Southern red bat
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Southern bat ( Lasiurus seminolus ) |
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| Lasiurus seminolus | ||||||||||||
| ( Rhoads , 1895) |
The Southern Rotfledermaus ( Seminole bat ) is a species of bat from the family of Myotis bats (Vespertilionidae) in North and Central America is based.
description
The southern red bat is a medium-sized bat with an average total length of 97.7 mm and a weight of 10.8 to 13.8 g. It can be confused with the red bat ( Lasiurus borealis ) due to its reddish coat color . Lasiurus seminolus , however, is more of a mahogany brown, while the red bat is mostly brick-red in color. The species has white spots on the roots of the thumbs and shoulders. The fur on the face and around the ears is generally shorter and lighter than the rest of the fur. The ears themselves are short and round with a tragus that is also rounded .
Way of life
The southern red bat, like most bats, is nocturnal and feeds on insects. It flies high above the treetops and catches the prey in flight. Their range is usually linked to the occurrence of Spanish moss ( Tillandsia usneoides ), which is often preferred as a hiding place during the day. The species can also be found under loose tree bark and in leaves. Lasiurus seminolus is considered a loner and so it is rare to find several animals on the same hanging place. In exceptional cases the animals hang at a distance of at least 30 cm from each other. In winter, like other species of the genus Lasiurus that occur in temperate areas, it probably migrates to more southern regions of its range. Lasiurus seminolus wakes up from hibernation at warmer temperatures, especially in southern areas, and goes foraging for food at night. In general, however, the species does not fly out at temperatures below 18 ° C.
Reproduction
As with other representatives of the genus of red bats , males and females likely mate in the fall. The females store the sperm over the winter . The ovulation takes place only in the spring, after which the egg is fertilized by the stored sperm. Lasiurus intermedius becomes pregnant with an average of 3.3 embryos, which is unusual for bats , which usually only give birth to 1–2 young per litter.
distribution
The southern bat bat is found in the southeastern United States . The IUCN has rated the species as harmless thanks to its widespread distribution and its occurrence in protected areas.
literature
- KT Wilkins (1987) Lasiurus seminolus . In: Mammalian Species . No. 280, pp. 1-5.
