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Northern Little Yellow Bat

Rhogeessa parvula

French: Petite Rhogeessa / German: Nordliche Gelbfledermaus / Spanish: Rogesa nortena pequena

Other common names: Little Yellow Bat

Taxonomy. Rhogeessa parvula H. Allen, 1866,

“Tres Marias [= Islas Marias, Nayarit], Mexico.”

Normally considered part of the R. tumida complex, but recent molecular studies based on mtDNA and using nDNA markers found that this species and R. mira form a sister clade to the tumida complex; this similarity between R. parvula and R. mira was also observed in external and skull morphology. Two subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution. R.p.parvulaH.Allen,1866—MariasIs,offNayarit,Mexico.

R. p. major G. G. Goodwin, 1958 — Pacific coast of Mexico, from Sonora S to Oaxaca.

Descriptive notes. Head-body c¢.40 47 mm, tail 21-32 mm, ear 11-14 mm, hindfoot 4-7 mm, forearm 26-2—-29- 8 mm; weight 3-8 g. Dorsal fur is silky, with light grayish-brown bases and fawn to brown tips; ventral fur has slightly grayish bases and grayish-fawn tips. Ears short and subacute at tips, and contrast little in coloration with dorsal fur. Eyes very small, with a wart above. Wing membranes almost black, and naked; uropatagium sparsely to densely furred, at least halfway between knee and feet. Skull slopes more or less abruptly from occiput to anteriormost point of nasal, with a horizontal portion on top of braincase; postorbital region narrow; rostrum broad and low; zygomatic arches widely spread. I, usually much smaller than I; cingulum of canines almost straight on labial side and has no conspicuous lobes on internal side. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 44 and FN = 50, with four biarmed autosomes, a medium submetacentric Xchromosome and a small submetacentric Y-chromosome.

Habitat. Thorny forests and subdeciduous forests. Has also been found in subtropical vegetation along rivers and cactus-mesquite vegetation. Ranges from sea level to 1480 m.

Food and Feeding. Insectivorous. Forages over ponds and streams, and in open areas.

Breeding. Pregnant females were captured in late February and early June; females with young in late April and early July; lactating females from June to September; and flying juveniles from June to September. Females can carry one or two embryos.

Activity patterns. Crepuscular and nocturnal. The species is a fast flier and can be seen flying well before dusk. Known roosts include caves, hollow trees, cracks in rocks, palm leaves, and roofs of buildings.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Can be seen flying in great numbers.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. Widespread and common. It is found in several protected areas.

Bibliography. Allen (1866), Alvarez & Avina (1965), Alvarez-Castaneda & Gonzalez-Ruiz (2018), Arroyo-Cabrales & Baker (2014f), Baird et al. (2008, 2009), Bickham & Baker (1977), Goodwin (1958b), Jones (1964), LaVal (1973a), Roots & Baker (2007), Simmons (2005), Solari (20191), Wilson (1991).