Kingdom Animalia Order Chiroptera Genus Balantiopteryx Higher classification Balantiopteryx | Phylum Chordata Family Emballonuridae Scientific name Balantiopteryx io Rank Species | |
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Similar Balantiopteryx, Gray sac‑winged bat, Bat, Ecuadorian sac‑winged bat, Sac‑winged bat | ||
Thomas's sac-winged bat (Balantiopteryx io) is a species of sac-winged bat in the family Emballonuridae.
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It is found in Belize, Guatemala, and Mexico.
General Information
Oldfield Thomas named this bat in 1904. It is presumed that he named it after the Io found in Greek mythology, who was cursed by Hera to be eternally chased, because bats seem to be “flighty.” The bat is considered “vulnerable” according to the IUCN redlist, and the population is decreasing. This assumption that the population is decreasing comes from the evidence of habitat destruction, and it has been estimated that about 30% of the bats’ natural habitat has been destroyed by human causes: vandalism, fires in caves, and tourism. Balantiopteryx io is a sister species of Balantiopteryx infusca. There are no subspecies for Balantiopteryx io.
Appearance
It is the smallest species when compared to others in the genus Balantiopteryx, and lacks the white trim that is characteristic of Balantiopteryx plicata. The males weigh about 3.7 g, while the females weigh about 5 g.
Reproduction
There is not much data available for this species’ courting rituals, but what is known is that the female usually has one fetus, and the pregnant females can be found in March, April, May, and June.
Habits
This bat prefers to live in caves near the entrance with some light, but there have been instances where they have been found deeper in the caves where it is darker. It has also been found in railroad tunnels. It likes to stay about nine inches or more away from the others when hanging on the ceiling. Groups of fifty or more of these bats can be found in the colony. It feeds after sunset, so observing the bats is difficult. These bats are insectivores.