Big red bat

The big red bat (Lasiurus egregius) is a species of vesper bat from South and Central America.

Big red bat
Conservation status
Data Deficient  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Chiroptera
Family:	Vespertilionidae
Genus:	Lasiurus
Species:	L. egregius
Binomial name
Lasiurus egregius (Peters, 1870)
Synonyms
Atalpha egregia Peters, 1871

Taxonomy

It was described as a new species in 1870 by German naturalist Wilhelm Peters. Peters placed it in the now-defunct genus Atalpha, with a binomial of Atalpha egregia.^[2] The holotype was collected in the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina^[2] by Hermann Burmeister.^[3]

Description

It has black flight membranes and its fur is a consistent shade of red over its entire body.^[4] Two individuals captured in Honduras had forearm lengths of 50–51 mm (2.0–2.0 in) and body weights of 16–17 g (0.56–0.60 oz). Its ear length is approximately 18 mm (0.71 in).^[5] Its wingspan is approximately 390.3 mm (15.37 in).^[6]

Range and habitat

The big red bat is found in Central and South America. Its range includes Panama, Brazil, French Guiana,^[1] and Suriname.^[6] In 1998, the species was documented in Honduras for the first time. This marked a 1,200 km (750 mi) extension of the species' range from the previously known northern limit.^[5]

Conservation

This species is infrequently encountered. The capture of two individuals in Honduras in 1998 marked the fifth and sixth individuals ever documented.^[5] Due to the lack of information on its ecology, geographic extent, population size, and threats it faces, the IUCN lists this species as data deficient as of 2016.^[1]