Yellow-throated big-eared bat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Yellow-throated big-eared bat |
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Lampronycteris
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| Species: |
brachyotis
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The yellow-throated big-eared bat is also known as the orange-throated bat. Its scientific name is Lampronycteris brachyotis. This cool bat lives in a wide area, from southern Mexico all the way down to Brazil. It is the only species in its group, called the Lampronycteris genus.
This bat loves to eat both fruit and insects. You can find it in forests that are not very high up, usually below 700 meters (about 2,300 feet). It is most active right after the sun goes down and then again after midnight.
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Meet the Yellow-Throated Bat
The yellow-throated big-eared bat is a "medium-sized" bat. It is a type of leaf-nosed bat, which means it has a special nose shape. Its ears are short and pointy, and its nose-leaf is quite small.
What Does It Look Like?
The fur on its back can be dark brown or orange-brown. The fur on its belly is usually orange or reddish-yellow. These bats weigh about 9 to 15 grams (which is less than an ounce!). Their forearms, which are like their "wings," are about 39 to 43 millimeters long (around 1.5 to 1.7 inches).
Bat Teeth: A Closer Look
Just like us, bats have teeth! The yellow-throated big-eared bat has 34 teeth in total. This helps it chew its food, whether it's a juicy fruit or a crunchy insect.
Life and Habits of the Bat
The yellow-throated big-eared bat mainly eats insects. But it also enjoys other foods like fruit, nectar from flowers, and even pollen.
Where Do They Sleep?
These bats are nocturnal, meaning they are active at night. During the day, they need a safe place to sleep. They often roost, or rest, in sheltered spots. These can include caves, old mines, hollow trees, and even ancient ruins.
Bat Colonies
Yellow-throated big-eared bats usually live in small groups. These groups, called colonies, often have 10 or fewer bats. However, one time, a very large colony of 300 bats was found in Mexico!
Where the Bat Lives
You can find the yellow-throated big-eared bat in many countries. These include Belize, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela.
Bat Habitats
These bats mostly live in lowland areas. This means places that are not very high above sea level, usually below 150 meters (about 490 feet). But sometimes, they can be found in higher places, up to 700 meters (about 2,300 feet) above sea level.
