Desert red bat
The desert red bat (Lasiurus blossevillii), also known as the western red bat or southern red bat[1] is a species of microbat found across the Americas. Lasiurus blossevillii is most often found in tree foliage, as is most in the genus Lasiurus, and is a solitary species.[2]
| Desert red bat | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Chiroptera |
| Family: | Vespertilionidae |
| Genus: | Lasiurus |
| Species: | L. blossevillii |
| Binomial name | |
| Lasiurus blossevillii (Lesson and Garnot, 1826) | |
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| Geographic Range | |
Habitat
The desert red bat has been found around North America, ranging from southern Canada, through the western United States, down to Central America and to the northern part of South America. The species is recorded in Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador (Galápagos Islands), El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, United States, Uruguay and Venezuela.[1] This species, along with most bats, are a migratory species. They migrate to the southern parts of the Americas in the winter, and migrate north in the summer.
The common name implies that the desert red bat lives in the desert, but they actually hibernate under leaves in forests. Their coat color especially helps them camouflage with dead leaves.[3]
Diet and hunting
The desert red bat is an insectivore. They eat moths, flies, true bugs, beetles, and cicadas. The desert red bat is nocturnal. They use animal echolocation to hunt for insects. While they hunt, they are prone to predators, which include owls, blue jays, raccoons and opossum.
Reproduction
Unlike most bats, which bear only one pup per season, the desert red bat can give birth to as many as four pups at once.[3] To compensate for larger litters, desert red bats have four nipples rather than two. The bats mate during August and September. Pups are born about 90 days after mating. Before the bats are able to fly, the mother carries up to four pups at a time. It takes up to six weeks for the bats to fly by themselves and one to three years to mature.
Ecology
Male and female red bats have different migrating routines. Female bats are usually found in warmer climates during the month of June.
See also
- Eastern red bat — Lasiurus borealis
- Western red bat – previously considered a subspecies of Lasiurus blossevillii
- Bats of the United States
References
- "The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
- "CENTRAL COAST BAT SURVEY". Western Red Bat (Lasiurus blossevillii). Central Coast Bat Survey. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
- "LASIURUS BLOSSEVILLII". Bat Conservation International - About Bats. Bat Conservation International. Retrieved 17 October 2020.