Silver-haired bat | |
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Male captured in the Ozark National Scenic Riverways in 2010. | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Chiroptera |
Family: | Vespertilionidae |
Subfamily: | Vespertilioninae |
Tribe: | Eptesicini |
Genus: | Lasionycteris Peters, 1866 |
Species: | L. noctivagans |
Binomial name | |
Lasionycteris noctivagans (Le Conte, 1831) | |
Distribution of the silver-haired bat (2009) |
The silver-haired bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans) is a solitary migratory species of vesper bat in the family Vespertilionidae and the only member of the genus Lasionycteris. [2]
The species name translates as night-wandering, referring to the nocturnal behavior of bats.
This medium-sized bat is predominantly black (including the wings, ears, interfemoral membrane, and fur) with white-tipped hairs. The basal upper half of its tail membrane is densely furred. This gives the bat a frosted appearance and its common namesake. This species has a flattened skull with a broad rostrum. [3] This species weighs around 8–12 g, has a total length of ~100 mm, a tail length of 40 mm, and a forearm length of 37–44 mm. [4]
Lasionycteris noctivagans is found in Bermuda, Canada, Mexico, and the United States. This forest inhabitant is known to occur from southeastern Alaska in summer to northeastern Mexico in winter [5] and is found in arid habitats at low elevations during seasonal migrations. In Missouri, reproduction occurs in the northern dissected plains region, but reproductive females are believed to be absent from the southern Ozark highlands in the summer.
They often roost in tree cavities or in bark crevices on tree trunks, especially during migration. Their unique coloration makes them blend in with their roosting environment. [6] However, some individuals seem to overwinter in buildings, which may allow them to spend the winter in places that would otherwise be too cold for them. [7]
Copulation of tree bats is likely initiated during flight. After mating, tree bats hibernate alone in tree cavities, bark crevices, beneath leaf litter, or in the twilight zone of caves. Gestation typically takes 50–60 days, so that parturition of pups occurs in early summer when insect availability is high. [8] Pups are born breech by presentation, and the mother consumes the placenta [9] Females typically give birth to two offspring, with an even sex ratio.
Silver-haired bats consume primarily soft-bodied insects, such as moths, but will also take spiders and harvestmen. This species will forage low, over both still and running water, and also in forest openings. Silver-haired bats are slow but maneuverable flyers that typically detect prey a short distance away. [10]
In addition to the hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus) and eastern red bat (Lasiurus borealis), the silver-haired bat is one of the three tree bat species most commonly killed at wind energy facilities (over 75% of the mortalities). [11]
The causative agent of white-nose syndrome, Pseudogymnoascus destructans , has been detected on a silver-haired bat in Delaware, although this species does not suffer the same mass mortalities observed in smaller-bodied hibernating North American cave bats. [12]
Like all bats, silver-haired bats are vulnerable to population threats because of their inherently low reproductive rate. [13]
Most bats do not have rabies; however, most recent human rabies deaths have been due to a strain of rabies associated with this species. [6] In 2015, a Wyoming woman woke up to a bat on her shoulder later to be identified as a silver-haired bat. She presented to the emergency department several weeks later with ataxia, dysphagia, and weakness. After over a week of diagnostic workup, she was determined to have the rabies virus, which was traced to the bat incident. She died several days later. [14]
The tricolored bat or American perimyotis is a species of microbat native to eastern North America. Formerly known as the eastern pipistrelle, based on the incorrect belief that it was closely related to European Pipistrellus species, the closest known relative of the tricolored bat is now recognized as the canyon bat. Its common name "tricolored bat" derives from the coloration of the hairs on its back, which have three distinct color bands. It is the smallest bat species in the eastern and midwestern US, with individuals weighing only 4.6–7.9 g (0.16–0.28 oz). This species mates in the fall before hibernation, though due to sperm storage, females do not become pregnant until the spring. Young are born helpless, though rapidly develop, flying and foraging for themselves by four weeks old. It has a relatively long lifespan, and can live nearly fifteen years.
The big brown bat is a species of vesper bat distributed widely throughout North America, the Caribbean, and the northern portion of South America. It was first described as a species in 1796. Compared to other microbats, the big brown bat is relatively large, weighing 15–26 g (0.53–0.92 oz) and possessing a wingspan of 32.5–35 cm (12.8–13.8 in).
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The little brown bat or little brown myotis is an endangered species of mouse-eared microbat found in North America. It has a small body size and glossy brown fur. It is similar in appearance to several other mouse-eared bats, including the Indiana bat, northern long-eared bat, and Arizona myotis, to which it is closely related. Despite its name, the little brown bat is not closely related to the big brown bat, which belongs to a different genus.
There are at least 50 small mammal species known to occur in Yellowstone National Park.
Myotis septentrionalis, known as the northern long-eared bat or northern myotis, is a species of bat native to North America. There are no recognized subspecies. The northern long-eared bat is about 3–3.7 inches in length, with a wingspan of 9–10 inches. It is distinguishable by its long ears when comparing it to other bats in its genus. This species is commonly found in the northern United States and Southern Canada east of British Columbia. The geographic range includes 37 states.
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