat is limited, it is common across its range and its population seems to be stable. The only current major threat to the species is habitat loss. It is present in a number of protected areas including Kakadu and Keep River National Parks, and the Prince Regent Nature Reserve.
Begin with the source’s own compact description: “Northern pipistrelle” is species of mammal. The dossier treats that line as a proposition to test through Northern, pipistrelle and species, not as a finished interpretation.
Why this record matters
The phrase “species of mammal” supplies a clear boundary for inquiry. It also exposes the unanswered questions: who defined that boundary, when it became stable and which sources sit outside it.
The date and method of observation matter as much as the stated conclusion, especially where classification or consensus has changed. The source revision retrieved here is dated Jul 13, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q558179. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference.
A general summary may omit uncertainty, sample limits or methodological disagreement that is explicit in the technical record. The source lead contains qualifying language; that uncertainty should survive quotation, summary and reuse. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Check terminology, classification and the date of the cited evidence. Scientific names and technical consensus can change while older records retain historical value.
- Current terminology
- Classification context
- Finding cited technical literature
Primary datasets, specimen catalogues, standards bodies and the most recent peer-reviewed literature.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Northern pipistrelle”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Northern pipistrelle primary sources, Northern pipistrelle archive and Northern research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Northern pipistrelle”?
- Has classification or technical consensus changed since the cited source?
- Is the terminology current, historical or disputed?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “Northern pipistrelle” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.