Bats of Texas

Appendix 5: Recipes by Chapter

townsend’s big-eared bat 185 Subspecies. Texas specimens are referable to the subspecies C. t. pallescens (G. S. Miller, 1897) and C. t. australis (Handley, 1955). Previously, it was thought that only C. t. pallescens occurred in the state, but recent genetic analysis of specimens from the Chihuahuan Desert ecoregion has classified them as C. t. australis (Piaggio and Perkins 2005). The subspecies C. t. pallescens has been confirmed (genetically ) to occur in western Oklahoma (Smith et al. 2008). Based on their proximity, this suggests that the subspecies that occurs in the Central Great Plains and Southwestern Tablelands ecoregions also is C. t. pallescens. However , additional work is needed to define the distributional limits of each of these subspecies in Texas. Description. This is a medium-sized bat (forearm = 39–46 mm) whose most distinctive features are its extremely large ears, which typically measure more than 2.5 cm in length, and the presence of a large and distinctive facial gland on either side of the snout. The function of these glands is unclear, although they may secrete pheromones important in mating rituals. The pelage in C. townsendii is pale to dark brown dorsally and ventrally. Dental formula: I 2/3, C 1/1, Pm 2/3, M 3/3 × 2 = 36. Females are typically slightly larger than males. Average external measurements are as follows: total length, 98 mm; tail, 46 mm; hind foot, 11 mm; ear, 34 mm; forearm, 42 mm. Weight: 7–12 g. Townsend’s big-eared bat is similar in appearance to the pallid bat (Antrozous pallidus) and to Rafinesque’s big-eared bat (Corynorhinus rafinesquii). Antrozous for using anthropomorphic structures as maternity roosts, increased human intrusion at these sites could negatively impact bat populations. Remarks. Rafinesque’s big-eared bat previously was classified in the genus Plecotus. However, analyses based on morphological and genetic differences within the genus Plecotus resulted in the recognition of a unique genus (Corynorhinus) that applies to 2 species of big-eared bats in North America (Bogdanowicz et al. 1998; Frost and Timm 1992; Hoofer and Van Den Bussche 2001; Tumlison and Douglas 1992). Specimens Examined. Go to www.batsof texas.com for more detailed information about the total of 46 specimen records of C. rafinesquii from Texas. Additional records: Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, San Augustine, San Jacinto, and Trinity counties (Mirowsky et al. 2004), Marion and Harrison counties (Schmidly 1983), Walker County (Thies 1994). References. 14, 45, 98, 106, 115, 126, 161, 219, 245, 246, 247, 251, 336, 392, 401, 418, 451, 459, 492, 493, 511, 518, 524, 532, 582, 586, 599, 600, 632, 660, 712, 714, 721, 760, 767, 806, 812, 826, 833, 856, 902, 1018, 1025, 1026, 1028, 1030, 1035, 1040, 1044, 1112, 1116, 1125, 1126, 1129, 1251 Corynorhinus townsendii (Cooper, 1837) Townsend’s Big-Eared Bat Etymology. The generic name comes from the Greek words coryn and rhinos, which mean “club nosed.” The specific name refers to naturalist Charles H. Townsend (Kunz and Martin 1982). 186 family vespertilionidae the Ozarks and the Appalachians) and has been documented in Texas from 6 ecological regions—the Central Great Plains, Southwestern Tablelands, High Plains, Edwards Plateau, Chihuahuan Desert, and Arizona/New Mexico Mountains . Its distribution is not restricted by vegetative associations, and specimens have been captured in habitats ranging from desert scrub to pinyon-juniper woodlands. However, the presence of rocky, broken country is consistent with the capture of these bats. This is perhaps the most characteristic bat of caves and mine tunnels in the Trans-Pecos (Schmidly 1977). A year-round resident of Texas, C. townsendii hibernates in caves across its range. It is one of the few species of Trans-Pecos bats that regularly may be found in winter, and records also exist pallidus is much lighter in coloration— yellowish above with white below—and lacks the 2 nose lumps. Corynorhinus rafinesquii, which also has the 2 nose glands, is found only in the extreme eastern portion of Texas and is not sympatric with C. townsendii in Texas. The dorsal pelage of C. townsendii is darker at the base than at the tips but is not as sharply contrasted as in C. rafinesquii. In addition, the ventral fur of C. rafinesquii is tipped with white, which sharply contrasts with blackish bases. Careful inspection of the middle upper incisors reveals a secondary cusp present in C. rafinesquii that is uncommonly encountered in C. townsendii (Jones...