Lesser yellow-shouldered bat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lesser yellow-shouldered bat |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Sturnira
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| Species: |
nana
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The lesser yellow-shouldered bat (Sturnira nana) is a small type of bat found in Peru and Ecuador. It's part of the Phyllostomidae family, which includes many different kinds of bats. Sadly, this bat is currently threatened because its home, or habitat, is being lost.
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About the Lesser Yellow-Shouldered Bat
Scientists first officially described this bat in 1971. They based their description on a bat that was found in 1970. It belongs to a group of bats called yellow-shouldered bats.
This bat is considered one of the earliest branches in its group, meaning it's quite ancient compared to other yellow-shouldered bats. Scientists believe that the ancestors of this bat and a few others started to become different from the rest of their group millions of years ago, between 5.2 and 8.1 million years ago.
The bat's scientific name, nana, comes from a Latin word meaning "dwarf." This name fits perfectly because it is the smallest bat in its entire group!
What Does It Look Like?
As its name suggests, the lesser yellow-shouldered bat is the smallest bat in its genus. Its forearm, which is like its arm bone, measures about 34.2 to 35.7 millimeters (about 1.3 to 1.4 inches) long. Its tail is around 51 millimeters (2 inches) long, and its hind foot is about 10 millimeters (0.4 inches) long. Its ear is about 13 millimeters (0.5 inches) long.
Like some other bats, it has a thin bone structure in its cheek called a zygomatic arch. The fur on its back is a dark, grayish-brown color. The fur on its belly is lighter. Each hair on its back has four different color bands, going from white at the base to brown at the tip. The hairs on its belly are similar but don't have the final brown tip. The top part of its forearm is also covered in fur. Unlike some other bats in its group, it doesn't have special glands on its shoulders. It also has a long and narrow nose-leaf, which is a special skin flap on its nose that helps with echolocation.
Where Does It Live?
The first lesser yellow-shouldered bat ever found was in the Ayacucho Region of Peru. For a long time, scientists thought this bat only lived in Peru. However, in 2011, a report confirmed that nine of these bats were found in southern Ecuador in 2009.
These bats have been found living at high places, between 1,430 and 1,670 meters (about 4,690 to 5,480 feet) above sea level. So far, they have only been seen along the eastern side of the Andean Mountains. Their homes include lower mountain forests and the edges of open areas.
Protecting This Bat
The IUCN has listed the lesser yellow-shouldered bat as an endangered animal. This means it is at a very high risk of disappearing forever. It's endangered because it's only known to live in two specific places, and its habitat is broken up into small, separate pieces.
In 2013, an organization called Bat Conservation International added this bat to its worldwide list of 35 top priority species for conservation. This shows how important it is to protect this tiny bat and its home.
See also
In Spanish: Sturnira nana para niños
