Lasiurus frantzii Peters 1870

259.

Desert Red Bat

Lasiurus frantzii

French: Lasiure de Frantzius / German: \Wisten-Haarschwanzfledermaus / Spanish: Lasiuro de Frantzius

Other common names: Western Red Bat (North America)

Taxonomy. Atalapha frantzii Peters, 1870,

Costa Rica.

See L. egregius. Lasiurus frantzii was previously considered a subspecies of L. blossevilii, but molecular analyses based on mtDNA and nDNA showed high divergence between North American, Central American, and South American forms. North American and Central American forms are now considered a distinct species, L. frantzii. Lasiurus frantzii is in the Red Bat group. Two subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

L.f.frantziiPeters,1870—CostaRicaandPanama.

L. f. teliotis H. Allen, 1891 — SW Canada (extreme S British Columbia, S Alberta, and S Saskatchewan), W USA, and Mexico (including Marias Is off Nayarit) S to Nicaragua.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 49-65 mm, tail 45-57 mm, ear 9-13 mm, hindfoot 7-10 mm, forearm 37-42- 8 mm; weight 7-12 g. Fur is dense, long, and dark reddish to brown, with white wash sometimes present in hairs. Dorsal hairs are bicolored, with blackish bases and rufous red tips. Ventral furis paler. Yellowish white patch is present on each shoulder, frequently connected by white collar. Ears are short and rounded, with basal two-thirds of dorsal side covered with hair. Tragus has triangular distal end. Uropatagium is densely furred for two-thirds of its extent. Skull has broad and narrow rostrum; dorsal view of skull is nearly straight. Teeth are large; P* is minute and displaced inward; and upper molars are broad on inner side. Dental formula is 11/3, Cl1l/1,P 2/2, M 3/3 (x2) = 32. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 28 and FN = 46, with seven pairs of large metacentric and submetacentric autosomes, three pairs of medium metacentric autosomes, three pairs of small acrocentric autosomes, medium submetacentric X-chromosome, and small acrocentric Y-chromosome.

Habitat. Mature rainforests, xeric shrublands, dry tropical forests, and deciduous forests at elevations of 30-3200 m. The Desert Red Bat has been captured over small pools, riparian areas, cotton crops, walnut trees, and pine-oak forests.

Food and Feeding. The Desert Red Batis insectivorous and has been captured in open spaces beneath canopies and over rivers and ponds.

Breeding. Pregnant Desert Red Bats were captured in mid-year. Females are probably lactating in autumn.

Activity patterns. The Desert Red Bat roosts in foliage of trees. Echolocation search calls last 12 milliseconds and sweep down from ¢.80 kHz to c¢.45 kHz. Third harmonic has an upturn at end of the call, which is diagnostic.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Not assessed on The IUCN Red List. The Desert Red Bat is included under the Southern Red Bat (L. blossevilit), which is classified as Least Concern.

Bibliography. Baird et al. (2015), Baker & Jones (1975), Carter et al. (1966), Gardner et al. (1970), Jones, Smith & Genoways (1973), Miller (1897), Morales et al. (2014a), Novaes, Garbino et al. (2018), Shump & Shump (1982a), Simmons (2005), Szewczak (2004).