Great Evening Bat

Taxobox | status = LR/nt
status_system = iucn2.3
name = Great Evening Bat
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Mammalia
ordo = Chiroptera
familia = Vespertilionidae
genus = "Ia"
species = "Ia io"
binomial = "Ia io"
binomial_authority = Thomas, 1902

The Great Evening Bat ("Ia io") is a bat in the vesper bat family ("Vespertilionidae") and the only species in the genus "Ia". It is common to Eastern and Southeastern Asia (China, India, Laos, Nepal, Thailand and Vietnam)IUCN2006|assessors=Chiroptera Specialist Group|year=1996|id=10755|title=Ia io|downloaded=10 May 2006] , mainly living in areas with limestone caves at altitudes of convert|400|-|1700|m|micite web |url=http://www.chinabiodiversity.com/search/english/detail.shtm?cspcode=010250006 |title=Great Evening Bat |accessdate=2006-05-10 |author= |date= |work=China Species Information Service (CSIS) |publisher=Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences] . Their roost sites have been found both near the cave entrances and up to convert|1.5|km|mi within the cave systems [cite web |url=http://www.wcs.org/media/file/LaoWildlifeStatusReport1999225to235.pdf |title=Wildlife of Lao PDR: 1999 status report – Order Chiroptera |accessdate=2006-05-10 |author=C.M. Francis, A. Guillén, M.F. Robinson |date= |work= |publisher=Wildlife Conservation Society] .

The Great Evening Bat reaches a length of convert|90|to(-)|105|mm|in. It is colored brown on the top and grayish on the bottom. [cite book |title=Walker's Mammals of the World |last=Nowak |first=Ronald M. |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=1999 |publisher=Johns Hopkins University Press |location= |isbn=0-8018-5789-9 |pages= ]

Not much is known about its habits and behavior. The bat usually lives in small groups. Its food consists of insects, as with most vesper bats. The bat leaves its sleeping place already in the late afternoon for the search of food. During the winter months it may migrate to warmer regions.

The IUCN lists its conservation status as "lower risk, near threatened". One of the threats to its survival is human influence by habitat destruction; many caves have been turned into attractions. They have also been disturbed by farmers collecting their excrement. Also the excessive use of insecticides poses a threat to the Great Evening Bats.

Its scientific name "Ia io" is the shortest binomial name recognized by the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN).

References