Kingdom Animalia Order Chiroptera Genus Scotophilus Higher classification Scotophilus | Phylum Chordata Family Vespertilionidae Scientific name Scotophilus heathii Rank Species | |
Similar Scotophilus, Bat, Lesser Asiatic yellow bat, Indian pipistrelle, Least pipistrelle | ||
The greater Asiatic yellow bat (Scotophilus heathii) is a species of vesper bat. It is found in Afghanistan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam.
Contents
Like many bats, females have delayed ovulation, with the ability to store sperm. This makes them particularly of interest to biologists. Studies have shown that seasonal changes in hormones allow them to deposit fat before the onset of winter.
It is named after Josiah Marshall Heath, who presented the type specimen to the Zoological Society of London.
Description
Head and body length is 8–9 cm. Forearms 6–7 cm. Wingspan 40 cm. Weight 48-52g.
Adults are yellowish bronze brown above and bright yellow to reddish below. Wing membrane is blackish brown. Short and dense fur except on neck. Muzzle is blunt, naked, and dark. Tragus is crescent-shaped and separated from the posterior margin of the pinna by a conspicuous notch. Long tailed. Young are dark grayish brown.
Culture
Known as මහ කහ වවුලා (meaning "greater yellow bat") in Sinhala.