Name
Lesser Yellow House Bat (Scotophilus borbonicus)Appearance
As implied by the popular name, this bat is similar in general appearance to its sister species, but is slightly smaller and leaner with a total head-to-tail length of 120 mm and a body mass of about 16 gr. The short, dense and silky fur on the back is yellowish brown, whereas the belly fur is normally white or off-white.Diet
Just like its sister species, the Lesser Yellow Bat prefers to prey on airborne insects under the canopies of tall trees and riparian forests. The Lesser Yellow House Bat is adapted to cope with a diet of beetles, although larger soft-bodied insects will not be scorned.Breeding
More females give birth to twins, than to single pups. Births occur at the end of November and the beginning of December.Behaviour
Under natural conditions, the Lesser Yellow House Bat prefers to roost solitary in hollows of sturdy dead trees. Their roosting sites are several kilometres away from the foraging areas, and when they return from early evening foraging, these bats prefer to shelter in another roosting site within the same area.
This is interpreted as a mechanism to avoid predation by predators such as the gymnogene. However, like its sister species, small colonies often occupy nooks and crannies in the roofs of houses.
