| Hoary bat | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Chiroptera |
| Family: | Vespertilionidae |
| Genus: | Aeorestes |
| Species: | A. cinereus |
| Binomial name | |
| Aeorestes cinereus (Beauvois, 1796) | |
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| Distribution of the hoary bat (2008) | |
Thehoary bat (Aeorestes cinereus) is a type ofbat in the familyVespertilionidae. It is found throughout most ofNorth America and much ofSouth America. It is also found in theGalápagos Islands andHawaii.
The hoary bat is 13 to 14.5 cm (5.1 to 5.7 in) long. It has awingspan of 40 cm (15.5 in). It weighs 26 g (0.92 oz). Itsfur isdense and dark brown, with white tips to the hairs.[2] The body is covered in fur except for the undersides of thewings. Males and females aresexually dimorphic in bodymass.[3]
It normally roosts alone on trees. But sometimes, it has been seen incaves with other bats. It preferswoodland, mainlyconiferous forests, but hunts over open areas orlakes. It hunts alone and it mainly eatsmoths. The bats can travel 39 km (24 mi) whileforaging.[2] In thewinter, they live inCentral America and thesouthwestern United States. In thespring and summer, they live in theUnited States andCanada.[4]
The reproductive cycle of the hoary bat is not yet fully understood. But, it is thought that they mate in August. It is also thought that they give birth in June of the following year. It is thought that thegestation period is only 40 days. It gives birth to one pup, or sometimes twins. The young ones stay with the mother for a month before leaving.
