Another common name for this species is mahogany bat. Lasiurus seminolus had previously been named Atalapha borealis seminola and Nycteris seminola. The species name comes from the Seminole Indian tribe, who resided in the area where these bats were first discovered.
A seminole bat in captivity ate boiled eggs, cooked liver, and crickets. When flying around an enclosed room, the bat dragged its chin on the shiny linoleum floor apparently mistaking the shining surface for water. (Constantine 1958)
Perception Channels: tactile ; chemical
Although they are common in some parts of their range, seminole bats are listed as a species of special concern in Oklahoma.
Since these bats roost primarily in Spanish moss, the gathering of this moss could affect roosting behavior. No studies have been done to determine whether there has been an impact, but educating moss collectors about these roosting requirements could help seminole bats.
This species is rated "Lower Risk, of least concern" by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.
Temperate North American bats are now threatened by a fungal disease called “white-nose syndrome.” This disease has devastated eastern North American bat populations at hibernation sites since 2007. The fungus, Geomyces destructans, grows best in cold, humid conditions that are typical of many bat hibernacula. The fungus grows on, and in some cases invades, the bodies of hibernating bats and seems to result in disturbance from hibernation, causing a debilitating loss of important metabolic resources and mass deaths. Mortality rates at some hibernation sites have been as high as 90%. While there are currently no reports of Lasiurus seminolus mortalities as a result of white-nose syndrome, the disease continues to expand its range in North America.
US Migratory Bird Act: no special status
US Federal List: no special status
CITES: no special status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern
Bats can become infected with rabies. The incidence of rabies in seminole bats is low, however, with a reported infection in Florida of 0.6%. During times of torpor, seminole bats are prone to predation from their roosts which are open to the ground. If an infected seminole bat defends itself from a predator, it may pass on rabies. Although no reports confirm this, an increase in rabies does coincide with cooler temperatures when bats are torpid. (Constantine 1958, Wilson and Ruff 1999)
Negative Impacts: causes or carries domestic animal disease
Insect control within the ecosystem is an important role of seminole bats. Bats can positively impact agriculture to a tremendous extent through their predation on common insect pests.
Positive Impacts: controls pest population
Seminole bats play an important role in their ecosystems by consuming large quantities of flying insects.
Seminole bats are insectivorous. They feed at dusk, while in flight, on flies, beetles, dragonflies, bees, wasps, and crickets. They are quick and direct when flying, feeding mostly near the tops of trees at about 6 to 15 m. However, it is not uncommon to see them over open ponds, along forest edges, or near lights, presumably where insects accumulate. Like most microchiropterans, seminole bats find their insect prey through echolocation.
Animal Foods: insects
Primary Diet: carnivore (Insectivore )
Seminole bats are distributed widely across the Gulf Coast States ranging from East Texas to the Southern Atlantic coast and to the northern parts of Arkansas and North Carolina. Their northern range is limited to a maximum latitude of 42° 27'. There have been some questionable reports of seminole bats in the southern portions of Wisconsin and New York, but these could have simply wandered out of their summer range. During winter, abundance of seminole bats increases in the southern portion of their range and decreases in the northern portion. (Kunz and Racey 1998, Wilhide et al. 1998)
Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native )
Generally, seminole bats are found in lowland forest stands of mixed deciduous and pine trees. Although several bats may be found hanging together, roosting alone is more common. They hang 1.5 to 6.1 m above the ground on the southwest side of trees, clinging to the inside of clumps of Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides), leaves, or loose bark. The area directly below the moss where they hang is clear of other branches. This allows these bats to drop down to begin their flight. The ground beneath them is covered with leaf litter and other organic debris. This reduces the amount of sunlight that is reflected on them when hanging.
Roosting is more common in pine trees, especially during parturition and lactation. The trees that are selected for roosting are taller and larger in diameter than other trees near the roost area. Selected trees are also tend to be near forest edges that permit easy flight paths. (Constantine 1958 and 1966, Barbour and Davis 1969, Menzel et al. 1998)
Habitat Regions: temperate
Terrestrial Biomes: forest
There have been no longevity studies on seminole bats. It has been noted that more females than males have been recorded in the older age class, which indicates a higher male mortality rate. If seminole bats survive the perils of youth, it is likely that they will live for many years. (Kunz and Racey 1998)
Seminole bats range in length from 108 to 114 mm. They weigh approximately 7 to 14 g. Females are slightly larger than males. Body length ranges from 44 to 52 mm with a hindfoot length of 8 to 9 mm and a forearm length of 35 to 45 mm. The short, rounded ear averages 11 mm in height with a very short, rounded tragus.
Seminole bats were long considered to be a subspecies of red bats (Lasiurus borealis). Since they are of similar size and appearance, they are easily confused with each other. The lacrimal shelf, which is not well developed in seminole bats compared to red bats, and color of the fur are the features used to distinguish these species. Seminole bats have rich, mahogany brown pelage with whitish tips. The underside is paler than the back. The throat and chest are whitish. The area under the arms to the wrist and the uropatagium are entirely furred.
Their basal metabolic rate (BMR) in relation to body weight is lower than in most other mammals. When foraging is limited during the fall and winter seasons, a lower BMR is exhibited resembling a hibernating rather than a non-hibernating mammal.
Range mass: 7 to 14 g.
Range length: 44 to 52 mm.
Range wingspan: 108 to 114 mm.
Other Physical Features: endothermic ; heterothermic ; bilateral symmetry
Sexual Dimorphism: female larger
Predators of seminole bats include blue jays, snakes, and raptors. A study of the stomach contents of an opossum (Didelphis virginiana) and a striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) revealed the remains of seminole bats.
Known Predators:
Mating behaviors are not known in seminole bats.
Mating occurs in flight during the fall. It is thought that the sperm is stored during the winter, and then 1 to 4 young are born in late May to early June. Gestation period is from 80 to 90 days. An average of 3.3 young are born per breeding season, which is unusual as most bats have only one young per litter. These young can fly as soon as 3 to 4 weeks after birth and young probably reach sexual maturity in the year following their birth. (Barbour and Davis 1969, Wilson and Ruff 1999)
Breeding season: Births occur from late May to early June.
Range number of offspring: 1 to 4.
Average number of offspring: 3.3.
Range gestation period: 80 to 90 days.
Range weaning age: 21 to 28 days.
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 1 years.
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 1 years.
Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; fertilization (Internal ); viviparous ; sperm-storing
Young are cared for by their mother until they are weaned and can fly, at which point they become independent, although there may be some association of mother and offspring for a short period after the young begin to fly.
Parental Investment: altricial ; female parental care
The Seminole bat (Lasiurus seminolus) is a species of bat in the family Vespertilionidae.
L. seminolus
Relationship of L. seminolus within Lasiurus, based on an analysis of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA.[2]The Seminole bat was first described in 1895 by Samuel N. Rhoads.[3] The holotype had been collected in Tarpon Springs, Florida in 1892 by William S. Dickinson. Rhoads placed it in the now-defunct genus Atalpha, identifying it as a subspecies of the eastern red bat with a scientific name of Atalpha borealis seminolus. In 1932, the name Lasiurus seminolus was applied to the taxon for the first time by Earl Lincoln Poole.[4]
The Seminole bat is often confused with the red bat. This is due to the coloring of the Seminole bat, which is a mahogany color with a frosted look due to white tipped dorsal hairs.[4] Coloring is not sexually dimorphic, meaning that males and females are similar in color.[4] Average weight is around 12 grams with females being larger than males.[4]
Seminole bats are insectivores. Insectivores are animals that feed primarily on insects. They have been found to eat relatively large amount of Hymenoptera (ants, bees and wasps), Coleoptera (beetles), Lepidoptera (moths).[5] They have also been shown to eat smaller amounts of Homoptera (cicadas) and Diptera (flies).[5]
The Seminole bat is found in the Southeastern United States. This includes Louisiana, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina and parts of Texas, Tennessee, Arkansas and North Carolina. There are also records of Seminole bats as far as Mexico.[4] It is a migratory species, living along the Gulf Coast, in the Carolinas, and southern Arkansas during the winter. In the summer, they migrate as far north as Missouri and Kentucky.[6]
In 2015, it was documented for the first time in northwestern North Carolina.[7]
The bats prefer to live in forested areas. In winter months they are found to use leaf litter and Spanish moss as insulation in their roost sites.[8] Spanish moss is also thought to be an important factor in seminole bat environments year round. and is believed to be a limiting factor in distribution of these bats.[4]
The Seminole bat (Lasiurus seminolus) is a species of bat in the family Vespertilionidae.
