Thomas's yellow bat facts for kids
The Thomas's yellow bat (Rhogeessa io) is a small bat that belongs to a group of bats called Vespertilionidae, also known as 'common bats'.
Quick facts for kids Thomas's yellow bat |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Rhogeessa
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| Species: |
io
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| Synonyms | |
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R. bombyx (Thomas, 1913) |
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Contents
About the Thomas's Yellow Bat
The Thomas's yellow bat got its scientific name, Rhogeessa io, from a scientist named Oldfield Thomas in 1903. Sometimes, animals are given other names over time, and for this bat, some older names include Rhogeessa bombyx and Rhogeessa riparia.
For a while, this bat was thought to be a type of black-winged little yellow bat. But in 1996, scientists decided it was different enough to be its own unique species. Scientists are still studying this bat to make sure we understand all its different types. It's possible that some of the bats currently called Thomas's yellow bats might actually be separate species!
Where Do These Bats Live?
The Thomas's yellow bat lives in many countries across Central and South America. You can find them in places like Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Nicaragua, Panama, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela.
How Are They Doing?
Good news! The Thomas's yellow bat is listed as "Least Concern" by the IUCN Red List. This means scientists are not worried about them disappearing anytime soon. There are a few reasons for this:
- They live in a very wide area.
- Scientists believe there are many of them.
- They live in many protected areas, like national parks.
- They can handle some changes to their homes, even if humans disturb the area a bit.
- Their numbers are not dropping fast enough to be considered threatened.
Bat Behavior and Habits
Thomas's yellow bats can live in many different kinds of places. They like both forests that stay green all year and forests where trees lose their leaves. They can also be found in thorny bushes, open fields, and even near villages. However, they seem to prefer forests that have been slightly changed by humans.
Like other bats in their group, these bats might rest in buildings or hollow trees. But scientists don't know exactly where they sleep during the day.
When Do They Hunt?
These bats are crepuscular. This means they are most active around dusk (when the sun sets) and dawn (when the sun rises). They fly low to the ground, often along wide paths or roads, looking for food.
What Do They Eat?
The Thomas's yellow bat is an insectivore, which means it eats insects. They hunt small, flying insects. Each bat often has its own special hunting routes that it follows regularly.
How Do They Find Food?
Bats use echolocation to find their way around and hunt in the dark. This means they send out sound waves and listen for the echoes. For the Thomas's yellow bat, the sounds they make for echolocation are very high-pitched, between 50 and 60 kilohertz (kHz).
See also
