Genoways's yellow bat facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Genoways's yellow bat
Holotype of Rhogeessa genowaysi in the Natural Science Research Laboratory's (NSRL) collection at the Museum of Texas Tech University.
Conservation status
Endangered (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Chiroptera
Family:	Vespertilionidae
Genus:	Rhogeessa
Species:	R. genowaysi
Binomial name
Rhogeessa genowaysi Baker, 1984
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The Genoways's yellow bat (Rhogeessa genowaysi) is a small bat that lives only in Mexico. It is known for its bright yellow fur. Sadly, this bat is in danger because it is losing its home. Experts from the Alliance for Zero Extinction say it is at risk of disappearing forever.

Discovering the Genoways's Yellow Bat

This special bat was first described in 1984 by a scientist named Robert J. Baker. He found it from a bat that was collected in 1981. Baker named the bat after Hugh H. Genoways. He did this to honor Genoways for his great work studying mammals.

The Genoways's yellow bat is part of a group of bats called the black-winged little yellow bat species complex. This means it is very similar to other bats in the group. Its closest relative is the black-winged little yellow bat.

What Does the Genoways's Yellow Bat Look Like?

This bat is quite small, weighing about 5 grams, which is less than a quarter. It has bright yellow fur and small, round ears. The skin between its legs, called the uropatagium, has no hair.

It is considered a cryptic species. This means it looks almost exactly like another bat, the black-winged little yellow bat (Rhogeessa tumida). They look so similar that it's hard to tell them apart just by looking! Both types of bats can even live in the same areas.

The best way to tell them apart is by measuring their ears. The Genoways's yellow bat has ears that are about 11.13 mm long. The black-winged little yellow bat has slightly longer ears, about 12.82 mm. Also, female Genoways's yellow bats are usually bigger than the males. Their forearm, which is part of their wing, is about 27.8 to 30.5 mm long.

How is the Genoways's Yellow Bat Unique?

Since these bats look so much alike, scientists use a special method to identify them. They look at their karyotype, which is the number and structure of their chromosomes. This is the most reliable way to tell the Genoways's yellow bat apart from its relatives.

The Genoways's yellow bat has 42 chromosomes. In comparison, the black-winged little yellow bat can have different numbers of chromosomes, like 30, 32, 34, or 52. Another related bat, the little yellow bat, has 44 chromosomes. The black-winged little yellow bat that lives in the same area as the Genoways's yellow bat has 34 chromosomes.

Like many bats, Genoways's yellow bats are insectivores. This means they fly around and catch insects to eat.

Where Does the Genoways's Yellow Bat Live?

This bat is found only in the southern part of Chiapas, a state in Mexico. It lives in the lowlands near the Pacific Ocean. Scientists have found these bats flying under the trees in tropical forests. They prefer forests that are mature or have grown back after being cut down. They live at low elevations, usually between 20 and 50 meters above sea level.

Protecting the Genoways's Yellow Bat

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists the Genoways's yellow bat as an endangered species. This means it faces a very high risk of extinction in the wild. In the past, it was listed as "vulnerable" in 2000 and "near threatened" in 1996. This shows that its situation has become more serious over time.

The number of Genoways's yellow bats is decreasing. Their natural home is also becoming broken up into smaller pieces. A big reason for this is that forests are being cleared to make space for farms. Protecting their habitat is very important to help these unique bats survive.