Rhogeessa is a genus of bats within the vesper bats family, Vespertilionidae.
Species Yucatan yellow bat (R. aenea) Bickham's little yellow bat (Rhogeessa bickhami) Genoways's yellow bat (R. genowaysi) Husson's yellow bat (R. hussoni) Thomas's yellow bat (R. io) Menchu's little yellow bat (R. menchuae) Tiny yellow bat (R. minutilla) Least yellow bat (R. mira) Little yellow bat (R. parvula) Rhogeessa permutandis Black-winged little yellow bat (R. tumida) Ecuadorian little yellow bat (R. velilla)
Taxonomy debate This genus is systematically complex and sometimes controversial. One reason that the genus is complex is because of the species' variable karyotypes:Baird, A. B., Hillis, D. M., Patton, J. C., & Bickham, J. W. (2008). Evolutionary history of the genus Rhogeessa (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) as revealed by mitochondrial DNA sequences. Journal of Mammalogy, 89(3), 744-754. 30 chromosomes 32 chromosomes 34 chromosomes 42 chromosomes 44 chromosomes 52 chromosomes R. ioGenoways, H. H., & Baker, R. J. (1996). A new species of the genus Rhogeessa, with comments on geographic distribution and speciation in the genus. R. aeneusAudet, D., Engstrom, M. D., & Fenton, M. B. (1993). Morphology, karyology, and echolocation calls of Rhogeessa (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) from the Yucatan Peninsula. Journal of Mammalogy, 74(2), 498-502. R. tumida*Vonhof, M. J. (2000). Rhogeessa tumida. Mammalian species, 1-3. R. genowaysiBaker, R. J. (1984). A sympatric cryptic species of mammal: a new species of Rhogeessa (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae). Systematic Biology, 33(2), 178-183.Roots, E. H., & Baker, R. J. (1998). Rhogeessa genowaysi. Mammalian Species, (589), 1-3. R. parvulaLaVal-Bugg, R. K. (1973). Systematics of the genus Rhogeessa (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae). Sistemática del género Rhogeessa (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae). Occasional Papers, (19), 1-47.Roots, E. H., & Baker, R. J. (2007). Rhogeessa parvula. Mammalian Species, 1-4. R. hussoni R. tumida*Baker, R. J., Bickham, J. W., & Arnold, M. L. (1985). Chromosomal evolution in Rhogeessa (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae): possible speciation by centric fusions. Evolution, 39(2), 233-243. - R. velilla - R. tumida* R. gracilisJones, J. K. (1977). Rhogeessa gracilis. Mammalian Species, (76), 1-2. - - - - - R. tumida* - - - - - *Note that R. tumida is listed four times, as individuals have been found with four different karyotypes. This may represent a species complex.
Some have placed Allen's yellow bat into its own genus, Baeodon based on its differences with other members of the genus.Hoofer, S. R., & Bussche, R. A. V. D. (2003). Molecular phylogenetics of the chiropteran family Vespertilionidae. Acta Chiropterologica, 5(1), 1-63. However, others argue that as Allen's yellow bat and the slender yellow bat are sister taxa, to exclude only one from Rhogeessa makes it a paraphyletic group. By that logic, either both species need to be included in Rhogeessa, or both need to be placed in Baeodon. A 2008 paper recommended moving the slender yellow bat to the Baeodon genus. Others say that Baeodon should be recognized as a subgenus of Rhogeessa instead of as a separate genus.
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