Rafinesque's big-eared bat pictures and facts

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.

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

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)

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)

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

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)

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).

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

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

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

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)

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

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

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

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