(W. Peters, 1870)
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.1253055
Element CodeAMACC05080
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassMammalia
OrderChiroptera
FamilyVespertilionidae
GenusLasiurus
Concept ReferenceBaird, A.B., J.K. Braun, M.A. Mares, J.C. Morales, J.C. Patton, C.Q. Tran and J.W. Bickham. 2015. Molecular systematic revision of tree bats (Lasiurini): doubling the native mammals of the Hawaiian Islands. Journal of Mammalogy 96(6):1255-1274.
Taxonomic CommentsBaird et al. (2015) raised Lasiurus blossevillii frantzii (including specimens of the formerly recognized L. b. teliotis) to a species separate from L. blossevillii. This places the mostly North American forms into a single species, L. frantzii (although Baird et al. 2015 note that L. frantzii does extend into northern South America), while the strictly South American forms would be in a separate species, L. blossevillii.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2022-09-07
Change Date2022-09-07
Edition Date2022-09-07
Edition AuthorsSears, N. (2022)
Threat ImpactMedium
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences81 - 300
Rank ReasonsThis species has a large range with many collection/observation sites in North and Central America. However, it is apparently uncommon and may be declining in the northern part of the range (western United States) due to loss and degradation of mature lowland riparian forests.
Range Extent CommentsThis species ranges from northern California, western and southern Nevada, and Utah south through Arizona and New Mexico (scattered localities), and western Texas (one record as of 2012), through Central America to Columbia. It is likely more widely distributed in trans-Andean areas of Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, and perhaps Peru and Bolivia (Ramírez-Chaves et al. 2023).
Occurrences CommentsThis species is represented by a widely distributed and large number of collection and observation sites and locations.
Threat Impact CommentsThis species is commonly killed by wind turbine facilities; other conservation concerns include habitat loss and pesticide use (Bat Conservation International 2022). Degradation and loss of riparian zones, primarily due to agricultural conversion and creation of water storage reservoirs, have reduced both roosting and foraging habitat (Western Bat Working Group 2017). In California, most (more than 90 percent) of the historical primary habitat (riparian forest) has been lost or highly degraded (Katibah 1984).
Bats using orchards as roost sites may be negatively impacted by pesticide applications, either directly (through mortality or reduced fecundity) or indirectly (through reduced prey base) (Pierson et al. 2006). Controlled burns may be another significant mortality factor for red bats that roost in leaf litter during cool temperatures (Western Bat Working Group 2017).
Red bats are not known or expected to be affected by white-nose syndrome.