Corynorhinus mexicanus

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

Bibliography

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	MAMMALIA	CHIROPTERA	VESPERTILIONIDAE

Scientific Name:

Corynorhinus mexicanus

Species Authority:

G.M. Allen, 1916

Common Name/s:

English

–

Mexican Big-eared Bat

Synonym/s:

Plecotus mexicanus (G.M. Allen, 1916)

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Near Threatened ver 3.1

Year Published:

2008

Assessor/s:

Arroyo-Cabrales, J. & Reid, F.

Reviewer/s:

Medellín, R. (Chiroptera Red List Authority) & Schipper, J. (Global Mammal Assessment Team)

Justification:
This species is listed as Near Threatened because even though it has a wide distribution, presumed medium sized population and occurrence in a number of protected areas, the population of the species is considered to be declining and may qualify for listing as threatened in the near future under criterion A.

History:

1996

–

Lower Risk/least concern

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species occurs in Sonora and Coahuila to Michoacan Yucatán (Mexico); Cozumel Island (Mexico) (Simmons, 2005). It occurs from lowlands to 3,200 m (usually above 1,500 m outside Yucatán) (Reid, 1997). The records found in Yucatan peninsula are old records: the original data for location is questionable (Reid pers. comm.)
Countries:	Native: Mexico
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	It is rare in southeastern Mexico (known from few specimens); elsewhere uncommon to locally common (Reid, 1997).
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	This species can be found in dry lowland areas to highland pine-oak forest (Reid, 1997). It roosts in caves and mine tunnels. Individuals hang well apart from one another, clinging to vertical surfaces with feet and thumbs, ears coiled back, and tail curled under to cover the lower belly. Numbers present in caves may vary throughout the year, and hibernating groups have been found in deep caves. Most southern and lowland records were obtained in the winter and may be due to seasonal migrations from cold, highland regions (Hall and Dalquest, 1963; Koopman, 1974). Diet probably consists of small, flying insect. Single young are born in March or June (Tumlinson, 1992; Reid, 1997).
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

This species can be found in dry lowland areas to highland pine-oak forest (Reid, 1997). It roosts in caves and mine tunnels. Individuals hang well apart from one another, clinging to vertical surfaces with feet and thumbs, ears coiled back, and tail curled under to cover the lower belly. Numbers present in caves may vary throughout the year, and hibernating groups have been found in deep caves. Most southern and lowland records were obtained in the winter and may be due to seasonal migrations from cold, highland regions (Hall and Dalquest, 1963; Koopman, 1974). Diet probably consists of small, flying insect. Single young are born in March or June (Tumlinson, 1992; Reid, 1997).

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Habitat loss and roost disturbance (Ceballos and Oliva, 2005).

Major Threat(s):

Habitat loss and roost disturbance (Ceballos and Oliva, 2005).

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	It is found in at least five protected area.

Conservation Actions:

It is found in at least five protected area.

Bibliography [top]

	Ceballos, G. and Oliva, G. 2005. Los mamíferos silvestres de México. Comisión Nacional para el Conocimiento y Uso de la Biodiversidad and Fondo de Cultura Económica, México. Hall, E. R. and Dalquest, W. W. 1963. The Mammals of Veracruz. University of Kansas Publications, Museum of Natural History 14: 16-362. Koopman, K. F. 1974. Eastern limits of Plecotus in Mexico. Journal of Mammalogy 55: 872-873. Reid, F. 1997. A field guide to the mammals of Central America and southeast Mexico. Oxford University Press, New York, USA. Simmons, N. B. 2005. Order Chiroptera. In: D. E. Wilson and D. M. Reeder (eds), Mammal Species of the World, pp. 312-529. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, MD, USA. Tumlison, R. 1992. Plecotus mexicanus. Mammalian Species 401: 1-3.

Ceballos, G. and Oliva, G. 2005. Los mamíferos silvestres de México. Comisión Nacional para el Conocimiento y Uso de la Biodiversidad and Fondo de Cultura Económica, México.

Hall, E. R. and Dalquest, W. W. 1963. The Mammals of Veracruz. University of Kansas Publications, Museum of Natural History 14: 16-362.

Koopman, K. F. 1974. Eastern limits of Plecotus in Mexico. Journal of Mammalogy 55: 872-873.

Reid, F. 1997. A field guide to the mammals of Central America and southeast Mexico. Oxford University Press, New York, USA.

Simmons, N. B. 2005. Order Chiroptera. In: D. E. Wilson and D. M. Reeder (eds), Mammal Species of the World, pp. 312-529. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, MD, USA.

Tumlison, R. 1992. Plecotus mexicanus. Mammalian Species 401: 1-3.

Citation:	Arroyo-Cabrales, J. & Reid, F. 2008. Corynorhinus mexicanus. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 24 May 2012.
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