# Rafinesque's Big-eared Bat (*Corynorhinus rafinesquii*) Rafinesque's Big-eared Bat is a small bat with big ears! They love to eat insects and can be found in dark places like caves and old buildings. These bats help keep the bug population down! - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Caves and forests - **Also known as:** Big-eared Bat ![Rafinesque's Big-eared Bat](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Corynorhinus_rafinesquii.JPG&width=800) Photo: US Forest Service, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Corynorhinus_rafinesquii.JPG) ## Appearance The Rafinesque's Big-eared Bat has incredibly large ears, almost half its body length, that connect at the base. Its back is pale gray-brown, contrasting sharply with a pure white belly. It also has a distinctive pinkish nose and thin, delicate wing membranes. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Chiroptera - **Family:** Vespertilionidae - **Genus:** Corynorhinus ## Interesting facts - Baby bats, called pups, cling tightly to their mothers until they learn to fly! - Their huge ears are so long they can actually curl them up when they rest! - These bats like to hang out in old, quiet places like abandoned buildings or hollow trees! - They use their long, pink tongues to drink water, swooping low over puddles! ## Special abilities - **Super Hearing:** The Rafinesque's Big-eared Bat has enormous ears that help it hear tiny insect sounds, detecting hidden prey. - **Silent Flight:** This bat can fly incredibly quietly because its specialized wings absorb sound, helping it sneak up on insects. - **Insect Gleaner:** Rafinesque's Big-eared Bat can pluck insects directly off leaves and tree trunks, a hunting style called gleaning. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 7.5-12 cm - **Wingspan:** 25-30 cm - **Weight:** 0.006-0.016 kg - **Lifespan:** 7-14 years - **Speed:** 20 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1 - **Gestation:** 50-60 days ## Diet & Feeding This bat loves to snack on a variety of night-flying insects, especially juicy moths and beetles. - **Primary Foods:** Moths, Beetles, Crickets, Mosquitoes, Flies - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Great Horned Owl](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-horned-owl) (*Bubo virginianus*) — Nocturnal predator catching bats in flight or at roosts. - **Eaten by:** [Raccoon](https://www.snappit.app/explore/raccoon) (*Procyon lotor*) — Opportunistic predator, can catch bats at roost entrances. - **Shelter:** Tulip Poplar (*Liriodendron tulipifera*) — Provides hollows for roosting and raising young. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Aerial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aerial): Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting. - [Cave Dwelling](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/cave-dwelling): Cave dwelling describes organisms specifically adapted to live in underground cave systems, often exhibiting specialized traits due to lack of light. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Echolocation](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/echolocation): Echolocation is a biological sonar used by animals to navigate, hunt, and communicate by emitting sound waves and interpreting the echoes. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low If you see a bat, watch quietly from a distance. They are shy and prefer to be left alone. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Rafinesque's Big-eared Bat? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Rafinesque's Big-eared Bat? 7.5-12 cm ### What is Rafinesque's Big-eared Bat's wingspan? 25-30 cm ### How much does Rafinesque's Big-eared Bat weigh? 0.006-0.016 kg ### How long does Rafinesque's Big-eared Bat live? 7-14 years ### How fast can Rafinesque's Big-eared Bat move? 20 km/h ### What does Rafinesque's Big-eared Bat eat? This bat loves to snack on a variety of night-flying insects, especially juicy moths and beetles. ### Where is Rafinesque's Big-eared Bat usually found? Caves and forests ## Where to spot - [Singletary Lake State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/singletary-lake-state-park) — North Carolina, US · State Park ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Rafinesque's Big-eared Bat: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rafinesques-big-eared-bat)