Eastern red bat

{{Short description|Species of bat}} {{Speciesbox | name = Eastern red bat | image = C-red-bat.jpg | image_alt = The image depicts an eastern red bat, recently captured by a researcher | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=Arroyo-Cabrales, J. |author2=Miller, B. |author3=Reid, F. |author4=Cuarón, A.D. |author5=de Grammont, P.C. |date=2016 |title=''Lasiurus borealis'' |volume=2016 |article-number=e.T11347A22121017 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T11347A22121017.en |access-date=19 November 2021}}</ref> | genus = Lasiurus | species = borealis | authority = Müller, 1776 | range_map = Lasiurus borealis map.svg | range_map_caption = Range (note: map erroneously shows the species to be present in Cuba.) | synonyms = {{Species list | Vespertilio borealis|Müller, 1776 | Vespertilio noveboracensis|Erxleben, 1777 | Vespertilio lasiurus| Schreber, 1781 | Vespertilio rubellus| Palisot de Beauvois, 1796 | Vespertilio rubra| Ord, 1815 | Vespertilio tesselatus| Rafinesque, 1818 | Vespertilio monachus| Rafinesque, 1818 | Vespertilio rufus| Warden, 1820 | Lasiurus funebris| Fitzinger, 1870 | Myotis quebecensis| Yourans, 1930 }} }}

The '''eastern red bat''' ('''''Lasiurus borealis''''') is a species of microbat in the family Vespertilionidae. Eastern red bats are widespread across eastern North America, with additional records in Bermuda.

==Taxonomy and etymology== {{cladogram|align=left|style=width:225px;font-size:85%;line-height:85%|caption=Relationship of ''L. borealis'' within ''Lasiurus'', based on an analysis of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA.<ref>{{cite journal|doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0186085|pmid=29020097|pmc=5636129|title=Nuclear and mtDNA phylogenetic analyses clarify the evolutionary history of two species of native Hawaiian bats and the taxonomy of Lasiurini (Mammalia: Chiroptera)|journal=PLOS ONE|volume=12|issue=10|article-number=e0186085|year=2017|last1=Baird|first1=Amy B.|last2=Braun|first2=Janet K.|last3=Engstrom|first3=Mark D.|last4=Holbert|first4=Ashlyn C.|last5=Huerta|first5=Maritza G.|last6=Lim|first6=Burton K.|last7=Mares|first7=Michael A.|last8=Patton|first8=John C.|last9=Bickham|first9=John W.|bibcode=2017PLoSO..1286085B|doi-access=free}}</ref> |cladogram={{clade |label1=Lasiurini | 1 = {{clade | 1 =''Dasypterus'' | 2 = {{clade | 1 = ''Aeorestes'' | 2 = {{clade | 1 = {{clade | 1 = ''L. blossevillii'' | 2 = ''L. frantzii''}} | 2 = {{clade | 1 = ''L. borealis'' | 2 = {{clade | 1 = ''L. pfeifferi'' | 2 = ''L. seminolus''

}} }} }} }} }} }} }} It was described in 1776 by German zoologist Philipp Ludwig Statius Müller. He initially placed it in the genus ''Vespertilio'',{{efn|When first described in 1758, ''Vespertilio'' was equivalent to the modern taxonomic order Chiroptera.<ref>{{cite journal|doi=10.3161/1733-5329(2006)8[1:AMFDTM]2.0.CO;2|issn=1733-5329|year=2006|volume=8|page=8|title=A moveable face: Deconstructing the Microchiroptera and a new classification of extant bats|journal=Acta Chiropterologica|last1=Hutcheon|first1=James M.|last2=Kirsch|first2=John A. W.|s2cid=85948117 }}</ref>}} with the name ''Vespertilio borealis''.<ref name="Muller 1776">{{cite book| last=Müller| first=P.L.S| title=Des Ritters Carl von Linné vollständiges Natursystem: nach der zwölften lateinischen Ausgabe, und nach Anleitung des holländischen Houttuynischen Werks|volume=1|publisher=Gabriel Nicolaus Raspe| page=20| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uosZAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA20| year=1776}}</ref> It was not placed into its current genus ''Lasiurus'' until the creation of the genus in 1831 by John Edward Gray.<ref name="Shump 1982">{{cite journal| last1=Shump| first1=K. A.| last2= Shump| first2= A. U.| date= 1982| title= Lasiurus borealis| journal= Mammalian Species| issue= 183| pages= 1–6| doi=10.2307/3503843| jstor=3503843| doi-access= free}}</ref> The generic name "''Lasiurus''" is derived from the Greek ''lasios'' ("hairy") and ''oura'' ("tail"); its species name "''borealis''" is Latin in origin, meaning "northern."<ref>{{cite book|title=Natural History of Oregon Coast Mammals|author1=Maser, Chris|author2=Mate, Bruce R.|author3=Franklin, Jerry F.|author4=Dyrness, C. T.|publisher=Bureau of Land Management, United States Department of the Interior|location=Portland, OR|page=108|date=1981}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=A Phraseology English-Latin Dictionary|author=Yonge, Charles Duke|publisher=Richard Bentley|location=London, UK|page=320|date=1855}}</ref> Of the species in its genus, the eastern red bat is most closely related to other red bats, with which they form a monophyly. Its closest relatives are the Pfeiffer's red bat (''Lasiurus pfeifferi''), Seminole bat (''L. seminolus''), cinnamon red bat (''L. varius''), desert red bat (''L. blossevillii''), saline red bat (''L. salinae''), and the greater red bat (''L. atratus'').<ref name="Baird 2015">{{cite journal| last1=Baird| first1= A. B.| last2= Braun| first2= J. K.| last3= Mares| first3= M. A.| last4= Morales| first4= J. C.| last5= Patton| first5= J. C.| last6= Tran| first6= C. Q.| last7= Bickham| first7= J. W.| date= 2015| title= Molecular systematic revision of tree bats (Lasiurini): doubling the native mammals of the Hawaiian Islands| journal= Journal of Mammalogy| volume= 96| issue=6| pages= 1255–1274| doi=10.1093/jmammal/gyv135| doi-access= free}}</ref>

==Description== The eastern red bat has distinctive fur, with males being brick or rusty red, and females being a slightly more frosted shade of red.<ref>{{Cite book| publisher = U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station| title = Bats of the Savannah River Site and Vicinity| date = 2003|page=29|author1=Menzel, Michael|author2=Manzel, Jennifer|author3=Kilgo, John|author4=Ford, W. Mark|author5=Carter, Timothy C.|author6=Edwards, John W.}}</ref><ref name=erb_gender>{{Cite book| publisher = Cornell University Press| isbn = 978-0-8014-3475-4| last1 = Whitaker| first1 = John O.| last2 = Hamilton| first2 = William John| title = Mammals of the Eastern United States| date = 1998|page=123}}</ref> Both male and female eastern red bats have distinctive shoulder patches of white fur.<ref name=erb_gender/> Individual hairs on its back are approximately {{convert|5.8|mm|in|abbr=on}}, while hairs on its uropatagium are {{convert|2.6|mm|in|abbr=on}} long. Fur on its ventral surface is usually lighter in color. Its entire body is densely furred, including its uropatagium. It is a medium-sized member of its genus, weighing {{convert|7-13|g|oz|abbr=on}} and measuring {{convert|109|mm|in|abbr=on}} from head to tail. Its ears are short and rounded, with triangular tragi. Its wings are long and pointed. Its tail is long, at {{convert|52.7|mm|in|abbr=on}} long. Its forearm is approximately {{convert|40.6|mm|in|abbr=on}} long. Its dental formula is {{DentalFormula|upper=1.1.2.3|lower=3.1.2.3}}, for a total of 32 teeth.<ref name="Shump 1982"/>

<gallery widths="160px" heights="200px"> File:Red bat (4a).JPG|alt=The image depicts a red bat hanging from a branch|Female eastern red bat, roosting in a tree File:2. Red bat. Lasiurus noveboracensis, Figs. 2. Position in repose LCCN2017660738 (cropped).jpg|In 1874 art </gallery>

==Biology and ecology== The aspect ratio and wing loading of eastern red bat wings indicates that they fly relatively quickly and are moderately maneuverable.<ref name="Shump 1982"/> Eastern red bats are insectivorous, preying heavily on moths, with other insect taxa also consumed. They consume known pests, including gypsy moths, tent caterpillar moths, ''Cydia'' moths, ''Acrobasis'' moths, cutworm moths, and coneworm moths.<ref name="Clare 2007">{{cite journal|last1=Clare| first1= E. L.| last2= Fraser| first2= E. E.| last3= Braid| first3= H. E.| last4= Fenton| first4= M. B.| last5= Hebert| first5= P. D.| date= 2009| title= Species on the menu of a generalist predator, the eastern red bat (Lasiurus borealis): using a molecular approach to detect arthropod prey| journal= Molecular Ecology| volume= 18| issue=11| pages= 2532–2542| doi=10.1111/j.1365-294X.2009.04184.x| pmid= 19457192| bibcode= 2009MolEc..18.2532C| s2cid= 3940026}}</ref>

===Reproduction and life expectancy=== thumb|upright|Female with three pups.|left|alt=The image depicts a female bat hanging upside down from a cloth. Three small bat babies cling to the female.

Eastern red bat breeding season starts in the autumn,<ref name=texasdept/> and multiple males can sire a single litter.<ref name=texas_mammals>{{Cite book| publisher = University of Texas Press|location=Austin, TX| isbn = 978-1-4773-1003-8| last1 = Schmidly| first1 = David J.| last2 = Bradley| first2 = Robert D.| title = The Mammals of Texas| date = 2016|edition=7th|pages=181–183|chapter=Eastern Red Bat}}</ref> Pups are born in the summer,<ref name=texasdept/> usually sometime between May and July.<ref name="Texas wildlife book"/> Unlike other bats species who usually produce one pup, eastern red bats have on average three pups at a time, and some eastern red bats have given birth to as many as five pups.<ref name=greatlakes>{{Cite book| publisher = University of Michigan Press| isbn = 978-0-472-05345-2| last = Kurta| first = Allen| title = Mammals of the Great Lakes Region| date = 2017|edition=3rd|location=Ann Arbor, MI|chapter=Eastern Red Bats|pages=74–77}}</ref> Females have four nipples, which allows them to nourish multiple offspring at once. Eastern red bat pups learn to fly about a month after being born, after which they are weaned.<ref name=texasdept>{{cite web |title=Eastern Red Bat (''Lasiurus borealis'') |url=https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/species/eastred/ |publisher=Texas Parks and Wildlife Department |access-date=December 13, 2019}}</ref> Even after the pups have learned how to fly, they remain with their mother for a while before roosting on their own.<ref name="Texas wildlife book">{{cite web |url=http://www.nsrl.ttu.edu/tmot1/eptefusc.htm |title=Eastern Red Bat |last=Davis |first=W.B. |date=1994 |website=The Mammals of Texas - Online Edition |publisher=Texas Tech University |archive-date=November 22, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071122075203/http://www.nsrl.ttu.edu/tmot1/lasibore.htm}}</ref>

Eastern red bats are often attacked and killed by hawks and owls, or aggressive species like blue jays and crows; the former animal in particular serves as a major predator for bats hiding in leaf piles. Eastern red bats are also killed by flying into cars, tall human-made structures, or wind turbines. Allen Kurta argues that the lifespan for an eastern red bat is about two years, although they can probably live even longer.<ref name=greatlakes/>

==Range and habitat== The eastern red bat is widely distributed in eastern North America and Bermuda.<ref name="msw3">{{MSW3 | id = 13801895 | pages = 458–459 | heading = Genus ''Lasiurus'' | author = Simmons, N. B.}}</ref> It generally occurs east of the Continental Divide, including southern Canada and northeastern Mexico. In the winter, it occurs in the southeastern United States and northeastern Mexico, with greatest concentrations in coastal areas. In the spring and summer, it can be found in the Great Lakes region and the Great Plains region. Unlike the closely related hoary bat, males and females have the same geographic range throughout the year.<ref name="Cryan 2002">{{cite journal|last=Cryan| first= P. M.| date= 2003| title= Seasonal distribution of migratory tree bats (Lasiurus and Lasionycteris) in North America| journal= Journal of Mammalogy| volume= 84| issue=2| pages= 579–593| doi=10.1644/1545-1542(2003)084<0579:SDOMTB>2.0.CO;2| doi-access= free}}</ref> Formerly, some authors included the western United States, Central America, and the northern part of South America in its range,<ref name="Shump 1982"/> but these populations have since been reassigned to the desert red bat, ''Lasiurus blossevillii''.<ref name="msw3"/>

==Conservation== The eastern red bat is evaluated as least concern by the IUCN, the lowest-priority conservation category. It meets the criteria for this designation because it has a wide geographic range, large population size, it occurs in protected areas, it tolerates some habitat disturbance, and its population size is unlikely to be declining rapidly.<ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021" />

Eastern red bats and other migratory tree bats are vulnerable to death by wind turbines via barotrauma.<ref name="Cryan 2007">{{cite journal| last1=Cryan| first1= P. M.| last2= Brown| first2= A. C.| date= 2007| title= Migration of bats past a remote island offers clues toward the problem of bat fatalities at wind turbines| journal= Biological Conservation| volume= 139| issue=1| pages= 1–11|doi=10.1016/j.biocon.2007.05.019| bibcode= 2007BCons.139....1C}}</ref> The eastern red bat has the second-greatest mortality from wind turbines, with hoary bats most affected.<ref name="Kunz 2007">{{cite journal|last1=Kunz| first1= T. H.| last2= Arnett| first2= E. B.| last3= Erickson| first3= W. P.| last4= Hoar| first4= A. R.| last5= Johnson| first5= G. D.| last6= Larkin| first6= R. P.| last7=Strickland| first7=M. D.| last8=Thresher| first8=R. W.| last9= Tuttle| first9= M. D.| date= 2007| title= Ecological impacts of wind energy development on bats: questions, research needs, and hypotheses| journal= Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment| volume= 5| issue=6| pages= 315–324|doi=10.1890/1540-9295(2007)5[315:EIOWED]2.0.CO;2}}</ref>

While eastern red bats have been documented carrying the spores of ''Pseudogymnoascus destructans'', the fungus that causes white-nose syndrome, no individuals have been observed with clinical symptoms of the disease.<ref name="USFWS">{{cite web |url=https://www.whitenosesyndrome.org/about/bats-affected-wns |title=Bats affected by WNS |author= |date= |website=White-Nose Syndrome.org |publisher=US Fish and Wildlife Service |access-date=2017-12-12}}</ref>

==See also== * Bats of Canada * Bats of the United States

== Explanatory notes == {{Notelist}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

== External links == * {{Commons category-inline|Lasiurus borealis}}

Category:Bats of Canada Category:Bats of North America Category:Bats of the Caribbean Category:Bats of the United States Bat, Eastern Red Bat, Eastern Red Category:Lasiurus Category:Mammals described in 1776 Category:Mammals of the Bahamas Category:Least concern biota of the United States