Yanbaru whiskered bat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Yanbaru whiskered bat |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Myotis
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| Species: |
yanbarensis
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The Yanbaru whiskered bat (Myotis yanbarensis) is a small bat. It belongs to a group called vesper bats. These bats are known for their tiny, almost invisible whiskers.
This special bat lives only on three islands. These islands are part of the Ryukyu Archipelago in southern Japan. The islands are Okinawa, Amami Ōshima, and Tokunoshima.
Sadly, this bat is in great danger. It is listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN. This means it's very close to disappearing forever.
Contents
What's in a Name?
When scientists first described this bat, they gave it the name yanbarensis. This name comes from the Yanbaru forest. This forest is in the northern part of Okinawa Island. It's where these bats were first found.
This bat is a close relative of the frosted myotis. That bat lives on the main islands of Japan. Scientists group animals together based on how they are related. This helps us understand them better.
What Does It Look Like?
The Yanbaru whiskered bat has black fur on its back. Its ears and the skin of its wings are also black. The tips of some of its hairs are shiny silver. This gives its fur a metallic look.
Its fur is very soft and silky. The bat has a long, flat snout. Its ears are about 14 mm (0.55 in) long. Inside its ear, there's a small flap called a tragus. This flap helps the bat hear. The tragus is about 7 mm (0.28 in) long and gets thinner at the end.
The bat's forearm, which is part of its wing, is about 36.5–37.5 mm (1.44–1.48 in) long. Its braincase, the part of the skull that holds the brain, is small compared to the rest of its head.
Where Does It Live?
The Yanbaru whiskered bat is found only in small areas. These are parts of old, grown-up forests. You can find these forests on Okinawa Island, Tokunoshima, and Amami Ōshima.
On Okinawa Island, some of its habitat is on land used by the United States military. On Amami Ōshima, the bat lives inside a protected area. This area is called Amami Guntō Quasi-National Park.
During the day, these bats like to rest. They often sleep inside hollow trees. This keeps them safe and hidden.
Why Is It Endangered?
Scientists first checked on this bat in 2000. At that time, they didn't have enough information. But in 2008, it was listed as critically endangered. This status was kept in 2019.
It's critically endangered for a few reasons. First, it lives on only three islands. Second, the total area where it lives is very small. It's less than 100 km2 (39 sq mi).
Third, its home is shrinking. Forests are being cut down. This loss of trees is a big threat to the bat. It makes it harder for them to find food and safe places to live.
See also
- Yanbaru
