Great evening bat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Great evening bat |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Ia
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| Species: |
io
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| Subspecies | |
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| Geographic range | |
| Synonyms | |
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The great evening bat (Ia io) is a really big bat! It's the largest bat in its family, called the vesper bats. This amazing creature is the only living species in its group, the Ia genus. You can find these bats in parts of Eastern and Southeastern Asia, like China, India, Laos, Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam. They mostly live in areas with limestone caves, high up in the mountains. They can be found from about 400 to 1700 meters (around 1,300 to 5,600 feet) above sea level. They make their homes deep inside caves, sometimes even 1.5 kilometers (about a mile) from the entrance!
Contents
Meet the Great Evening Bat
The great evening bat is quite large for a bat. It can grow to be about 90 to 105 millimeters (3.5 to 4 inches) long. Its fur is brown on its back and grayish on its belly. When its wings are spread out, they can reach about 51 centimeters (20 inches) wide. A typical great evening bat weighs around 58 grams (2 ounces).
Bat Habits and Diet
We don't know a lot about how these bats live their daily lives. They usually live in small groups. Like most vesper bats, they love to eat insects. Sometimes, they even catch and eat small birds!
These bats leave their sleeping places in the late afternoon. This is when they go out to search for food. When winter comes, it can get too cold for them. So, they might migrate to warmer places until spring arrives.
Is the Great Evening Bat in Danger?
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) keeps an eye on animals around the world. They have listed the great evening bat as "near-threatened." This means it could become endangered in the future if we don't protect it.
Threats to Their Survival
One big problem for these bats in South Asia is humans changing their habitat. Many caves where bats live have been turned into tourist attractions. This disturbs the bats and makes it hard for them to live there. Farmers also collect bat droppings, called guano, from caves. This can also bother the bats.
Another threat is the overuse of insecticides. These chemicals are used to kill insects, which is what the great evening bats eat. If bats eat insects that have been sprayed, it can harm them.
What's in a Name? The Bat's Scientific Title
The great evening bat has a very special scientific name: Ia io. It's one of the shortest scientific names for any animal! It's only four letters long and is made up only of vowels.
Meaning of the Name
For a long time, people thought the name Ia io was linked to Io. She was a character in ancient Greek stories who was seen as "flighty" or quick. The name ia also sounds like an old Greek word for a shout or cry.
However, a newer idea from a scientist named Griffiths (in 2022) suggests something different. He thinks that Oldfield Thomas, the person who named the bat, might have been very happy. Thomas had just become a special member of the Royal Society. So, the name Ia io might actually be a joyful exclamation, like saying 'Shout hurrah!' This idea gives a new and exciting meaning to the bat's name!
See also
- List of short species names
