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Big brown bat - EPTESICUS FUSCUS
Class: Animals with Milk Glands (Mammalia)
The Name "Bat": "Bat" comes from Old Norse "ledhrblaka," "leather flapper." It became "bakka" and then "bat."
Description: A bat of medium size with dark, broad muzzle; simple nose; ears of moderate length, with rounded tips and blunt tragus (ear flap). Fur long, pale to dark brown, may be lighter on underparts. Length of head and body about 2.8 in, forearm 1.6-2 in, weight 0.5-0.8 oz; females larger than males.
Location: North America south of the Arctic.
Habitat: Nearly all situations.
Behavior: Originally a forest dweller, the big brown bat has adapted to urban life and is frequently found in buildings, under bridges, and in other artificial structures, as well as in tree hollows and sometimes caves. It may roost singly or in small colonies; it rarely migrates, and then only short distances. The big brown bat forages at night, following a habitual course of flight. It eats mostly beetles, and although many other flying insects are also taken, moths are not among them. This species hibernates in winter in the coldest parts of its range.
Reproduction: Breeding begins in autumn with fertilization delayed in hibernating females; gestation is about 2 months. The young are born during mid-May to June, usually a single offspring in western North America and twins in the East. The young are weaned and can fly when 1 month old.
Go to the Bats Page to get a general discussion of this flying mammal.
Go to the Bats Index to study the other bats included in America Zoo.
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