Rafinesque's big-eared bat (Corynorhinus rafinesquii), sometimes known as the southeastern big-eared bat, is a species of vesper bat native to the southeastern United States.
A hibernating Rafinesque's big-eared bat in a North Carolina cave
As its name implies, this species has ears over an inch long. The genus name Corynorhinus means "club-nosed".[2] Similar to Townsend's big-eared bat, this species has two lumps on either side of its nose. Rafinesque's big-eared bat is a medium-sized bat with a length around 7.5–10 cm (3.0–3.9 in) and a wingspan of 25–30 cm (10–12 in). These bats range in weight from 6–13 g (0.21–0.46 oz).[3] The bat is gray on the dorsal side and white on the underside. The ears and face are a pinkish-brown color, while the forearm and wing membrane are dark brown.
Some sources report its maximum lifespan as 10 years,[4] although robust data are lacking. More research has been done on the closely related Townsend's big-eared bat, and estimates for this species' lifespan range from 16 to 30 years in the wild.[5]
While uncommon throughout its range, this species is found in a variety of habitats from coastal plains and riparian areas to mountainous areas such as the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. In all cases, these bats are associated with large areas of relatively mature forest.[1]
Dietedit
Rafinesque's big-eared bats, like all bats in the southeastern United States, are insectivorous, nocturnal, and locate food primarily by echolocation. They consume a wide range of insects, including mosquitoes, beetles, and flies, although moths make up 90% of the diet. Insects can be caught by gleaning (e.g., from foliage or cave walls) or on the wing (i.e., aerial hawking).[6]
Roostingedit
Due to seasonality, geographical location, and frequent roost-switching, C. rafinesquii can be found in a variety of locations. Tree roosts may be in living or dead trees but are usually quite large (one study reported average diameter at breast height of tree roosts to be 79 cm with a height of 18.5m).[7] Rafinesque's big-eared bats can also be found in abandoned buildings, under bridges, in wells, and in caves.[8]
White-nose syndrome is a serious disease caused by a fungal pathogen that has devastated several species of bats in the eastern United States. Unlike some other species of bats with which it shares its range, Rafinesque's big-eared bat does not appear to be affected by the disease. Hypothesized reasons include use of hibernacula that may not provide optimal growing conditions for the causal agent (the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans), relatively frequent arousals from torpor, and/or the usage of shallow bouts of torpor by this species.[9]
^ abArroyo-Cabrales, J.; Álvarez-Castañeda, S.T. (2017). "Corynorhinus rafinesquii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T17600A21976905. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T17600A21976905.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
^Schwartz, Charles Walsh; Schwartz, Elizabeth Reeder (2001). The Wild Mammals of Missouri (2nd ed.). p. 97.
^Animal Diversity Web, Reyes, E. (2002) Corynorhinus rafinesquii
^Mammalian Species, 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine Jones, C. (1977). No. 69, pp. 1-4 Plecotus rafinesquii
^Channel Islands National Park - Townsend's Big-eared Bats, U.S. National Park Service.
^[1], Lacki, M.J. and K.M. Ladeur. (2001). Seasonal use of lepidopteran prey by Rafinesque's big-eared bats (Corynorhinus rafinesquii). The American Midland Naturalist 145(1):213-217.
^[2], Trousdale, A.W. and D.C. Beckett. (2005). Characteristics of tree roosts of Rafinesque's big-eared bat (Corynorhinus rafinesquii) in southeastern Mississippi. The American Midland Naturalist 154(2):442-449.
^[3], Lance, R.F. et al. (2001). Day-roost selection by Rafinesque's big-eared bat (Corynorhinus rafinesquii) in Louisiana forests. Journal of Mammalogy 82(1):166-172.
^ ab[4] 2015-09-23 at the Wayback Machine, Bat Conservation International and Southeastern Bat Diversity Network. (2013). A conservation strategy for Rafinesque's big-eared bat (Corynorhinus rafinesquii) and southeastern myotis (Myotis austroriparus). Bat Conservation International, Austin, TX. (specific citations from page 41-43 and page 93)
External linksedit
A video demonstrating one type of roost habitat for this species in Florida can be seen here.
A poster from the Mammoth Cave International Center for Science and Learning about Rafinesque's big-eared bats within the park.
A short video about Rafinesque's big-eared bats produced by Texas Parks and Wildlife.
Southeastern Bat Diversity Network website
April 26, 2024
rafinesque, eared, corynorhinus, rafinesquii, sometimes, known, southeastern, eared, species, vesper, native, southeastern, united, states, conservation, status, least, concern, iucn, scientific, classification, domain, eukaryota, kingdom, animalia, phylum, ch. Rafinesque s big eared bat Corynorhinus rafinesquii sometimes known as the southeastern big eared bat is a species of vesper bat native to the southeastern United States Rafinesque s big eared bat Conservation status Least Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Mammalia Order Chiroptera Family Vespertilionidae Genus Corynorhinus Species C rafinesquii Binomial name Corynorhinus rafinesquiiLesson 1827 Species distribution in the southeastern United States based on data from the IUCN Synonyms Plecotus rafinesquii Contents 1 Description 2 Diet 3 Roosting 4 Conservation status 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksDescription edit nbsp A hibernating Rafinesque s big eared bat in a North Carolina cave As its name implies this species has ears over an inch long The genus name Corynorhinus means club nosed 2 Similar to Townsend s big eared bat this species has two lumps on either side of its nose Rafinesque s big eared bat is a medium sized bat with a length around 7 5 10 cm 3 0 3 9 in and a wingspan of 25 30 cm 10 12 in These bats range in weight from 6 13 g 0 21 0 46 oz 3 The bat is gray on the dorsal side and white on the underside The ears and face are a pinkish brown color while the forearm and wing membrane are dark brown Some sources report its maximum lifespan as 10 years 4 although robust data are lacking More research has been done on the closely related Townsend s big eared bat and estimates for this species lifespan range from 16 to 30 years in the wild 5 While uncommon throughout its range this species is found in a variety of habitats from coastal plains and riparian areas to mountainous areas such as the Great Smoky Mountains National Park In all cases these bats are associated with large areas of relatively mature forest 1 Diet editRafinesque s big eared bats like all bats in the southeastern United States are insectivorous nocturnal and locate food primarily by echolocation They consume a wide range of insects including mosquitoes beetles and flies although moths make up 90 of the diet Insects can be caught by gleaning e g from foliage or cave walls or on the wing i e aerial hawking 6 Roosting editDue to seasonality geographical location and frequent roost switching C rafinesquii can be found in a variety of locations Tree roosts may be in living or dead trees but are usually quite large one study reported average diameter at breast height of tree roosts to be 79 cm with a height of 18 5m 7 Rafinesque s big eared bats can also be found in abandoned buildings under bridges in wells and in caves 8 Conservation status editWhile listed as least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature previously listed as vulnerable Rafinesque s big eared bats are listed as a candidate II species of concern by the U S Fish and Wildlife Service Additionally it is listed as threatened by state agencies throughout most of its range 9 White nose syndrome is a serious disease caused by a fungal pathogen that has devastated several species of bats in the eastern United States Unlike some other species of bats with which it shares its range Rafinesque s big eared bat does not appear to be affected by the disease Hypothesized reasons include use of hibernacula that may not provide optimal growing conditions for the causal agent the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans relatively frequent arousals from torpor and or the usage of shallow bouts of torpor by this species 9 See also editBats of the United States Bats Constantine Samuel Rafinesque the 19th century naturalist after whom the species is namedReferences edit a b Arroyo Cabrales J Alvarez Castaneda S T 2017 Corynorhinus rafinesquii IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017 e T17600A21976905 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2017 2 RLTS T17600A21976905 en Retrieved 12 November 2021 Schwartz Charles Walsh Schwartz Elizabeth Reeder 2001 The Wild Mammals of Missouri 2nd ed p 97 Animal Diversity Web Reyes E 2002 Corynorhinus rafinesquii Mammalian Species Archived 2016 03 03 at the Wayback Machine Jones C 1977 No 69 pp 1 4 Plecotus rafinesquii Channel Islands National Park Townsend s Big eared Bats U S National Park Service 1 Lacki M J and K M Ladeur 2001 Seasonal use of lepidopteran prey by Rafinesque s big eared bats Corynorhinus rafinesquii The American Midland Naturalist 145 1 213 217 2 Trousdale A W and D C Beckett 2005 Characteristics of tree roosts of Rafinesque s big eared bat Corynorhinus rafinesquii in southeastern Mississippi The American Midland Naturalist 154 2 442 449 3 Lance R F et al 2001 Day roost selection by Rafinesque s big eared bat Corynorhinus rafinesquii in Louisiana forests Journal of Mammalogy 82 1 166 172 a b 4 Archived 2015 09 23 at the Wayback Machine Bat Conservation International and Southeastern Bat Diversity Network 2013 A conservation strategy for Rafinesque s big eared bat Corynorhinus rafinesquii and southeastern myotis Myotis austroriparus Bat Conservation International Austin TX specific citations from page 41 43 and page 93 External links editA video demonstrating one type of roost habitat for this species in Florida can be seen here A poster from the Mammoth Cave International Center for Science and Learning about Rafinesque s big eared bats within the park A short video about Rafinesque s big eared bats produced by Texas Parks and Wildlife Southeastern Bat Diversity Network website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rafinesque 27s big eared bat amp oldid 1219409404, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
