The little yellow bat (''Rhogeessa parvula'') is a species of

vesper bat Vespertilionidae is a family of microbats, of the order Chiroptera, flying, insect-eating mammals variously described as the common, vesper, or simple nosed bats. The vespertilionid family is the most diverse and widely distributed of bat famili ...

found only in Mexico.

Description

One of the smallest vesper bats, adult little yellow bats measure only in total length, with a forearm about long, and weigh just . There may be some clinal variation in body size, with the smallest individuals being found in the

Nayarit Nayarit, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Nayarit, is one of the 31 states that, along with Mexico City, comprise the Political divisions of Mexico, Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in Municipalities of Nayarit, 20 municipalit ...

region, and size increasing both to the north and south of this area. As the common name suggests, the fur is generally yellowish, with individual hairs being a fawn or chestnut brown for most of their length, and greyish brown at the base. The fur is silky in texture, and fades to a greyer shade on the animal's underside. The wing membranes are black and hairless, except for a small patch of fur on the membrane between the legs. The tail extends to the end of the

uropatagium The patagium (: patagia) is a membranous body part that assists an animal in obtaining lift when gliding or flying. The structure is found in extant and extinct groups of flying and gliding animals including bats, theropod dinosaurs (including b ...

. The head is unusually small and narrow, with whiskers, small pointed ears, and tiny eyes. There is a wart above each eye, and another below the chin. Little yellow bats can be distinguished from other members of the genus ''Rhogeessa'' by a combination of their size, the presence and amount of fur on the uropatagium, and by the precise shape of their teeth.

Distribution

Little yellow bats are

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found only in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also foun ...

Mexico Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. It is the northernmost country in Latin America, and borders the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast; while having maritime boundar ...

. They are found along the western edge of the country, from central

Sonora Sonora (), officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora (), is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the Administrative divisions of Mexico, Federal Entities of Mexico. The state is divided into Municipalities of Sonora, 72 ...

south to western

Oaxaca Oaxaca, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Oaxaca, is one of the 32 states that compose the political divisions of Mexico, Federative Entities of the Mexico, United Mexican States. It is divided into municipalities of Oaxaca, 570 munici ...

, at elevation from close to sea level to as high as . Two

subspecies In Taxonomy (biology), biological classification, subspecies (: subspecies) is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (Morphology (biology), morpholog ...

are recognised, with the nominate subspecies, ''R. parvula parvula'', being found further north, and the other, ''R. parvula major'', inhabiting the southern part of the range.

Biology

Little yellow bats inhabit areas of subtropical vegetation, and have usually been trapped near streams, lakes, or other bodies of fresh water. It has been reported to be found in areas of

mesquite Mesquite is a common name for some plants in the genera ''Neltuma'' and '' Strombocarpa'', which contain over 50 species of spiny, deep-rooted leguminous shrubs and small trees. They are native to dry areas in the Americas. Until 2022, these ge ...

and

cactus A cactus (: cacti, cactuses, or less commonly, cactus) is a member of the plant family Cactaceae (), a family of the order Caryophyllales comprising about 127 genera with some 1,750 known species. The word ''cactus'' derives, through Latin, ...

vegetation, and to be active after sunrise and in the early afternoon. They have a

diploid Ploidy () is the number of complete sets of chromosomes in a cell, and hence the number of possible alleles for autosomal and pseudoautosomal genes. Here ''sets of chromosomes'' refers to the number of maternal and paternal chromosome copies, ...

chromosome A chromosome is a package of DNA containing part or all of the genetic material of an organism. In most chromosomes, the very long thin DNA fibers are coated with nucleosome-forming packaging proteins; in eukaryotic cells, the most import ...

number of 44. Pregnant females have been captured between February and June, with young bats and

lactating Lactation describes the secretion of milk from the mammary glands and the period of time that a mother lactates to feed her young. The process naturally occurs with all sexually mature female mammals, although it may predate mammals. The proces ...

females being found between June and September. The mother apparently gives birth to one or two young at a time.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q611092 Rhogeessa Mammals described in 1866 Taxa named by Harrison Allen Bats of Mexico Endemic mammals of Mexico Taxonomy articles created by Polbot