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The Mammals of Texas -
Online Edition Northern Yellow Bat
Habits. Little is known about this uncommon bat. The distribution of this bat in the United States closely coincides with that of Spanish moss, which is its preferred roosting site. In South Texas, however, these bats roost in palm trees, where they are well concealed beneath the large, drooping fronds. A single roosting site may contain several bats and such groups are often quite noisy, especially when young are present, and their bickering gives them away from below. Migration and winter habits are poorly known. Northern yellow bats forage over open, grassy areas such as pastures, lake edges, golf courses, and along forest edges. In Florida they often form groups while feeding. Such foraging groups are segregated by sex; males are rarely found in such groups, and they seem to be more solitary in their habits than are females. Specific prey items include leafhoppers, dragonflies, flies, diving beetles, ants, and mosquitoes. Females carry three to four embryos in spring and litter size is believed to usually be two or three. Parturition probably occurs in late May or June in Texas. Photo credit: John L. Tveten. |
Description. A large, yellowish-brown bat
with short ears and long, silky fur; membranes brownish;
membrane between hind legs well haired on basal third or
half, the terminal half and underside are nearly naked.
Dental formula as in 