Vadbat

Vadbat is a fictional nocturnal flying mammal used in speculative fiction and world-building settings. In common depictions, the vadbat inhabits the highland forests and cliffside habitats of the Serapine Archipelago, a fictional region noted for rugged terrain and dense canopies. The species is described as medium-sized for a bat, with a slender body, broad wings, and a velvety coat. It bears bioluminescent markings along the throat and chest that emit a soft green glow in darkness, a trait that varies by subspecies.

Taxonomy and anatomy: In world-building sources, vadbats are placed in a monotypic family, Vadbatidae, within the order Chiroptera. They have a wingspan roughly 0.6 to 0.9 meters and a weight around 300–500 grams. They possess a highly sensitive cochlear structure and a broadband echolocation call used for navigation, prey detection, and social signaling.

Habitat and ecology: Vadbats roost in crevices, caves, and old-growth trees, preferring elevations from 300 to 1,200 meters. They feed primarily on nocturnal moths and beetles; their calls function in navigation as well as in mating displays and territorial communication. Some depictions describe seasonal migrations linked to updrafts and prey availability.

Behavior and reproduction: They are mostly social in small groups, though some populations are solitary. Breeding occurs once a year, with a single pup born after a gestation of about 45–60 days. Both parents are described as contributing to pup care during the early weeks of life.

In culture and conservation: In fictional lore, vadbats are associated with night winds and appear in local myths and art. Real-world conservation status does not apply to this invented species, though in-universe stories may reference habitat loss and climate shifts as hypothetical threats.