Scotophilus
Scotophilus is a genus of vespertilionid bats commonly called yellow bats. They are found in southern Asia and Africa. They are the only members of the tribe Scotophilini.[1]
The African yellow house bat (Scotophilus dinganii) is larger than the lesser Asiatic yellow house bat but smaller than the giant yellow house bat. The average body length is 130 mm and the weight is about 27 grams. The African yellow house bat's face looks similar to that of a dog. The wings can be shades of either olive, grey or red. The back is covered with soft, short fur with a hint of brown, and the abdomen is covered with bright yellow fur. The color of the interfemoral membrane is brown and transparent.[3]
The lesser Asiatic yellow house bat (S. kuhlii) is smaller and leaner than the African yellow house bat. The total body length is about 120 mm and the average body weight is around 16 grams.[3] The forearm length can extend up to 52 mm. A unique physical characteristic of the lesser yellow house bat is the tail, which is long and covered with the interfemoral membrane between the hind legs. The lesser Asiatic yellow house bat has pointy ears and a dog-like face with a dull muzzle. The lesser Asiatic yellow house bat has soft dense yellowish-brown fur on the back. The abdomen fur is composed of either a white or off-white color.[4][5]
The greater Asiatic yellow house bat (Scotophilus heathii) is yellow-brown in color with a small hint of green on the back. The average forearm length is about 58 mm. The face of the greater Asiatic yellow house bat, like the other two, also resembles a dog's face. The belly is covered with bright yellow fur.[6]
Although an individual may roost singly, yellow house bats are grouping mammals. The amount of grouping yellow house bats varies depending on the capacity of a living place. A large cave can generate colonies of less than a hundred; otherwise, groups of 12 to 30 bats max is the common grouping amount in artificial habitats. Some yellow house bats may have more than just one roosting site around the foraging areas. This behavior serves as a mechanism of avoiding predation, interpreted by biologists. Yellow house bats are quite common in suburban areas. They live in nooks and crannies of houses, and are very quiet. Thus, it is difficult for humans to detect their movements nearby because they tend to fly very low at a steady speed, and they only go out for food when the sun sets. Once they go out for food,they continue to feast for approximately 2 hours to reach their full satiety, then rest during daytime.[3][5]
Like most other species of bats, yellow house bats give birth annually. A birth will often consist of two twin bats. The newborn bats are capable of flight at a very early age, allowing them to defend themselves and participate in the feeding frenzy.[3] Yellow house bats have a unique method of ensuring its pups' survival. When these bats breed, the female will postpone fertilization if necessary in order to time the birth so that the pups are born when prey is at its peak in numbers.[5] Yellow house bats are polygynous; they have multiple sexual partners during their mating season. The males of this species are competitive for female attention. They will defend the female if other males come into its territory.[7] The range of a male's territory depends on the resources that are readily available at the time.[7] The more abundant the food and shelter for the male, the smaller the territory it needs to defend. The female moves from roost-to-roost, usually in different male territories. Yellow house bats feed for about two hours a day.
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