The Ozark big-eared bat (Corynorhinus townsendii ingens) is an endangered species found only in a small number of caves in Arkansas, Oklahoma and Missouri, the southern central United States. Also known as the western big-eared bat, the long-eared bat, and the lump-nosed bat, its appearance is defined by a pair of outsize ears and a lump-adorned nose.
The Ozark big-eared bat is the largest and reddest of the five subspecies of Corynorhinus townsendii, is medium-sized and weighs from 0.2 to 0.5 ounces.[5] It has very large, 1-inch-long ears that connect at the base across the forehead.[5] The snout has large, prominent lumps above the nostrils.[5] These particular bats feed on moths and other insects; they forage along forest edges.[5]
Bats are beneficial to our planet in a myriad of ways. A colony of big brown bats can eat 18 million cucumber beetles.[6] The insectivorous food habits of bats play an important role in maintaining a balance among insect populations.[7] Other species of bats, especially in temperate zones, are insectivorous and collectively consume large quantities of insects.[7] Bat droppings or guano support entire ecosystems of unique organisms, including bacteria which are useful in detoxifying wastes, as well as producing gasohol (mixture of gasoline and alcohol) and certain antibiotics.[6]
Habitatedit
The caves used by Ozark big-eared bats are located in karst regions dominated by oak-hickory forests.[5] Karst, a special type of landscape, is formed by the dissolution of soluble rocks, including limestone and dolomite.[8] The temperature of hibernation caves ranges from 40 to 50 °F (4.4 to 10 °C).[5] The Ozark big-eared bats use caves all year around, thus they are highly susceptible to extinction if their homes vary too greatly in temperature, are disturbed, or are destroyed.[5] The Ozark big-eared bats once lived in caves in Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma,.[9] but they have apparently abandoned their Missouri habitat due to human encroachment and cave disturbance.[9]
Offspringedit
Maternity colonies are located in caves that range in temperature between 50 and 59 °F (10 to 15 °C).[5] Big-eared bats mate in the fall and store their sperm during the wintertime and at the end of hibernation, pregnancy occurs.[5] Further reinforcing their fragile state, Ozark big-eared bats give birth to a single offspring.[5] Because of their low birth rate, these mammals can easily become over-exploited.[citation needed] Young bats grow quite rapidly and are capable of flight at three weeks, and by six weeks, they are weaned from the mother.[5]
Causes of declineedit
Concern about the conservation status of bats is developing, as many species of bats are increasingly affected by humans.[7] Bats face multiple threats of pesticide poisoning, roost destruction and closure, habitat loss, diseases such as white nose syndrome, over-exploitation, and extermination as pests.[7]Habitat fragmentation, a major concern, creates a disruption of extensive habitats into bat populations. The primary cause of decline is disturbance. When humans enter hibernation caves, they arouse the bats, whose metabolic rate increases. A single arousal can expend 10 to 30 days of fat reserve. This can result in death by starvation, because the bats have little extra fat reserve. Predation at the cave entrance by house cats, racoons, bobcats, and other animals has also caused significant mortality.[10]
Conservation effortsedit
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has established the Sequoyah/Oklahoma Bat Caves National Wildlife Refuge.[11] In other areas, cave entrances have been fenced—to keep humans and domestic animals out of the caves but to allow bats access.
^NatureServe (1 December 2023). "Corynorhinus townsendii ingens". NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data accessed through NatureServe Explorer. Arlington, Virginia: NatureServe. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
^"Ozark big-eared bat (Corynorhinus (=Plecotus) townsendii ingens)". Environmental Conservation Online System. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
^Harley, Stephen A. Miller, John P. Zoology 5th edition (8th ed.). Dubuque, IA: McGraw-Hill. p. 60.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^"About Us". Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission: Further Reading
Read the 5-Year Review: Summary & Evaluation, prepared by Richard Stark of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Tulsa OK, May 22, 2008
April 28, 2024
ozark, eared, corynorhinus, townsendii, ingens, endangered, species, found, only, small, number, caves, arkansas, oklahoma, missouri, southern, central, united, states, also, known, western, eared, long, eared, lump, nosed, appearance, defined, pair, outsize, . The Ozark big eared bat Corynorhinus townsendii ingens is an endangered species found only in a small number of caves in Arkansas Oklahoma and Missouri the southern central United States Also known as the western big eared bat the long eared bat and the lump nosed bat its appearance is defined by a pair of outsize ears and a lump adorned nose Ozark big eared bat An Ozark big eared bat on a cave ceiling Hibernating Ozark big eared bat Conservation status Critically Imperiled NatureServe 1 Endangered ESA 2 3 Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Mammalia Order Chiroptera Family Vespertilionidae Genus Corynorhinus Species C townsendii Subspecies C t ingens Trinomial name Corynorhinus townsendii ingensHandley 1955 Synonyms 4 Plecotus townsendii subsp ingens Handley 1955 The Ozark big eared bat is the largest and reddest of the five subspecies of Corynorhinus townsendii is medium sized and weighs from 0 2 to 0 5 ounces 5 It has very large 1 inch long ears that connect at the base across the forehead 5 The snout has large prominent lumps above the nostrils 5 These particular bats feed on moths and other insects they forage along forest edges 5 Contents 1 Importance 2 Habitat 3 Offspring 4 Causes of decline 5 Conservation efforts 6 See also 7 References 7 1 Bibliography 8 External linksImportance editBats are beneficial to our planet in a myriad of ways A colony of big brown bats can eat 18 million cucumber beetles 6 The insectivorous food habits of bats play an important role in maintaining a balance among insect populations 7 Other species of bats especially in temperate zones are insectivorous and collectively consume large quantities of insects 7 Bat droppings or guano support entire ecosystems of unique organisms including bacteria which are useful in detoxifying wastes as well as producing gasohol mixture of gasoline and alcohol and certain antibiotics 6 Habitat editThe caves used by Ozark big eared bats are located in karst regions dominated by oak hickory forests 5 Karst a special type of landscape is formed by the dissolution of soluble rocks including limestone and dolomite 8 The temperature of hibernation caves ranges from 40 to 50 F 4 4 to 10 C 5 The Ozark big eared bats use caves all year around thus they are highly susceptible to extinction if their homes vary too greatly in temperature are disturbed or are destroyed 5 The Ozark big eared bats once lived in caves in Missouri Arkansas and Oklahoma 9 but they have apparently abandoned their Missouri habitat due to human encroachment and cave disturbance 9 Offspring editMaternity colonies are located in caves that range in temperature between 50 and 59 F 10 to 15 C 5 Big eared bats mate in the fall and store their sperm during the wintertime and at the end of hibernation pregnancy occurs 5 Further reinforcing their fragile state Ozark big eared bats give birth to a single offspring 5 Because of their low birth rate these mammals can easily become over exploited citation needed Young bats grow quite rapidly and are capable of flight at three weeks and by six weeks they are weaned from the mother 5 Causes of decline editConcern about the conservation status of bats is developing as many species of bats are increasingly affected by humans 7 Bats face multiple threats of pesticide poisoning roost destruction and closure habitat loss diseases such as white nose syndrome over exploitation and extermination as pests 7 Habitat fragmentation a major concern creates a disruption of extensive habitats into bat populations The primary cause of decline is disturbance When humans enter hibernation caves they arouse the bats whose metabolic rate increases A single arousal can expend 10 to 30 days of fat reserve This can result in death by starvation because the bats have little extra fat reserve Predation at the cave entrance by house cats racoons bobcats and other animals has also caused significant mortality 10 Conservation efforts editThe U S Fish and Wildlife Service has established the Sequoyah Oklahoma Bat Caves National Wildlife Refuge 11 In other areas cave entrances have been fenced to keep humans and domestic animals out of the caves but to allow bats access See also editBats of the United StatesReferences edit NatureServe 1 December 2023 Corynorhinus townsendii ingens NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data accessed through NatureServe Explorer Arlington Virginia NatureServe Retrieved 3 December 2023 Ozark big eared bat Corynorhinus Plecotus townsendii ingens Environmental Conservation Online System U S Fish amp Wildlife Service Retrieved 3 December 2023 44 FR 69206 Corynorhinus townsendii ingens Handley 1955 Integrated Taxonomic Information System Retrieved 3 December 2023 a b c d e f g h i j k U S Fish amp Wildlife Service a b Wild Cave National Park a b c d Bogan Karst Waters Institute a b National Geographic Harley Stephen A Miller John P Zoology 5th edition 8th ed Dubuque IA McGraw Hill p 60 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link About Us Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge U S Fish amp Wildlife Service Retrieved 3 December 2023 Bibliography edit Bogan Michael Potential Effects of Global Changes on Bats http geochange er usgs gov sw impacts biology bats accessed January 28 2009 Groom Martha et al Principles of Conservation Biology Saunderland Massachusetts Sinauer Associates Inc 2006 Karst Waters Institute http www karstwaters org kwitour whatiskarst htm Archived 2015 04 08 at the Wayback Machine 2002 2008 accessed February 1 2009 National Geographic 1 1996 2009 accessed February 4 2009 U S Fish amp Wildlife Service http www fws gov southwest es Oklahoma spplist htm accessed January 28 2009 External links editArkansas Natural Heritage Commission Further Reading Read the 5 Year Review Summary amp Evaluation prepared by Richard Stark of the U S Fish amp Wildlife Service Tulsa OK May 22 2008 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ozark big eared bat amp oldid 1188225206, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
