Cinnamon Red Bat
Lasiurus varius
- Class
- Mammal
- Rarity
- Rare
- Observations
- 58
- Most observed in
- 🇨🇱 Chile
- Conservation
- Least Concern
Description
The cinnamon red bat (Lasiurus varius) is a species of bat in the family Vespertilionidae. It was first described from a specimen that had been collected in Chile. For more than one hundred years after its initial description, it was largely considered a synonym of the eastern red bat (Lasiurus borealis). From the 1980s onward, it was frequently recognized as distinct from the eastern red bat due to its fur coloration and differences in range. It has deep red fur, lacking white "frosting" on the tips of individual hairs seen in other members of Lasiurus. It has a forearm length of 39–42 mm (1.5–1.7 in) and a weight of 9.5–11.0 g (0.34–0.39 oz). As in all members of its genus, females have four teats. Little is known about its reproduction, though females may give birth in winter to an average litter of two young. The young are born with their eyes closed, opening them by two weeks of age. Individuals roost solitarily or in small family groups. It is insectivorous, foraging for prey like moths and beetles using echolocation. Its echolocation calls consist of three types: search, approach, and final buzz. It is found only in South America in Chile and Argentina, and has one of the southernmost ranges of any bats. Little is known about its population size, but it is presumably large due to its large geographic range. Threats are unknown, but could include development of wind energy.
Summary adapted from the Wikipedia article “Cinnamon red bat”.