The southern yellow bat (Lasiurus ega) is a species of vesper bat found in South America. They are small, furry bats with yellowish fur. Southern yellow bats are found in the following countries:
Brazil
Southern yellow bats are found in many parts of Brazil. They have been documented in the states of Amazonas, Bahia, Espírito Santo, Goiás, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Paraná, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, São Paulo and Tocantins. Some specific locations where they have been observed include:
- Serra do Mar in São Paulo state
- Fazenda Rio Grande in Paraná state
- Morro Santana in Rio Grande do Sul state
- Chapada dos Guimarães National Park in Mato Grosso state
- Serra da Canastra National Park in Minas Gerais state
- Ilha Grande in Rio de Janeiro state
Paraguay
In Paraguay, southern yellow bats inhabit parts of the Paraguay River basin, the Paraná River basin, and the Atlantic Forest region. They have been documented in the departments of:
- Alto Paraná
- Itapúa
- Caazapá
- San Pedro
- Concepción
- Amambay
Some specific localities where they occur include Salto Cristal in the department of Canindeyú and San Rafael National Park.
Argentina
In Argentina, southern yellow bats are primarily found in the north and northeast parts of the country. They occur in the provinces of:
- Misiones
- Corrientes
- Entre Ríos
- Chaco
- Formosa
- Salta
- Jujuy
- Tucumán
Some particular areas where they have been documented include Iguazú National Park and El Palmar National Park.
Bolivia
In Bolivia, southern yellow bats are known to inhabit parts of the departments of:
- Santa Cruz
- Beni
- La Paz
They have been found in Noel Kempff Mercado National Park and Amboró National Park.
Peru
In Peru, southern yellow bats occur in tropical and subtropical forests on the eastern side of the Andes Mountains. They are found in parts of the departments/regions of:
- Loreto
- Ucayali
- Madre de Dios
- Cusco
- Puno
- Junín
Specific localities where they have been documented include Manú National Park and Tambopata National Reserve.
Ecuador
In Ecuador, southern yellow bats inhabit lowland tropical rainforests on the eastern side of the Andes. They occur in parts of the provinces of:
- Orellana
- Pastaza
- Morona-Santiago
- Zamora-Chinchipe
- Sucumbíos
Areas where they have been found include Yasuní National Park and Podocarpus National Park.
Colombia
In Colombia, southern yellow bats are found on the eastern plains and lower slopes of the Andes Mountains. Departments where they occur include:
- Caquetá
- Meta
- Guainía
- Vaupés
- Vichada
- Guaviare
They have been documented in La Paya National Natural Park.
Venezuela
In Venezuela, southern yellow bats inhabit tropical forests south of the Orinoco River. States where they are found include:
- Bolívar
- Amazonas
- Delta Amacuro
They have been observed in the Imataca Forest Reserve and Duida-Marahuaca National Park.
Guyana
In Guyana, southern yellow bats occur in the southern and western parts of the country. Regions where they have been documented include:
- Cuyuni-Mazaruni
- Potaro-Siparuni
- Upper Demerara-Berbice
- Barima-Waini
Specific localities include the Iwokrama Forest and Kanuku Mountains.
Suriname
In Suriname, southern yellow bats are found in tropical rainforests in the southern part of the country. Areas where they have been observed include Brownsberg Nature Park and Central Suriname Nature Reserve.
French Guiana
In French Guiana, southern yellow bats occur in lowland tropical forests. Protected areas where they have been documented include Nouragues Natural Reserve and Kaw Mountain Natural Reserve.
Habitat
Southern yellow bats primarily inhabit tropical and subtropical lowland forests and woodlands. They seem to prefer primary forests but can also be found in secondary growth and at forest edges. Some key features of their habitat include:
- Lowland tropical rainforests
- Subtropical semi-deciduous forests
- Riparian corridors
- Areas with a dense understory
- Presence of palms and woody vines
They are not typically found in open or urban areas. In the southernmost part of their range (southern Brazil, Paraguay, northern Argentina), they may also occur in drier forest habitats like the Atlantic Forest and Gran Chaco.
Roosting Habits
Southern yellow bats roost in small groups or as solitary individuals tucked into concealed locations, including:
- Leaf tents formed by vegetation
- Tree hollows
- Beneath loose bark
- Rock crevices
- Caves
They typically switch roosts every 1-4 days. Their roost sites provide protection from predators and weather while also allowing easy access when exiting to forage.
Diet
Southern yellow bats are insectivorous, feeding on a variety of flying insects like:
- Moths
- Beetles
- Flies
- Mosquitoes
- Cicadas
- Termites
They hunt at night by echolocating to detect and capture prey while in flight. Their flight patterns while foraging typically include slow hovering and quick zig-zagging movements.
Reproduction
In tropical areas, southern yellow bats breed throughout much of the year. In more seasonal climates, breeding occurs during the wetter months. Females give birth to a single pup after a gestation period of 2.5-4 months. The pups are relatively large at birth compared to other bat species. Juveniles reach adult size in about a month.
Conservation Status
Southern yellow bats have a wide distribution and large population. They are relatively tolerant of some habitat disturbance and are not currently considered threatened. Their conservation status is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List. Potential threats include:
- Deforestation
- Habitat fragmentation
- Climate change
- Pesticide use
Ongoing protection of tropical forests throughout their range is important for the long-term survival of southern yellow bat populations.
Conclusion
In summary, southern yellow bats are small insect-eating bats found across much of South America east of the Andes Mountains. They inhabit various types of tropical and subtropical forests from Brazil and Paraguay south to northern Argentina. Southern yellow bats roost in concealed spots like leaf tents and tree cavities. They emerge at night to hunt insects using echolocation. While their populations are currently stable, habitat loss remains a concern for the future conservation of this species. Protecting intact forests will be crucial for allowing southern yellow bats to thrive.
Fact Sheet Summary
Scientific Name | Lasiurus ega |
---|---|
Common Name | Southern yellow bat |
Geographic Range | South America east of the Andes Mountains, from Venezuela and the Guianas south to Paraguay and northern Argentina |
Habitat | Tropical and subtropical forests, woodlands, riparian corridors |
Roosting | Roosts solitarily or in small groups tucked into leaf tents, tree hollows, under bark, rock crevices, caves |
Diet | Insects like moths, beetles, flies, mosquitoes, cicadas |
Breeding | Breed year-round in the tropics; seasonally elsewhere. Single pup after 2.5-4 month gestation. |
Conservation | Least Concern, but habitat loss remains a threat |