| Big red bat | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Chiroptera |
| Family: | Vespertilionidae |
| Genus: | Lasiurus |
| Species: | L. egregius |
| Binomial name | |
| Lasiurus egregius (Peters, 1870) | |
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| Synonyms | |
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The big red bat (Lasiurus egregius) is a species of vesper bat from South and Central America.
It was described as a new species in 1870 by German naturalist Wilhelm Peters. Peters placed it in the now-defunct genus Atalpha, with a binomial of Atalpha egregia. [2] The holotype was collected in the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina [2] by Hermann Burmeister. [3]
It has black flight membranes and its fur is a consistent shade of red over its entire body. [4] Two individuals captured in Honduras had forearm lengths of 50–51 mm (2.0–2.0 in) and body weights of 16–17 g (0.56–0.60 oz). Its ear length is approximately 18 mm (0.71 in). [5] Its wingspan is approximately 390.3 mm (15.37 in). [6]
The big red bat is found in Central and South America. Its range includes Panama, Brazil, French Guiana, [1] and Suriname. [6] In 1998, the species was documented in Honduras for the first time. This marked a 1,200 km (750 mi) extension of the species' range from the previously known northern limit. [5]
This species is infrequently encountered. The capture of two individuals in Honduras in 1998 marked the fifth and sixth individuals ever documented. [5] Due to the lack of information on its ecology, geographic extent, population size, and threats it faces, the IUCN lists this species as data deficient as of 2016. [1]
