Pictures and facts about the Rafinesque's big-eared bat

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Rafinesque's big-eared bat

Order : Chiroptera
Family : Vespertilionidae
Subfamily : Vespertilioninae
Species : Plecotus rafinesquii

 

The Rafinesque's big-eared bat is listed as Vulnerable (VU), considered to be facing a high risk of extinction in the wild, on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

Facts about the Rafinesque's big-eared bat

As its name implies, Rafinesque’s big-eared bat is distinguishable from other bats in South Carolina by its large (3 cm or 1.

In the ACE Basin, Rafinesque’s big-eared bats are known to inhabit Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, where they roost in an old plantation house.

Rafinesque's big-eared bat is restricted to the southeastern United States.

Rafinesque’s big-eared bats are known to form nursery colonies in large hollow trees.

The belly fur of Rafinesque's big-eared bat is white or whitish rather than light brown or buff (Schmidly 1991, Barbour and Davis 1969).

The Rafinesque’s big-eared bat is currently listed as a species of special concern.

Rafinesque’s big-eared bats are thought to use forest and forest edge areas for foraging, preying mostly on moths, which they frequently eat at roost sites. (Full text)

In contrast, Rafinesque's big-eared bats are gray-brown on the back with whitish underparts. (Full text)

Also, habitat is fragmented and Rafinesque's big-eared bats are reluctant to cross the large, open areas between. (Full text)

Description Rafinesque’s big-eared bat is of medium size when compared to other bat species. (Full text)

During the winter season when Rafinesque’s big-eared bats are hibernating in caves or mines, disturbance can cause them to wake and (Full text)

Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Rafinesque's big-eared bats are one of the most common bats in the park and have been recorded from elevations ranging from 1,530 feet to 2,400 feet. (Full text)

The medium-sized Rafinesque's big-eared bat is easily distinguished from other park bats by its very large ears and prominent lumps near the nose. (Full text)

Discussion When Rafinesque’s Big-eared Bat is resting, its large ears are coiled against the side of the head, rather like a ram’s horns, which reduces the ear’s surface area, minimizing water loss. (Full text)

Distribution: Rafinesque’s big-eared bat is also known as the southeastern big-eared bat, which aptly describes where it lives in the United States. (Full text)

Life History: Rafinesque’s big-eared bats are non-migratory and live in lowland pine and hardwood forests (Full text)

1. Plecotus, genus Plecotus -- (a genus of Vespertilionidae)
Plecotus
genus Plecotus
(Source WordNet)