Taxonomy
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Chiroptera (Bat)
Family: Vespertilionidae
Subfamily: Myotinae
Genus: Lasionycteris
Species: Lasionycteris noctivagans
LASIONYCTERIS NOCTIVAGANS
SILVER-HAIRED BAT
The silver-haired bat is a medium size bat whose fur is dark-brown or black and tipped with silver. The fur around the
face and neck are not tipped in silver, however. This bat can weigh 8 g to 12 g and have a wing span of approx. 10 – 12
inches.
Bats are mammals, not birds. They are the only mammals who can truly fly. Besides the distinctive coloring of the fur,
another distinction of this bat among the other types of bats ----- it is the one of the slowest bats found in North
America!!!
Phylogeny
Bats are a monophyletic group. The order
Chiroptera includes two clades, Megachiroptera
(Old World Fruit Bats) and Microchiroptera
(echolocating bats). There are over 1100
species of bats, making up approximately 20%
of mammals!
Habitat & Migration
Silver-haired bats usually live solitarily in the
loose barks of trees in forested areas in North
American locations ranging from southern
Canada to Mexico. (They prefer temperate
climates near a water source.) These bats do
not usually migrate very far from their home.
Bats hibernate during colder months.
Silver-Haired Bats can live up to 12 years!
Reproduction
The silver-haired bat usually mates in autumn but the fertilization
does not take place until the next spring! One female silver-haired
bat can produce up to 2 babies (pups) and does so in late June or
early July due to 55 day gestation period.
Benefit to Ecosystem
Plants and animals depend on the bats for survival. Silverhaired bat naturally control the pest population. Also, the
wastes from bats are a great source of nutrients for plants and
some animals.
Once born, it only takes up to 36 days for the babies to complete
weaning off the mother’s milk and become independent.
Once the bats are 152 days old, they can also mate and reproduce..
Diet & Predators
Silver-haired bats eat insects ranging from flies
to spiders! They eat mid-flight usually but
occasionally will go the ground to get their
meal. NOTE: Contrary to popular belief, this
bat does not drink blood.
Predators of these bats are skunks, raccoons,
owls, and wild cats.
Echolation
Bats rely on the echo of their high-pitched sound using their
mouth or nose to locate obstacles or food. Once the echo
comes back, the bat can tell where the object/animal is and
approximately the size of the object/animal. Most bats use
echolocation to navigate better in the dark and find food.
Note: Although bats use echolocation, they can see! However,
the visual acuity is not very good. Since bats are nocturnal
creatures, the echolocation aids in pinpointing objects. This is
much like humans walking with arms outstretched in the dark.
Bibliography
•Unknown. (2006). Animal Fact Sheet: Silver-haired Bat. Retrieved 03 29, 2010, from Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum - Especially for Kids: http://www.desertmuseum.org/kids/bats/Silver-haired.php
•Simmons, Nancy B. and Tenley Conway. 1997. Chiroptera. Bats. Version 01 January 1997. http://tolweb.org/Chiroptera/15966/1997.01.01 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/
•Bat Conservation International Educator's Activity Book
By: Stefanie Marshall
Sleeping upside down allows bats to
use less energy to take-off in flight
upon waking!