Desert red bat
Kingdom
Phylum
Subphylum
Class
Order
Genus
SPECIES
Lasiurus blossevillii
Length
103
4
mminch
mm inch 
Wingspan
35-45
1.4-1.8
mminch
mm inch 

The western red bat or desert red bat (Lasiurus frantzii ) is a species of microbat in the family Vespertilionidae. It is found in western North America and Central America.

Distribution

Geography

The western red bat is found across western North America, ranging from southern Canada, through the western United States, down to Central America. The species has been recorded in Belize, Canada, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, and the United States. This species, along with most other Lasiurus, is a migratory species. It migrates to the southern parts of the Americas in the winter, and migrates north in the summer. Lasiurus frantzii is most often found in tree foliage, as are most species in the genus Lasiurus, and is a solitary species.

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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.

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Desert red bat habitat map

Climate zones

Desert red bat habitat map
Desert red bat
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Habits and Lifestyle

Male and female red bats have different migrating routines. Female bats are usually found in warmer climates during the month of June.

Lifestyle
Seasonal behavior

Diet and Nutrition

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.

Mating Habits

PREGNANCY DURATION
80 to 90 days
BABY CARRYING
1 to 5

Unlike most bats, which bear only one pup per season, the western red bat can give birth to as many as four pups at once. 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.

References

1. Desert red bat Wikipedia article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desert_red_bat
2. Desert red bat on The IUCN Red List site - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/88151055/22120040

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