Townsend's big-eared bat: Difference between revisions
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== Description == |
== Description == |
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Townsend's Big-Eared Bat is a medium-sized bat with extremely long, flexible ears (hence the name) and small yet noticable lumps on each side of the snout. |
Townsend's Big-Eared Bat is a medium-sized bat with extremely long, flexible ears (hence the name) and small yet noticable lumps on each side of the snout.Its upperparts are similar to dark brown on the back, and wood-brown on the sides. The underparts are a slightly paler shade of brown. These bats can be identified by the nearly uniform color of their bodies. Its total length is around 10 cm (4 in.), its tail being around 5 cm (2 in.) It's wingspan is about 28cm. It weighs around 7-12 grams.<ref name="multi">http://www.nsrl.ttu.edu/TMOT1/plectown.htm</ref> |
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==Diet== |
==Diet== |
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Revision as of 17:56, 2 December 2009
 | This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (February 2008) |
| Townsend's Big-Eared Bat | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
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| Genus: | |
| Species: | C. townsendii
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| Binomial name | |
| Corynorhinus (Plecotus) townsendii Cooper, 1837
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Townsend's Big-Eared Bat (Corynorhinus townsendii) is a species of vesper bat in the Vespertilionidae family.
Description
Townsend's Big-Eared Bat is a medium-sized bat with extremely long, flexible ears (hence the name) and small yet noticable lumps on each side of the snout.Its upperparts are similar to dark brown on the back, and wood-brown on the sides. The underparts are a slightly paler shade of brown. These bats can be identified by the nearly uniform color of their bodies. Its total length is around 10 cm (4 in.), its tail being around 5 cm (2 in.) It's wingspan is about 28cm. It weighs around 7-12 grams.[1]
Diet
The Townsend Big-Eared Bats diet includes small moths, flies, lacewings, dung beetles, sawflies, and other small insects.[1]
Range
C. townsendii can be found in the following countries: Canada, Mexico, and United States.[2] This bat is often distributed near rocky areas where caves or abandoned mine tunnels are available. They may also occasionally inhabit old buildings.[1]
Reproduction
The mating season for Townsend's Big eared Bats takes place in late fall. As usual, courtship rituals are done by the male. Until spring, when ovulation and fertilization begin, the female stores the male's sperm in her reproductive tract. Gestation lasts from 50 to 60 days. When the pup is born, it is pink, naked, and helpless. Only one pup is birthed per female, although 90% of females give birth. [3]
Life
The average lifespan of a Townsend's Big eared Bat is 16 years. [4]
During summer, males and females occupy separate roosting sites. Males live a solitary lifestyle away from females. Females and their pups form maternity colonies which often number from around 12 to 200, although in the eastern United States colonies of 1,000 or more have been formed. [1]
During the winter these bats hibernate, often when temperatures are around 32 and 53°F (around 0°C and 11.5°C.) Hibernation occurs in tightly packed clusters, which could possibly help stabilize body temperature against the cold. Males often hibernate in warmer places than females and are more easily aroused and active in winter than females. The bats are often interrupted from their sleep because they tend to wake up frequently and move around in the cave or move from one cave entirely to another. During hibernation, C. townsendii grow incredibly fat, which compensates for the food they do not eat during the winter with a low metbolism. [1]
Taxonomy
Members of the genus Corynorhinus were previously in the genus Plecotus.
Subspecies
Four subspecies exist:
- C. t. townsendii
- C. t. ingens Ozark big-eared bat (Federally endangered [5])
- C. t. virginianus, the Virginia big-eared bat (Federally endangered [6]; the Virginia state bat)
- C. Plecotus townsendii
References
- ^ a b c d e http://www.nsrl.ttu.edu/TMOT1/plectown.htm
- ^ Chiroptera Specialist Group 1996. Plecotus townsendii. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 09 July 2007.
- ^ http://wildlife.state.co.us/WildlifeSpecies/Profiles/Mammals/BatsofColorado/TownsendsBigearedBat.htm
- ^ http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/sir/fwh/wld/atlas/species/townsend.html
- ^ http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/ozark-big-eared-bat.html
- ^ http://www.biology.eku.edu/bats/vabigearbat.htm
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