The Marovaza yellow bat or Marovaza house bat (Scotophilus marovaza) is a species of bat found in Madagascar.

Marovaza yellow bat
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Chiroptera
Family: Vespertilionidae
Genus: Scotophilus
Species:
S. marovaza
Binomial name
Scotophilus marovaza
Goodman, Ratrimomanarivo & Randrianandrianina, 2006
Range of the Marovaza house bat

Taxonomy and etymology

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It was described as a new species in 2006.[2] The holotype was collected in Marovaza, Madagascar, which inspired its species name.[1]

Description

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It is relatively small for its genus.[2] Its forearm is approximately 43.5 mm (1.71 in) long.[3]

Biology and ecology

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It has been found roosting in the palm-leave thatching of small huts. It roosts singly or in small colonies of up to five individuals.[1] It navigates and locates prey via echolocation; its calls have a frequency of maximum energy of 43.8–48 kHz and a maximum frequency of 58–72.6 kHz. Echolocation pulses last 6–8 seconds.[3] Individuals can be infected with Leptospira.[4]

Range and habitat

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The Marovaza house bat is endemic to western Madagascar. It is currently known from lowland areas of 5–200 m (16–656 ft) above sea level.[1]

Conservation

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As of 2017, it is evaluated as a least-concern species by the IUCN.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Monadjem, A.; Cardiff, S.G.; Rakotoarivelo, A.R.; Jenkins, R.K.B.; Ratrimomanarivo, F.H. (2017). "Scotophilus marovaza". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T136774A22034361. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T136774A22034361.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b Goodman, Steven M; Ratrimomanarivo, Fanja H; Randrianandrianina, Félicien H (2006). "A new species of Scotophilus (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) from western Madagascar". Acta Chiropterologica. 8: 21–37. doi:10.3161/1733-5329(2006)8[21:ANSOSC]2.0.CO;2. S2CID 84247988.
  3. ^ a b Kofoky, Amyot F; Randrianandrianina, Felicien; Russ, Jon; Raharinantenaina, Irma; Cardiff, Scott G; Jenkins, Richard K. B; Racey, Paul A (2009). "Forest Bats of Madagascar: Results of Acoustic Surveys". Acta Chiropterologica. 11 (2): 375–392. doi:10.3161/150811009X485602. S2CID 85333490.
  4. ^ Gomard, Yann; Dietrich, Muriel; Wieseke, Nicolas; Ramasindrazana, Beza; Lagadec, Erwan; Goodman, Steven M; Dellagi, Koussay; Tortosa, Pablo (2016). "Malagasy bats shelter a considerable genetic diversity of pathogenic Leptospirasuggesting notable host-specificity patterns". FEMS Microbiology Ecology. 92 (4): fiw037. doi:10.1093/femsec/fiw037. hdl:2263/52554. PMID 26902801.