Yellow-lipped bat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Yellow-lipped bat |
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Eptesicus douglasi Kitchener, 1976 |
The yellow-lipped cave bat (Vespadelus douglasorum) is a small bat found only in the Kimberley area of northwest Australia. This bat was first caught at Tunnel Creek in 1958. Scientists officially described it almost 20 years later. We know they like caves and hunt insects near streams. However, not much else is known about this special bat.
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Discover the Yellow-Lipped Cave Bat
This bat is an insect-eating flying mammal. It has grayish fur that is lighter on its belly. Its shoulders and head have a yellow tint. Its feet and forearms are also yellowish. The lips can be a light orange or cinnamon color.
The forearm of this bat measures about 34–38 mm (1.3–1.5 in). It weighs between 3–5 g (0.11–0.18 oz). Its forearm, foot, and head are long and thin. They seem lighter compared to the rest of its body.
Scientists can tell Vespadelus douglasorum apart by its forearm length. This is usually 34.3 to 37.8 mm. Its head and body together measure 35 to 44 mm. The tail is 35 to 38 mm long. Its ear, from the bottom notch to the tip, is 11 to 12.5 mm. These bats usually weigh around 5.3 grams.
They look a lot like the smaller Vespadelus caurinus. But the northern cave bat is darker and does not have a yellowish color.
How the Yellow-Lipped Bat Got Its Name
The yellow-lipped cave bat was first described in 1976. Scientist Darrell Kitchener named it Eptesicus douglasi. In 1987, Kitchener changed the name to douglasorum. That same year, the bat was moved into a new group called Pipistrellus (Vespadelus).
The first bat specimen was caught at Tunnel Creek in the Kimberley region. This is in northwest Western Australia. D. Farner and D. L. Serventy caught it in a mist net in 1958. More bats were later found at Drysdale River National Park and the Prince Regent River reserve.
There are no known subspecies of this bat. However, some bats look a bit different. They might be new subspecies or even new species.
The name "douglasi" honors Marion and Athol M. Douglas. They did important research on Australian bats. This bat is also called the yellow-lipped eptesicus or cave bat. Sometimes it's called the large cave eptesicus.
Where the Yellow-Lipped Bat Lives
The yellow-lipped cave bat lives only in the Kimberley region. It is found all over this area. Its conservation status is "least concern." This means it is not currently at risk of disappearing. Its population seems stable.
However, these bats are not studied very much. Human activities can threaten them. Visitors to caves might disturb them while they are resting. Also, farming can cause them to lose their homes.
These bats live in areas with more rain in the northwest Kimberley. They prefer places that get over 800 mm of rain each year. They also live near ancient limestone reefs in the southern Kimberley.
They have been seen on several islands in the Kimberley region. These include Adolphus, Augustus, Bigge, Boongaree, Middle Osborn, Storr, and Wulalam Islands. They hunt for food near streams in tropical woodlands. They especially like areas with pandanus and melaleuca trees.
Yellow-Lipped Bat Biology
These bats rest in limestone and sandstone caves. They live in groups, usually small ones. Sometimes, up to eighty bats are found together. They often share their caves with the smaller, darker northern cave bat (Vespadelus caurinus). They also live with other small bat species.
Yellow-lipped cave bats usually hunt in tropical woodlands. They are often seen catching insects over open water. Scientists who collected them noted that these bats fly closer to cliffs. This made them harder to catch than V. caurinus.
Reproduction
We do not know much about how these bats reproduce. Scientists think they mate in the wet season. This is because a mother bat was seen feeding her baby in March. They usually give birth to only one young bat.
We do not know how long these bats live in the wild. Similar bats in zoos can live for 12 to 20 years. Scientists guess that a generation of these bats lasts about six years.
Parasitism
The yellow-lipped cave bat can host a tiny parasite. It is a type of mite called Psorergatoides australiensis. These mites are very small and flat. They live on the bat's ears or wings. They usually cause a mild infection.
See also
In Spanish: Vespadelus douglasorum para niños
