Plecotus rafinesquii

Rafinesque's Big-eared bat is a rare mammal species of the South Carolina endangered species list. This particular bat is considered to be rare in the United States of America because it is an animal that is found in only one or only in a few places throughout North America. The scientific name of this species is Plecotus rafinesquii. Plecotus derives from two Greek words which are plekos (to twist) and otus (ears).
This bat dwells in forested regions of the southeast. It will live inside hollow trees, crevices behind the bark, and under dry leaves. They have also been know to live inside buildings both occupied and abandoned as well as in old mine shafts, wells, rock ledges, and near the entrances of caves.

The Big-eared bat is easily recognizable by its' long and triangular shaped ears. The body is also at a triangular shape. Its' individual hairs are bicolor with black bases. The underside of this bat has hairs with white tips. The overall length of Rafinesque's Big-eared bat is anywhere from 9.5 to 10.5 cm long. The weight of an average adult big-eared bat is from 7 to 13 grams.
There is little known about the actual number of these bats in existence as of today. We do know that with the continuing of deforestation, this will eventually kill off the remaining Rafinesque's Big-eared bats in our state. The reason for this is that the vast majority of these bats live in forested regions of their habitat.

This bat feeds primarily on small insects, but would eat a really small animal if it were necessary. Only a few species of snakes will eat this bat. The biggest predator of this animal is a human. Humans are responsible for deforestation, and tearing down buildings and other established areas where these bats live. 
These bats are very aggressive. They are quick to scare off any intruder that might be threatening its life, or the life of its' young. This quality isn't the only interesting quality of this bat. They also are able to find a place underground to hibernate. Their hibernation only is done in certain 
parts of their habitat. 

Work Cited

http://www.nsrl.ttu.edu/tmot1/plecrafi.htm 

http://www.museum.nhm.uga.edu/GAWWildli…
/Verpertilionidae/prafinesquii.htm 

http://www.Natureserve.org/index.htm 

Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia "99 .

Written by: Will
Will Smith
Mrs. Ferrell
2nd period
Environmental Science
Dec. 8, 2000

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