Missouri Department of Conservation
Missouri Department of Conservation

Taxonomy

Common Name: BAT, RAFINESQUE'S BIG-EARED

Phylum: CHORDATA

Class: MAMMALIA

Order: CHIROPTERA

Family: VESPERTILIONIDAE

Genus: CORYNORHINUS

Species: RAFINESQUII

SubSpecies: RAFINESQUII

Taxonomic Authority: LESSON

Taxonomy References: 001 , 003 , 016 , 017

Status

NONGAME
GLOBAL RANK G3G4
STATE RANK SU

Status References: 002 , 012 , 014

Habitat Summary

"Inhabit caves during winter. In summer, may use hollow trees, loose bark of trees, or buildings."

Primary Habitat: "Cave"

References: 003

Distribution

General Occurrence in State:

"Has been taken in southeast Missouri in spring and possibly occurs during the rest of the year *03*."

County Occurance

County Occurence
Known Likely Unknown Not Likely Historic Extirpated
CAPE GIRARDEAU BARRY ADAIR
STONE BOLLINGER ANDREW
BUTLER ATCHISON
CARTER AUDRAIN
CHRISTIAN BARTON
DENT BATES
DOUGLAS BENTON
DUNKLIN BOONE
GREENE BUCHANAN
HOWELL CALDWELL
IRON CALLAWAY
JEFFERSON CAMDEN
LAWRENCE CARROLL
MADISON CASS
MCDONALD CEDAR
MISSISSIPPI CHARITON
NEW MADRID CLARK
NEWTON CLAY
OREGON CLINTON
OZARK COLE
PEMISCOT COOPER
PERRY CRAWFORD
REYNOLDS DADE
RIPLEY DALLAS
SCOTT DAVIESS
SHANNON DEKALB
ST. FRANCOIS FRANKLIN
STE. GENEVIEVE GASCONADE
STODDARD GENTRY
TANEY GRUNDY
TEXAS HARRISON
WASHINGTON HENRY
WAYNE HICKORY
WEBSTER HOLT
WRIGHT HOWARD
JACKSON
JASPER
JOHNSON
KNOX
LACLEDE
LAFAYETTE
LEWIS
LINCOLN
LINN
LIVINGSTON
MACON
MARIES
MARION
MERCER
MILLER
MONITEAU
MONROE
MONTGOMERY
MORGAN
NODAWAY
OSAGE
PETTIS
PHELPS
PIKE
PLATTE
POLK
PULASKI
PUTNAM
RALLS
RANDOLPH
RAY
SALINE
SCHUYLER
SCOTLAND
SHELBY
ST. CHARLES
ST. CLAIR
ST. LOUIS
SULLIVAN
VERNON
WARREN
WORTH

References for distribution: 001 , 002 , 003 , 013 , 011

Distribution by Watersheds

Miss. R. from St. Louis to River Aux Vases
Miss. R. from River Aux Vases to Ohio R.
Castor R. and Castor R. Diversion Channel
Pomme De Terre R.
White R. above Tablerock Dam
James R.
White R. below Tablerock Dam and Little North Fork White R.

Comments: "Likely to occur in units listed, based on county occurrence."

Distribution by Ecoregions

Mississippi River Alluvial Plains

Comments: ""

Distribution by Potential Natural Vegetation

Cedar Glades
Oak-Hickory Forest
Oak-Hickory-Pine Forest
Southern Floodplain Forest

Distribution by Natural Divisions of Missouri

Big Rivers: Lower Mississippi
Ozark Border: Mississippi River
Ozark
Ozark: Springfield Plateau
Ozark: Upper Ozark
Ozark: St. Francois Mountains
Ozark: Elk River
Ozark: White River
Ozark: Lower Ozark
Mississippi Lowlands
Mississippi Lowlands: Crowley's Ridge
Mississippi Lowlands: Lowlands

Habitat Associations

Species is associated with "Terrestrial" habitats.

National Wetlands Inventory Association:

Aquatic Associations:

References for Aquatic Associations:

Habitat Types:

Mature Shortleaf Pine (open understory)
Shortleaf Pine Old Growth
Limestone Bluff and Cave
Wooded Riparian and Bottomland Hardwood
Mature Shortleaf Pine (dense understory)
Mature Oak-Hickory (9" + dbh, open understory)
Mature Oak-Hickory: (9" + dbh, dense understory)
Oak-Hickory Old Growth

References for Habitat Types: 004

Terrestrial Natural Communities:

Forest
Upland forest
Bottomland Forest
Dry-Mesic Bottomland Forest
Mesic Bottomland Forest
Wet-Mesic Bottomland Forest
Flatwoods
Caves
Effluent Cave
Influent Cave
Wet Pit Cave
Dry Pit Cave
Dry Cave

References for Terrestrial Natural Communities: 003 , 007 , 008 , 009 , 004

Food Habits

Trophic Level:

"Carnivore"

Larval Food Habits

Comments for larval food habits:
""

References for larval food habits:

Juvenile Food Habits

Comments for Juvenile Food Habits:
""

References Juvenile Food Habits

Adult Food Habits

Insects Insects; Not Specified

Comments for Adult Food Habits:
""

References Adult Food Habits 006

Niche Requirements

Egg Niche Requirements

References for egg niches requirements:

Feeding Larvae Niche Requirements

References for feeding larvae niche requirements:

Resting Larvae Niche Requirements

References for resting Larvae niche requirements:

Feeding Juvenile Niche Requirements

References for feeding juvenile niche requirements:

Resting Juvenile Niche Requirements

References for resting juvenile niche requirements:

Breeding Adult Niche Requirements

Natural features: caves, dry
Natural features: caves, wet
Human association: houses
Human association: barns/sheds
Isolation from humans required; should be relatively inaccessible

References for feeding Adult niche requirements: 003 , 007 , 008 , 009

Feeding Adult Niche Requirements

References for feeding adult niche requirements:

Resting Adult Niche Requirements

References for resting adult niche requirements: 015

Niche Requirement Summary

General habitat association specified in comments(00270)
Human association specified in comments(00690)
Human association: barns/sheds
Human association: houses
Isolation from humans required; should be relatively inaccessible
Natural features: caves, dry
Natural features: caves, wet

Comments about Life History:

Code Comment
007 Breed in autumn before hibernation and may breed during winter hibernation period *07,08,10*
017 Gestation period unknown *07,08, 10*
018 1 young per litter *07,08,10*
019 1 litter per year *10*
035 Predators may include snakes, raccoons, opossums, and cats *07, 08,10*
099 Young are born May- early June , begin to fly well at approximately 3 weeks of age. Individuals in nursery colonies may cluster tightly together *07,08,10*

Life History Information

Periodicity: active at night
Regulatory factors specified in comments(035)
Other life history information specified in comments(099)
Origin in state: native
Seasonal distribution in state: all seasons
Foraging strategy: gleaning
Foraging strategy: flycatching
Foraging sites: air
Foraging sites: branches of tree
Foraging sites: leaves of tree
Breeding season specified in comments(007)
Nest/den site: cave
Nest/den site: man-made structure
Nest materials: no nest structure
Gestation/incubation period specified in comments(017)
Clutch/litter size specified in comments(018)
Number of broods/litters per year specified in comments(019)
Development of young at birth/hatching: altricial
Parental care of young: female

Comments about Life History:

Code Comment
007 Breed in autumn before hibernation and may breed during winter hibernation period *07,08,10*
017 Gestation period unknown *07,08, 10*
018 1 young per litter *07,08,10*
019 1 litter per year *10*
035 Predators may include snakes, raccoons, opossums, and cats *07, 08,10*
099 Young are born May- early June , begin to fly well at approximately 3 weeks of age. Individuals in nursery colonies may cluster tightly together *07,08,10*

References for life history: 003 , 006 , 007 , 008 , 009 , 010

Management

Beneficial Management Practices:

Protect caves from human disturbance
Shrub/brush - retain snags/cavity trees
Agricultural - maintain riparian habitats
Forest - maintain wilderness environment
Forest - maintain riparian habitats
Forest - retain snags/cavity trees

Beneficial Management References: 003

Adverse Managment Practices:

Shrub/brush - application of pesticides
Shrub/brush - application of insecticides
Urban - application of pesticides
Urban - application of insecticides
Agricultural - application of pesticides
Agricultural - application of insecticides
Forest - application of pesticides
Forest - application of insecticides
Grassland - application of pesticides
Grassland - application of insecticides

Adverse Management References: 003

Comments on Management:

References for Management Comments:

References

Reference Code Citation
001 Hall, E.R. 1981. The Mammals Of North America, 2nd Ed. John Wiley And Sons, Inc. New York. 1181pp.
002 Rare And Endangered Species Checklist Of Missouri. 1997. MO Dept. Of Conservation. Natural Heritage Database. 33 Pp.
003 Schwartz, C.W. and E.R. Schwartz. 2001. The Wild Mammals Of Missouri, 2nd Revised Edition University Of Missouri Press And Mo. Dept. Of Conserv., Columbia, Mo. 368 Pp.
004 Kelly, G. (Ed.) 1986. Animal Habitat Relations Handbook. Mo Dept. Of Conservation and U.S.D.A. Forest Service. Jefferson City, Mo. 293 Pp.
005 Thom, R.H. and J.H. Wilson. 1980 The Natural Divisions Of Missouri. Trans. Mo Acad. Sci. 14:9-24.
006 Unpb Clawson, R. Missouri Dept. Of Conservation. 1110 S. College Ave. Columbia, Mo. 65201 (573-882-9880).
007 Jones, C. 1977. Plecotus Rafinesquii.Mammalian Species 69:1-4
008 Hoffmeister, D.F. and W.W. Goodpaster. 1962. Observations On A Colony Of Big-Eared Bats, Plecotus Rafinesquii. Trans. Ill. State Acad. Sci. 55:87-89.
009 Jegla, T.C. 1963. Notes On Plecotus Rafinequii In Central Kentucky. J. Mammal. 44:119-120.
010 Barbour, R.W. and W.H. Davis. 1969. Bats Of America. Univ. Press Of Kentucky. Lexington. 285 Pp.
011 Unpb Elder, W.H., Collection Records. 112 Stephens Hall, Univ. Of Mo., Columbia, Mo. 65211 (573-882-3436)
012 The Wildlife Code of Missouri. Missouri Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102. 573-751-4115.
013 Unpb Easterla, D.A. Dept. Of Biology. N.W. Mo St. Univ., Maryville, Mo 64468 (816-582-7141).
014 Missouri Natural Heritage Program. 2004. Missouri Species and Communities of Conservation Concern Checklist. Missouri Department Of Conservation. Jefferson City, Missouri. 47 Pp.
015 Lance, R.F., B.T. Hardcastle, A. Talley and P.L. Leberg. 2001. Day-Roost Selection By Rafinesque's Big-Eared Bats (Corynorhinus Rafinesquii) In Louisiana Forest. J. Mammal. 82(1):166-172.
016 Smithsonian Institution. 1993. Mammals Species Of The World. Http://Www.Nmnh.Si.Edu/Msw/ (Accessed 8/28/02).
017 Baker, R.J., L.C. Bradley, R.D. Bradley, J.W. Dragoo, M.D. Engstrom, R.S. Hoffman, C.A. Jones, F. Reid, D.W. Rice, and C. Jones. 2003. Revised checklist of North American mammals north of Mexico, 2003. Occasional Papers. Museum of Texas Tech University Number 229. 23p.
018 Feldhamer, G.A., T.C. Carter, A.T. Morzillo, and E.H. Nicholson. 2003. Use of bridges as day roosts by bats in southern Illinois. Trans. IL Acad. Sci. 96(2): 107-112.