the mexican big-eared bat ( corynorhinus mexicanus ) is a species of vesper bat endemic to mexico .

they are nocturnal and insectivorous .

their very large ears are located across their foreheads , and when captured , the bats are observed to curl their ears in a protective manner .

the adults are usually brown colored , while the juveniles are usually a smokey brown color .

they have small noses .

mexican big - eared bat

spermatozoa epididymal maturation in the mexican big - eared bat ( corynorhinus mexicanus ) .
spermatozoa epididymal maturation in the mexican big - eared bat ( corynorhinus mexicanus ) . - pubmed - ncbi
allen ' s ( mexican ) big - eared bat ( idionycteris
( on - line ) . accessed ( date unknown ) at urltoken .
a female mexican big - eared bat ( corynorhinus mexicanus ) with its baby . medellín also studies this little - known , endemic , and insectivorous species .
a young / baby of a mexican bigeared bat is called a ' pup ' . a mexican bigeared bat group is called a ' colony or cloud ' .
the ozark big - eared bat is a threatened species found only in a small number of caves in the southern central united states . also known as the western big - eared bat , the long - eared bat , and the lump - nosed bat , its appearance is defined by a pair of outsize ears and a lump - adorned nose .
a number of mammalian taxa are found in this arid ecoregion , among them the following special status taxa ; margay ( leopardus wiedii nt ) ; mexican big - eared bat ( plecotus mexicanus nt ) ; mexican long - tongued bat ( choeronycteris mexicana nt ) ; and the lesser long - nosed bat ( leptonycteris yerbabuenae vu ) .
when it ' s roosting or hibernating , townsend ' s big - eared bat curls up its long ears so they look like rams horns .
allen ' s big - eared bat ( idionycteris phyllotis ) is one of several species of bats listed as of special concern in the united states .
conduct investigations to identify locations of pale townsend ' s big - eared bat roost sites within 10 miles of the lcr mscp planning area in reaches 3–5 .
the townsend ' s big eared bat being evaluated by the lcr mscsp is described in the habitat conservation plan as the pale townsend ' s big eared bat ( corynorhinus townsendii pallescens ) . it is important to note that these bats have also been referred to previously as plecotus townsendii pallescens and corynorhinus townsendii townsendii in the literature and by u . s . fish and wildlife service . genetic analyses on the pale townsend ' s big - eared bat indicate that the lcr is likely in the range of the pacific townsend ' s big - eared bat ( corynorhinus townsendii townsendii ) rather than the pale townsend ' s big - eared bats ( piaggio and perkins 2005 ) . bats recorded along the lcr will be referred to as the pale townsend ' s big - eared bat on this website and in lcr mscp reports , as the name change has not yet been verified by the u . s . fish and wildlife service .
comments on population status allen ' s ( mexican ) big - eared bat is listed in the federal register , november 15 , 1994 , as a category 2 species for consideration to be listed as a threatened or endangered species .
october 20 , 1997 .
species : allen ' s big - eared bat ( idionycteris phyllotis )
( on - line ) . accessed ( date unknown ) at urltoken .
the mexican big - eared bat is listed as least concern ( lr / lc ) , lowest risk . does not qualify for a more at risk category . widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category , on the iucn red list of threatened species
they specialize in eating moths and other insects such as beetles , flies and wasps . townsend ' s big - eared bat is usually a late flier and will forage along the edge of vegetation .
the habitat conservation plan provides conservation measures specific to each species . listed below are the species specific conservation measures for the pale townsend big - eared bat . click on the arrows to expand the table .
, also known as allen ' s big - eared bat , are its large ears ( 34 to 43 mm ) which possess lappets projecting from the base of the ears and extending over the forehead .
the ozark big - eared bat feeds primarily on moths but may also eat other bugs in and around its forested hunting grounds . it makes its home in caves , relying on their protection during hibernation and maternity .
the pale townsend’s big - eared bat ( corynorhinus townsendii ) is a medium - sized bat with a wingspan of 11 . 8 - 13 . 4 inches ( 30 - 34 cm ) , and a weight of 0 . 28 to 0 . 5 oz ( 8 - 14 g ) . fur ranges from slate gray to pale with cinnamon brown to blackish brown tips . ears are very large ( 1 . 2 - 1 . 9 inches or 30 - 39 mm ) and are joined across the forehead . the most significant characteristics are two large glandular lumps on each side of the nose , which help distinguish it from the four other large - eared bat species that may be found along the lcr : the spotted bat , the california leaf - nosed bat , the allen’s big - eared bat , and the pallid bat .
rodrigo medellín , seen here with a mexican long - tongued bat ( choeronycteris mexicana ) , links research , conservation , and education to preserve bats and their environment .
the ozark big - eared bat once lived in caves in missouri , arkansas , and oklahoma . however , they have apparently abandoned their missouri habitat due to human encroachment and cave disturbance . conservationists are currently working to protect these numbers by minimizing human intrusions .
is common throughout mexico with its range extending through central america and into northern south america . it is also found in some areas of the southwestern united states . the mexican long - tongued bat has been found in southern texas , new mexico , arizona , and california . the bat enters these states from mexico at their very southern border . the mexican long - tongued bat is rare in the united states . the scarcity of
occurs in the same habitat in southern yuma county along the mexican boundary ( kearney and peebles 1951 ) .
human - caused disturbances occur in a variety of different ways . the loss of roosting habitat for this sedentary species may be one of the most serious threats to not only pale townsend’s big - eared bats , but other species as well . pale townsend’s big - eared bats lose roosting habitat by either the destruction of the roost or by abandonment after a disturbance . disturbance to maternity roosting sites has been found to be a serious danger to pale townsend’s big - eared bat populations . disturbance to hibernacula may also be a danger because it causes an increase in activity , which may cause bats to expend too much energy , causing them to starve to death .
two eastern subspecies of townsend’s big - eared bat have been listed by the u . s . fish and wildlife service as endangered under the endangered species act . the bureau of land management , in california , has placed townsend’s big - eared bat on their animal sensitive species list . state designations include mammalian species of special concern in california and a species of conservation priority by nevada department of wildlife . the western bat working group lists it as a species of high priority , the highest priority the group gives . the international union for conservation of nature ( iucn ) red list of threatened species lists the species as least concern .
mexican big - eared bats fold back their ears , which are exceptionally large - and pleated - when they roost . they roost apart from each other , not packed together in clusters , in caves or mine tunnels , clinging to vertical surfaces with their toes and the thumb on each wing and with their tail curled forward under the body . some have been found hibernating in deep caves . females give birth to a single offspring , not twins , in the spring . mexican big - eared bats have been found in small numbers in dry lowland forests and higher - elevation pine - oak forests . they probably eat small flying insects .
the mexican long - tongued bat is a medium sized bat with a long rostrum and a nose leaf . it has a long tongue that extends to 1 / 3 of its body length . it ' pelage is gray to brown above and lighter below . other characteristics include big eyes and a minute tail that extends less than halfway to the edge of the interfemoral membrane .
subgenus dermanura : andersen ' s fruit - eating bat ( a . anderseni )
no other large - eared bat in the area has a nose - leaf ( erect and lanceolate ) , and no other bat with a nose - leaf has such large ears ( 1 to 1 . 5 inches ) . in various places in arizona and along the colorado river in california , california leaf - nosed bats are known to feed on short - eared and long - eared grasshoppers , long - horned beetles , cicadas , sphinx moths , and noctuid and cossid moths ( hoffmeister 1986 ) .
is an insectivorous bat which feeds mostly by gleaning moths and stationary insects from surfaces .
townsend ' s big - eared bats will use a variety of habitats , almost always near caves or other roosting areas . they can be found in pine forests and arid desert scrub habitats . when roosting they do not tuck themselves into cracks and crevices like many bat species do , but prefer large open areas .
the current range of the species continues to include all areas where townsend’s big - eared bats were historically found , although there have been major population declines in many areas , including the loss of many historic roosting sites along the lcr .
aside from consuming loads of crop - destroying insects , bats are plant pollinators , and medellín ' s prized lesser long - nosed bat pollinates the cactuslike blue agave plant , the single plant species from which mexican tequila is produced .
is an insectivorous bat it plays an important role in pest control . bat guano is used as a source of fertilizer , and organisms housed in the guano are used for waste detoxifying .
townsend ' s big - eared bats ( corynorhinus townsendii ) are a medium - sized bat with very long ears . their fur is pale gray or brown above and buff colored on the underside . this bat ' s ears are enormous , reaching a length of 38 mm . when the ears are laid back they extend to the middle of its body . the face is marked by two large glandular lumps on either side of its nose .
bizarre bat behavior : oral sex , pollinating tequila , sharing meals , drinking blood , males lactating .
predation is a threat to most bats , including pale townsend’s big - eared bats . specific predators of pale townsend’s big - eared bats include black rat snakes , spotted skunks , house cats , ringtails , rats , domestic cats , dogs , birds of prey , snakes , raccoons , weasels , predatory song birds , frogs , large spiders , and even other bats . bats , in general , are preyed upon by a number of different animals , although most of these are not bat specialists and bats are usually a rare occurrence in their total diet . while humans are not predators of bats , the negative image many have about bats may be a serious threat .
pale townsend’s big - eared bat is primarily a cave - dwelling species that also roosts in old mines . this bat does not generally associate with other species in its roosts , particularly at maternity and hibernating sites . unlike maternity colonies , bachelor ( and non - reproductive female ) roosting sites usually contain one to several individuals . along the lcr , males may be territorial and roost alone unless the site is very large . bachelor roost selection is not as complex as it is for maternity colonies .
over 20 years ago , medellín initiated research to identify and ultimately help protect the lesser long - nosed bat’s caves . his efforts also prompted educational programs that dispelled bat myths and underscored their benefits to thousands of mexicans .
but bat shrieks are also capable of great nuance . a study of the false vampire bat ( megaderma lyra ) suggests bats may be able to recognize the voices of their friends . males of another species , the mexican free - tailed bat ( tadarida brasiliensis ) , appear to sing in order to woo their mates . as a female flies past , the male belts out little ditties to attract her attention , then tries to keep her interested by free - styling combinations of syllables and phrases .
monday , 26 - jan - 98 .
data : species : mammal : mexican
( on - line ) . accessed ( date unknown ) at urltoken .
acting through ibwc , reclamation and its counterpart in mexico have developed a forum for the exchange of technical information . any efforts to discuss releasing flows into the upper gulf with the mexican government would be subject to the protocol set forth by ibwc and the mexican water treaty . a copy of this biological assessment will be provided to the u . s . section of the ibwc , who in turn will provide it to the mexican section of the ibwc ( ibwc letter dated may 21 , 1996 ) .
it is assumed as with many bat species that predators can include snakes , owls , cats , raccoons and hawks .
the mexican long - tongued bat is the only nectar feeding bat that is not endangered . it is listed by the united states fish and wildlife service as a species of concern . fewer than 400 bats have been seen in the united states since 1906 . a long term sustainable food source is important for the survival of the species . development , prescribed fires , and grazing threaten loss of food plants . other threats to
mexican free - tailed bats ( tadarida brasiliensis mexicana ) exiting a cave in texas . it is difficult to estimate the number of bats exiting a cave when large populations are involved .
the name for the townsend’s big - eared bat ( corynorhinus townsendii ) has changed often since it was first described . both the genera and species name has undergone many changes . currently there are 5 recognized subspecies of c . townsendii in the united states , two ( c . t . townsendii and c . t . pallescens ) in the western u . s . , and 2 ( c . t . ingens and c . t . virginianus ) in the eastern u . s . , and 1 ( c . t . australis ) with a primarily mexican distribution , that overlaps with c . t . pallescens in western texas .
foraging habitat varies widely between area and subspecies . one subspecies was found to forage more in open fields , pastures , and cliffs , rather than in nearby forested areas , while another was found to use edge habitat or habitat in close proximity to vertical structures such as trees and cliffs more often than open field or woodland habitat . one telemetry study found that pale townsend’s big - eared bats concentrated foraging activity along the edges of riparian vegetation and generally were found in the vicinity of vegetation when traveling to foraging areas from the roost sites . there appears to be an association between foraging sites and the location of mines and caves that big - eared bats use as roosts .
conservationist rodrigo medellin ' s efforts to save the lesser long - nosed bat is tied to mexico ' s blue agave plant .
“this is nothing short of a dream come true ,
says medellín , who hopes enthusiasts snap up the brands , leading to more demand and broader , bat - friendly farmology . “it will help save the bat and tequila at the same time . ”
click to play this sound . ( 0 : 02 , 175 kb ) credit : new mexico bat call library , w . l . gannon
the threatened and endemic banana bat ( musonycteris harrisoni ) is one of the little - known species that medellín seeks to study and protect in mexico .
this bat is a large myotis with a bare patch on the back between the shoulder blades . they roost in caves , tunnels , mine shafts , under bridges , and sometimes in buildings within a few miles of water . it is highly colonial and is often found roosting with the freetail bat ,
historically , the western subspecies of townsend’s big - eared bat had a wide distribution , and originally were separated by morphologic characters . one range of one subspecies included the western portions of california , oregon , washington , and british columbia . the range of another included the eastern portions of those pacific coast states and the province , as well as all of idaho , nevada , arizona , new mexico , utah , and wyoming , more than half of montana , most of colorado , western south dakota , part of the great plains , and northwestern mexico ( not including the baja peninsula ) .
bats have long been among the world’s most despised animals , due largely to myth and hollywood’s fascination with vampire bats . but medellín is trying to lead a the perceptual transformation of the bat , from blood - sucking demon to unsung nature hero , and hopes a bat - friendly tequila will provide a major public relations boost .
cumulative effects on yuma clapper rails from mexicos actions over the next 5 years are not known at this time . for the present , the mexican government has declared the cienega the core area of the worlds largest biosphere reserve . therefore , it can be expected the yuma clapper rails occupying that area would not be impacted by other mexican actions . effects of mexicos actions on other areas of yuma clapper rail habitat , such as the confluence of the rio hardy and colorado river are unknown .
temperate north american bats are now threatened by a fungal disease called “white - nose syndrome . ” this disease has devastated eastern north american bat populations at hibernation sites since 2007 . the fungus ,
the lcr mscp process for selecting sites to establish cottonwood - willow and honey mesquite as habitat for other covered species will , based on the information collected under conservation measure ptbb1 , give priority , when consistent with achieving lcr mscp goals for other covered species , to selecting sites that are within 10 miles of pale townsend ' s big - eared bat roosts in reaches 3–5 . as described in section 5 . 4 . 3 in the hcp , created cottonwood - willow and honey mesquite land cover will be designed to establish stands that will support a substantially greater density and diversity of plant species that are likely to support a greater abundance of insect prey species than is currently produced in the affected land cover types .
“i’m hoping to compare notes in conservation strategies on lions , tigers and leopards , ’’ he says . “we’re trying to understand why jaguars cannot sustain the level of encroachment by humans that allow the other big cats to survive in other countries .
each aspect of a critical habitat may , in and of itself , explain some changes in the population status of the big - river fishes , but the interactions between , and cumulative effects of , the combined elements are also of important concern .
trust me , you want nectar - feeding bats to get their fix . the long - nosed bats of the american southwest and mexico ( genus leptonycteris ) are some of the only pollinators of the agave plant—the source of tequila and bad decisions . one study showed that without bat pollination , the agave’s seed production plummets to 1 / 3 , 000 th of its bat - assisted rate .
the greater bulldog bat ( noctilio leporinus ) of mexico , central america , and south america , a fish - eating species , fishes by skimming over water and gaffing fish with its sharp claws .
a few bats in the united states and canada , such as this pallid bat ( antrozous pallidus ) , land on the ground and forage for insects , other small invertebrates , and even small mammals .
this species is found at all seasons throughout its range from sea level to 9 , 600 feet ( barbour and davis 1969 ) . it is only infrequently found in the desert mountains of arizona ( hoffmeister 1986 ) . townsend ' s big - eared bats are to be found during the day mostly in caves or mine tunnels , but at night they often rest in abandoned buildings ( hoffmeister 1986 ) . although widespread in arizona , it is not common anywhere else . hoffmeister ( 1986 ) lists one specimen taken 8 miles north of parker .
for instance , little brown bats ( myotis lucifugus ) go through two phases of mating : active and passive . the active phase comes first and is sort of like spring break . “it’s just one big bat orgy , ” says harvey . males mate with multiple females . females mate with multiple males . heck , little browns occasionally even respond to the calls of other species . ( let’s not to tell the girls gone wild guy . bats have enough problems . )
this bat is fairly common ( reid , 1997 ; wilson and ruff , 1999 ) . not so common in guatemala and mexico ( not rare ) ( perez and arroyo - cabrales pers . comm . )
a distinctive , medium sized bat ( forearm 1 . 5 to 2 inches ) with three large white spots , one on each shoulder and one at the base of the tail . the ears are pinkish - red and , at nearly 2 inches , the largest of any north american bat . there is only limited information on reproduction biology , but one young is apparently born from late may to early july . moths are the dominant food item .
the lower colorado river lies along the western edge of the crissal thrashers range . this subspecies also occurs along the bill williams river , big sandy river , and possibly the lower gila river , the little colorado river , and in the grand canyon ( rosenberg et al . 1991 ) .
' s inflorescences
lie flat like big buttons on the sand and are easily overlooked by the average observer .
beneath the inflorescence , a single , long ( 39 - inch ) stem lies hidden in the sand that reaches downward to the roots of its plant host , the source of
habitat destruction has been especially harmful to the lesser long - nosed bat , first listed as a threatened species in mexico in 1994 . by 2008 it was well on its way to recovery , thanks largely to medellín , a tireless advocate who ' s been dubbed the
bat man of mexico
for his work with bats . ( medellín , a rolex laureate and national geographic grantee , has also worked to help a variety of other plant and animal species . )
honestly , if you want to see a healthy bat - to - human interaction , take a trip to austin , texas . beneath a bridge downtown lives a colony of 1 . 5 million mexican free - tailed bats—the largest urban population of bats in the world , responsible for consuming about 10 tons of insects in a single night . and every day from march to october , you can watch them dive out of their roost en masse and fly toward the horizon in a black cloud that under any other circumstances would call to mind the end of days—or at the very least a meatloaf song .
this is a rather large ( forearm 1 . 5 to 2 inches ) bat with enormous ears , a broad tragus , and a unique pair of lappets projecting from the median bases of the ears anteriorly over the top of the snout .
the greater western mastiff - bat is found from san francisco bay , california , through las vegas , nevada , the southern half of arizona to big bend , texas , and south to sinaloa in northwestern mexico and zacatecas in central mexico . they can be found mostly below 4 , 000 feet in elevation in the lower and upper sonoran desert scrub near cliffs , preferring rugged canyons with abundant crevices ( agfd 1992 ) . the foraging range apparently is extensive . vaughan ( 1959 ) has reported hearing this bat flying over desert flats several miles from the nearest likely roost site . in the mohave desert they were heard foraging 15 miles from the nearest hills ( barbour and davis 1969 ) . specimens examined by hoffmeister ( 1986 ) were from two locations west of kingman in mohave county .
. mining activities have caused the relocation or extermination of several bat roosts . reproduction is shown to decrease after relocation , threatening the survival of the roost . deforestation removes the feeding environment for the bats , as well as that of their insect prey .
) series of sonoran desertscrub ( turner and brown 1982 ) . it is this open community in association with sandy flats and valleys that is often described as flat - tailed horned lizard habitat ( stebbins 1966 , turner and medica 1982 , rorabaugh et al . 1987 ) . in arizona , the presence of big galleta grass (
this bat is the only myotis in the united states with a conspicuous fringe of hair along the posterior border of the interfemoral membrane ( forearm 1 . 5 to 2 inches ) . the fringed myotis roosts in caves , abandoned buildings , rock crevices , and trees .
) . the coastal rosy boa is found in southwestern california and adjacent lower california , while the desert rosy boa inhabits southeastern california and southwestern arizona , with isolated populations in harcuvar , harquahala , castle dome , and kofa mountains , arizona . the mexican rosy boa is found in southern arizona ( organ pipe cactus national monument ) to guaymas , sonora , at the tip of baja california ( stebbins 1966 ) .
by year’s end , tequila brands certified as “bat - friendly
will be on the market in the u . s . , the world ' s biggest tequila consumer , under the tequila cascahuin , la alteña , siete leguas , and don mateo distillery labels , medellín says .
in arizona was described by stebbins ( 1951 ) as along the hassayampa and agua fria rivers , both tributaries of the gila river , and along the big sandy and bill williams rivers above their confluence . stebbins described the subspecies in nevada as being found near las vegas and along the meadow valley wash , a drainage that empties into the muddy river northwest of overton . the
) remains erect and may actually look like a small ear , which can make it hard to identify a roosting bat . few have been observed in their roosts ; most information about them comes from bats that were netted while they were flying . these versatile bats adapt their flight patterns and sound emissions (
bats make up an amazing one - fifth of all mammal species . a vast majority eat bugs—70 percent of species worldwide—but there are a few curious exceptions . the vampire bats of central and south america possess dagger - sharp incisors , which they use to open the veins of mammals and birds . they typically choose furless or featherless areas like ears , nipples , legs , and anuses . now , you might think a chicken would be bothered by a bat biting into its anus , but bat teeth are so sharp that most victims don’t seem to notice . ( don’t worry . vampires bats live only as far north as mexico . )
mexican long - tongued bats feed on nectar and pollen from agaves and other plants . these bats ' tongues can extend up to a third of their body length , a feature which makes them uniquely equipped to reach nectar deep inside an agave or cactus blossom . in southern arizona , long - tongued bats often get nectar from neighborhood hummingbird feeders as well . in the united states , this species is found in the southern parts of california , new mexico , and arizona .
the first commercial harvesting of totoaba began in the early 1890s and by 1942 , annual catches peaked at 2 . 3 million kg . in 1975 , the catch had declined to 59 , 142 kg ( lagomarsino 1991 ) . beginning as early as 1940 , the mexican government imposed restrictions on the commercial fishery for totoaba , and in 1975 , the government designated totoaba as endangered and declared an indefinite prohibition on all types of commercial and recreational fishing ( flanagan and hendrickson 1976 ) .
cally harper , a graduate student at brown university , has been studying another nectar feeder , the pallas’ long - tongued bat ( glossophaga soricina ) , to understand how they retrieve nectar so efficiently . scientists already knew some bats had tiny , hair - like structures on their tongues , but harper and her colleagues discovered something else—something bizarre .
a rather small myotis ( forearm 1 to 1 . 5 inches ) found in western north america from british columbia south to hidalgo and michoacan in mexico . this bat seems to be more closely associated with water than any other north american species . large nursery colonies can be found in buildings , under bridges , and in caves and mines .
this medium - sized bat ( forearm 1 . 5 ) has large ears measuring more than an inch in length . two large lumps appear on the dorso - lateral surface of the snout ( barbour and davis 1969 ) . foraging primarily on small moths , they may forage several miles ( 4 to 5 miles ) from the roost site ( caves and mines ) .
the small - footed myotis is identified by its glossy fur , black face mask , and tiny foot ( one - third inch ) . it apparently roosts in crevices and cavities of cliffs and or rocks , and possibly within caves and mine shafts . this species is remarkable in its tolerance for cold , relatively dry places for hibernation , especially for so small a bat .
a subspecies of savannah sparrow , the large - billed savannah sparrow is a small sparrow , streaked above and below . the legs are of a pale pink coloration , and often there is a pale yellow streak visible over the eye , especially in summer . the tertials are long , to protect the wing from abrasion against grasses , and the tail is slender , short , and notched . the large - billed , a mexican race , is paler than other savannah sparrows , without well - defined markings on the back and crown , and the breast streaks are diffuse .
observations made during the summer of 1958 have added to the knowledge of the habits and ecology of phcotus phyllotis , 29 specimens of which were taken during the summer . the majority were taken in association with mexican pine - oak woodland , although a few were taken from other habitats that were either similar to or in geographical proximity to pine - oak woodland . those individuals taken in mist nets were active well after dark and during fair weather . observations on their flight under natural conditions indicate that they are swift , agile flyers . these bats made many audible sounds during flight in the wild
, grows best in cold , humid conditions that are typical of many bat hibernacula . the fungus grows on , and in some cases invades , the bodies of hibernating bats and seems to result in disturbance from hibernation , causing a debilitating loss of important metabolic resources and mass deaths . mortality rates at some hibernation sites have been as high as 90 % . while there are currently no reports of
critical habitat is a regulatory term used to describe requirements for certain species survival . it encompasses physical and biological features essential for survival and recovery of listed species . within the context of this document , the components of critical habitat will be addressed jointly for each species . there are some differences in species requirements , but the system itself functions as a whole , so it should be addressed as a whole . for the endangered big - river fishes , critical habitat encompasses three major areas of consideration as follows :
feeds on fruit , pollen , nectar , and possibly insects on rare occasions . they have a long tongue that aids in removing nectar from flowers . pollen and nectar is acquired mainly from night blooming flowers such as cactus and agave . nectar and pollen is typically collected while the bat hovers over the flower . hummingbird feeders provide food for those bats arriving to northern destinations when food sources are not yet available .
as with oral sex , we can only guess at the advantages afforded by a cactus - like penis . it’s possible the spines stimulate the female’s hormonal response . alternately , they could remove obstructions , such as a plug of semen left behind by another male . the only thing i can say with any degree of certainty is that once you’ve seen the penis of a hoary bat , your nightmares will never be the same .
the united states ability to reverse conditions in the colorado river delta is virtually nonexistent . the reasons for this involve an international treaty and u . s . restrictions . the waters of the colorado , once delivered to mexico , as agreed upon in the mexican water treaty of 1944 , are the exclusive property of the sovereign nation of mexico . further , this treaty contains no provisions requiring mexico to provide water for environmental protection nor any requirements relating to mexicos use of that water . finally , a supreme court decree in 1964 enjoined reclamation from releasing water to mexico in excess of the quantity identified in the 1944 treaty except for flood control purposes .
of course , in austin they just call it “dusk . ” tourists flock to the bridge and the nearby riverbanks to witness the spectacle . some people even rent kayaks and pay admission on riverboats to gaze in awe from below—though umbrellas are recommended , as the bats tend to eject their bowels upon exiting the roost . in fact , the sour - sweet smell of guano in the air will hit you long before a bat ever does .
and it’s really quite a shame , for these creatures ought to be among the darlings of the internet . bats are merciless predators , loyal neighbors , tender mothers , and generous lovers with strange and intimidating tongues . bats give us tequila and were conscripted during world war ii . and because breaking into animal celebrity today is a lot like boogie nights , i’ll point out that at least one bat species possesses a penis of great and terrifying adaptation .
comments : specific abundance information is not available . however , according to the western bat working group ( 1998 ) , fewer than 400 individuals have been observed in the united states since 1906 . according to bill peachey ( pers . comm . , 1998 ) , from 1884 - 1994 only 700 individuals were collected in arizona . abundance in arizona is currently thought to be fewer than 1 , 000 individuals ( bill peachey , pers . comm . , 1998 ) . roosts in small numbers , usually fewer than 5 - 6 individuals ( bill peachey , pers . comm . , 1998 ) , but some colonies may reach 40 - 50 individuals ( western bat working group 1998 ) . according to reid ( 1997 ) , fairly common in desert scrub , deciduous , and pine - oak forests of central america and southeastern mexico . rated as widespread but relatively scarce in mexico ( arita and prado 1999 ) .
this is the largest bat in the united states and has a forearm 3 to 3¾ inches in length . the distal half of the tail is free from the interfemoral membrane . one young is born as early as june and as late as august . they forage primarily for insects at considerable heights ( sometimes to 1 , 000 feet or more ) and for long periods during the night ; they especially like hymenoptera ( bees , wasps , ants and sawflies ) .
quarry activities have the potential to impact bats that may roost in associated rock crevices , mine shafts , adits , etc . however , no known roosts occur within any of the quarry sites along the colorado river . if roosts are discovered during mining operations , reclamation will halt such activities and seek the assistance of the agfd , ndow , and cfg to develop an appropriate mitigative measure to protect the roost . other river operations will not likely impact these bat species .
global range : ( 20 , 000 - 2 , 500 , 000 square km ( about 8000 - 1 , 000 , 000 square miles ) ) southwestern united states through mexico to el salvador and honduras . in the united states , occurs primarily in southern california ( the san diego area ) , southern arizona , southwestern new mexico , and the southern tip of texas ; also collected in the grand canyon national park , in northern arizona and known from a single specimen from las vegas , nevada ( western bat working group 1998 ) .
with a black face mask and appearing big - headed , the loggerhead shrike is slim - tailed , slightly smaller than a robin ; gray above , white below , it displays a small white patch on black wings during flight . a raptor that lacks talons and has weak feet , it has a strong , hooked bill for use in catching and feeding on rodents , lizards , small birds , and insects . to compensate for the lack of ability to hold prey firmly in its feet , the shrike becomes , in effect , a tool user by impaling its food on thorns , barbed wire , or other sharp objects to immobilize the carcass while it eats ( ryser 1985 ) .
stabilization of banklines by adding a veneer of rock ( called riprap ) is a common maintenance activity . historically , much of the shoreline was not vegetated because flooding often resulted in a denuded shoreline close to the water . depending on conditions , there were probably many years where there was very little cover on the river . this may dramatically reduce recruitment success of natives , but given the life - histories of the big - river fishes ( high fecundity plus longevity ) , they would not be expected to spawn successfully every year . riprap provides interstices for hiding of both native and nonnative fishes . whether this is beneficial or nonbeneficial is not known , and the issue is probably dogmatic .
the california leaf - nosed bat is found in southern california and southern nevada , across the southwestern half of arizona , and southward to the southern tip of baja california , northern sinaloa , and southwestern chihuahua , mexico . in arizona it is primarily a cave and mine dweller , mostly in the sonoran desert scrub . these bats can remain active year round and do not hibernate or migrate ( hoffmeister 1986 ) . specimens examined by hoffmeister ( 1986 ) were from yuma , parker , and 8 miles north of parker . this species is susceptible to human disturbance which may cause abandonment of roosts ( agfd 1992 ) .
the flannelmouth sucker is characteristic of large , strong flowing streams of the colorado river basin , and like other
big - river fishes
it is greatly reduced in range ( minckley 1973 ) . flannelmouth suckers have fine scales , a slim body , large fins and a ventral mouth with prominent well - developed fleshy , thick lips . the fish is reported to reach 30 inches in length and be a strong swimmer . breeding habits and spawning site descriptions are not known . this species hybridizes with the razorback sucker . therefore , they must utilize similar spawning habitat at similar times . however , the fish is also reported to hybridize with mountain suckers in the virgin river ( larivers 1962 ) . the fish is herbivorous and feeds on plant materials , algae and seeds ( sigler and miller , 1963 ) .
this species can be found in desert scrub , deciduous , and pine - oak forest ( reid , 1997 ) . it roosts in caves and mines , less commonly in buildings . individuals are spaced 2 to 5 cm apart and hang near the roost entrance where they remain alert and fly out if disturbed . this species leaves the roost shortly after sunset and feeds on pollen and nectar of agaves , cacti , ipomoea , ceiba , and other plants . cactus fruits are also eaten . in southeast arizona , this bat often visits hummingbird feeders , where it hovers in flight while lapping the nectar . northern populations migrate south for the winter . young are born in june to july in arizona ( arroyo - cabrales et al . , 1987 ; reid , 1997 ) .
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thank you for taking the time to provide feedback on the iucn red list of threatened species website , we are grateful for your input .
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 .
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 . )
it is rare in southeastern mexico ( known from few specimens ) ; elsewhere uncommon to locally common ( reid , 1997 ) .
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 ) .
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allen , g . m . , 1916 . bulletin of the museum comparative zoology , 60 : 347 .
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mammal species of the world : a taxonomic and geographic reference ( book , 2005 ) [ worldcat . org ]
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i thought you might be interested in this item at urltoken title : mammal species of the world : a taxonomic and geographic reference author : don e wilson ; deeann m reeder publisher : baltimore : johns hopkins university press , ©2005 . isbn / issn : 0801882214 9780801882210 0801882389 9780801882388 0801882397 9780801882395 oclc : 57557352
wilson and reeder ' s mammal species of the world is the classic reference book on the taxonomic classification and distribution of the more than 5400 species of mammals that exist today . the third edition includes detailed information on nomenclature and , for the first time , common names . each concise entry covers type locality , distribution , synonyms , and major reference sources . the systematic arrangement of
information indicates evolutionary relationships at both the ordinal and the family level . this indispensable reference work belongs in public and academic libraries throughout the world and on the shelf of every biologist who works with mammals .
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this indispensable reference work belongs in public and academic libraries throughout the world and on the shelf of every biologist who works with mammals .
a uniquely valuable compendium of taxonomic and distributional data on the world ' s living and historically extinct mammalian species . contributors and editors alike deserve the thanks of all
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wilson and reeder ' s mammal species of the world is the classic reference book on the taxonomic classification and distribution of the more than 5400 species of mammals that exist today . the third edition includes detailed information on nomenclature and , for the first time , common names . each concise entry covers type locality , distribution , synonyms , and major reference sources . the systematic arrangement of information indicates evolutionary relationships at both the ordinal and the family level . this indispensable reference work belongs in public and academic libraries throughout the world and on the shelf of every biologist who works with mammals .
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this species occurs in sonora and coahuila to michoacan yucatn ( mexico ) ; cozumel island ( mexico ) ( simmons , 2005 ) . it occurs from lowlands to 3 , 200 m ( usually above 1 , 500 m outside yucatn ) ( reid , 1997 ) . the records found in yucatan peninsula are old records : the original data for location is questionable ( reid pers . comm . )
classification from species 2000 & itis catalogue of life : april 2013 selected by c . michael hogan - see more .
jennifer hammock added an association between
sonoran - sinaloan transition subtropical dry forest habitat
and
glossophaga soricina
.
jennifer hammock added an association between
sonoran - sinaloan transition subtropical dry forest habitat
and
ipomoea arborescens
.
jennifer hammock added an association between
sonoran - sinaloan transition subtropical dry forest habitat
and
leptonycteris yerbabuenae
.
jennifer hammock added an association between
sonoran - sinaloan transition subtropical dry forest habitat
and
choeronycteris mexicana tschudi , 1844
.
jennifer hammock added an association between
sonoran - sinaloan transition subtropical dry forest habitat
and
plecotus mexicanus ( g . m . allen , 1916 )
.
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syst biol reprod med . 2008 jul - aug ; 54 ( 4 - 5 ) : 196 - 204 . doi : 10 . 1080 / 19396360802334466 .
cervantes mi 1 , arenas - rios e , león - galván ma , lópez - wilchis r , ambriz d , rosado a .
division de ciencias biologicas y de la salud , universidad autonoma metropolitana - iztapalapa . av . san rafael atlixco no . 186 , col . vicentina , mexico .
biokids is sponsored in part by the interagency education research initiative . it is a partnership of the university of michigan school of education , university of michigan museum of zoology , and the detroit public schools . this material is based upon work supported by the national science foundation under grant drl - 0628151 . copyright © 2002 - 2018 , the regents of the university of michigan . all rights reserved .


macotasa suffusus is a moth of the family erebidae .

it was described by talbot in 1926 .

it is found on borneo .

the habitat consists of lowland to lower montane forest types .

macotasa suffusus

macotasa suffusus ; [ mob7 ] : 305 , pl . 3 , f . 50
tigrioides suffusus talbot , 1926 ; sarawak mus . j . 3 ( 2 ) : 132
tigrioides suffusus talbot , 1926 , sarawak mus . j . , 3 ( 2 ) : 132 .
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this and the next two species are very similar externally . m suffusus resembles m . biplagella butler in having a straw yellow forewing ground colour and , in males , a rectangular black mark on the forewing costa . in m . tortricoides walker the ground colour is fawn and the costal black mark is triangular . in the male genitalia the uncus is bifid in suffusus and biplagella but entire in tortricoides and allies . males of suffusus differ from those of biplagella in having a dark zone at the base of the forewing dorsum and a curved , pale rufous line from the costal rectangle towards the centre of the margin , stopping 3mm short of it . the females of the two species are more similar , but the blackish triangle on the forewing costa is more prominent in suffusus ; in the genitalia the base of the ductus is expanded and folded rather than simple and squarish .
macotasa nubecula ( moore , 1879 ) = cossa nubecula moore , 1879 = ilema costalis ( moore , 1878 ) .
macotasa nubeculoides holloway , 1982 ; in barlow , intr . moths of south east asia . taxonomic app . : 209 ; tl : w . malaysia
macotasa nubeculoides ; [ mob7 ] , 306 ( note ) ; dubatolov , 2012 , euroasian ent . j . 11 ( 6 ) : 511 ( note )
macotasa ( lithosiini ) ; [ mob7 ] , 305 ; singh , singh & joshi , 2014 , rec . zool . survey india . occ . pap 367 : 43
macotasa nubecula ; [ mob7 ] , 306 ( note ) ; singh , singh & joshi , 2014 , rec . zool . survey india . occ . pap 367 : 44
macotasa sumatrana dubatolov & bucsek , 2014 ; amurian zool . j . 6 ( 2 ) : 176 ; tl : n . sumatra , pokkat , 98°33 ' e 2°10 ' n , 1600m
macotasa biplagella ; moore , 1878 , proc . zool . soc . lond . 1878 : 25 , pl . 2 , f . 14 [ ? oecophora biplagella walker . ms ] ; [ mob7 ] : 306 , pl . 3 , f . 52
macotasa orientalis ; dubatolov , 2012 , euroasian ent . j . 11 ( 6 ) : 512 ; [ mob7 ] : 306 , pl . 3 , f . 51 ; singh , singh & joshi , 2014 , rec . zool . survey india . occ . pap 367 : 44
macotasa nedoshivinae dubatolov , 2012 ; euroasian ent . j . 11 ( 6 ) : 511 , pl . 3 , f . 7 - 8 ; tl : vietnam , dong nai , vinh cuu nat . res . , ma da , rang rang , 11 . 34704°n , 107 . 01208°e
select a genera poliosia hampson - poliosia muricolor walker - poliosia quadrifida sp . n . - poliosia bifida sp . n . - poliosia sp . 5463 - poliosia marginata hampson - poliosia pulverea hampson - poliosia concolora sp . n . lambula walker - lambula fuliginosa walker - lambula errata eecke - lambula pallida hampson nishada moore - nishada chilomorpha adunca ssp . n . - nishada rotundipennis walker - nishada syntomiodes walker - nishada sambara moore tigrioides butler - tigriodes sabulosalis walker - tigrioides leucanioides walker - tigrioides puncticollis butler - tigrioides antipulvereola sp . n . mithuna moore - mithuna quadriplagoides sp . n . - mithuna fuscivena hampson stenaulis hampson - stenaulis discalis walker macotasa moore - macotasa suffusus talbot - macotasa biplagella butler - macotasa tortricoides walker - macotasa orientalis hampson teulisna walker - teulisna curviplaga rothschild comb . n - teulisna tumida walker - teulisna chiloides walker - teulisna pseudochiloides sp . n . - teulisna plagiata walker comb . rev . - teulisna quadratella sp . n . - teulisna reflexa sp . n . - teulisna tricornuta sp . n - teulisna nigricauda holloway - teulisna pallidicauda sp . n . - teulisna macropallida sp . n . - teulisna harmani sp . n . - teulisna nebulosa walker comb . n . - teulisna divisa walker comb . n . - teulisna montanebula sp . n . - teulisna uniplaga hampson comb . rev . - teulisna steineri sp . n . thysanoptyx hampson - thsanoptyx oblonga butler stat . rev . eilema hubner - eilema prabana moore - eilema costalboides sp . n . - eilema plumbeomicans hampson - eilema flavicosta moore - eilema fasciculosa walker - eilema decreta butler - eilema monochora turner stat . rev . - eilema pulvereola hampson - eilema sandakana draudt stat . n . - eilema brevivalva sp . n . - eilema trimacula sp . n . - eilema pseudocretacea sp . n . - eilema longpala sp . n . - eilema females - eilema sp . burnia moore gen . rev . - burnia antica walker comb . rev . - burnia sarawaca butler stat . rev . - burnia apicalis walker comb . n - burnia nebulifera hampson comb . n mantala walker - mantala tineoides walker euconosia watson - euconosia aspera walker - euconosia xylinoides walker stat . rev . - euconosia obscuriventris sp . n . pseudoscaptia hampson - pseudoscaptia rothschild draudt
macotasa tortricoides ; dubatolov , 2012 , euroasian ent . j . 11 ( 6 ) : 511 ( note ) ; [ mob7 ] : 306 , pl . 3 , f . 2e , 49 ; singh , singh & joshi , 2014 , rec . zool . survey india . occ . pap 367 : 44
this species and biplagella are only known from borneo , whereas tortricoides is related to m . nubecula moore ( india to burma and andamans ) and m . nubeculoides holloway ( peninsular malaysia , sumatra , java , bali ) .
the species is frequent to common in a range of lowland to lower montane forest types .
teulisna biplagella butler , 1877 ; trans . ent . soc . lond . 1877 : 355 ; tl : sarawak
borneo , java , bali , nilgiris , china ( fukien ) . see [ maps ]
lithosia tortricoides walker , 1862 ; j . proc . linn . soc . ( zool . ) 6 : 107 ; tl : sarawak
phaeosia dimorpha hampson , 1918 ; novit . zool . 25 : 98 ; tl : philippines , luzon , mt makiling
burma , peninsular malaysia , borneo , vietnam , thailand , singapore . see [ maps ]
= ; dubatolov , 2012 , euroasian ent . j . 11 ( 6 ) : 512
[ maps ] warning ! the maps are automatically generated from the textual information , and the process does not always produce acceptable result ; see about maps for more info .
beiträge zur kenntnis der arctiidae ostasiens unter besonderer berücksichtigung der ausbeuten von dr . h . c . h . höne aus diesem gebiet . iii . teil : lithosiinae
new lithosiinae ( lepidoptera , arctiidae : lithosiinae ) species collected by a . schintlmeister in indonesia
walker , 1862 catalogue of the heterocerous lepidopterous insects collected at sarawak , in borneo , by mr . a . r . wallace , with descriptions of new species j . proc . linn . soc . ( zool . ) 6 : 82 - 145 , 171 - 198
if you have corrections , comments or information to add into these pages , just send mail to markku savela keep in mind that the taxonomic information is copied from various sources , and may include many inaccuracies . expert help is welcome .
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if you know the species , please , click on the picture and write the species name in comments section . also , you can go to the gallery page with all photos of lithosiini sp . ( large size ) .
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the ross 's goose ( anser rossii ) is a north american species of goose .

this goose breeds in northern canada , mainly in the queen maud gulf migratory bird sanctuary , and winters much further south in the continent in the southern united states and occasionally northern mexico .

the plumage of this species is white except for black wing tips .

it is similar in appearance to a white-phase snow goose but approximately 40 % smaller .

other differences from the snow goose are that the bill is smaller in proportion to its body and lacks " black lips " .

the dark phase is extremely rare .

the ross 's goose is a rare vagrant to western europe , but it is commonly kept in wildfowl collections and so the true frequency of wild birds is hard to ascertain .

escaped or feral specimens are encountered frequently , usually in the company of other feral geese such as canada goose , greylag goose and barnacle goose .

however , individuals or small groups that seemed to be of natural origin have turned up in the netherlands and britain .

this species is named in honor of bernard r. ross , a hudson 's bay company factor at fort resolution in canada 's northwest territories .

ross ' s goose

ross’s goose is much smaller than a snow goose . it is about the size of a mallard .
similar species : the snow goose , discussed above . note also that hybrids between snow goose and ross’s goose are not rare .
ross ' s goose , chen rossii , and hybrids , in new york .
hybrid and ross ' s goose , cayuga lake , seneca co . 2 march 2002 .
ross ' s goose , savannah mucklands , wayne co . , ny , march 2004 .
there is a very rare blue morph of ross’s goose , which was only confirmed in 1971 .
although ross ' s goose is usually smaller than snow goose , size in itself is not diagnostic . it is a good clue , however , and noticeably small birds in a flock should be looked at closely when searching for ross ' s . primary structural differences of ross ' s goose as compared to snow goose include :
in missouri , most large goose flocks anywhere in the state often have a few ross’s geese present .
we took these photos of a more typical ross ' s goose two days later on 13 march 2004 .
very rarely a ross ' s goose can be found that is dark - colored like a blue morph snow goose . these blue morph ross ' s geese are thought to be the result of hybridization with snow geese .
ross ' s goose is classified as least concern ( lc ) on the iucn red list ( 1 ) .
the plumage of ross ' s goose is typically very white and rarely attains the rusty staining which snow goose often does , particularly about the head and neck .
ross’s goose hatchlings are able to leave the nest after just 24 hours , and are able to feed themselves and swim .
ross’s goose has a rare blue colour morph , whose existence was not confirmed until as recently as 1971 ( 2 ) .
rosss _ goose _ and _ canada _ goose _ 2 - 17 - 15 . jpg
the male ross’s goose has wart - like swellings at the base of the bill , which are thought to be a status symbol .
the ross ' goose is a small goose , similar in appearance to the snow goose . like the snow goose , the ross ' goose has a light and dark morph , although the dark - morph ross ' goose is extremely rare . the light morph is white , and the dark morph is gray with a white head . both morphs have black primaries . the bill is small and lacks the ' grin - patch ' seen on the snow goose . juveniles are mostly gray .
image h is of a ross ' x snow goose hybrid showing intermediate head and bill characters . note the reduced bevelled gap between the mandibles as compared to snow goose and the darkish area at the base of the upper mandible from ross ' s goose . the bill is longer than that of ross ' s and the feathering at the base of the bill is intermediate between parent species .
a tiny white goose with black wingtips , the ross ' s goose is like a miniature version of the more abundant snow goose . it breeds in the central arctic and winters primarily in central california , but it is becoming more frequent farther east .
ross’s goose has a rounded head , stubby bill , and short neck , and lacks the black “lipstick” patch on the bill that snow geese have .
image d is a digiscoped shot showing 3 ross ' s geese followed by a snow goose along with canada geese . differences in size and structure between the ross ' s geese and snow are very apparent in this image . note the dark line before the eye in the rear pair of ross ' s which is retained juvenal plumage . juvenile ross ' s geese typically show far less duskiness to their plumage than juvenile snows , and a dark line before the eye is the most consistent plumage character suggesting immaturity in ross ' s goose and can be seen at a surprising distance even in flying birds .
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ross’s goose is an uncommon migrant in missouri . as a winter resident , it is uncommon ( in the west ) to rare ( in the east ) .
ross’s goose looks a lot like the snow goose and , like that species , has a white and a “blue” color pattern ( morph ) . like the snow goose , the white form of ross’s goose is all white with dark primaries and gray primary coverts . the key to telling the two species apart is body size and bill shape and color . ross’s goose is the size of a mallard and has a short neck and rounded head ; the pink bill is stubby and lacks the black “lipstick” or “grinning” patch . on close inspection , a blue - green warty patch saddles the upper bill near the base . the “blue goose” or dark morph is very rare . the voice is a high - pitched honking sound , similar to the snow goose’s but higher and not as shrill .
population apparently still increasing , as with some other arctic - nesting geese ( snow and white - fronted ) . ross ' s goose often hybridizes with snow goose , but evidently not enough to be genetically
swamped
by the snows .
image m shows a ross ' s and two snow geese . there is a noticeable size difference between this ross ' s and the snows and the structural differences are very apparent . as pertaining to the ross ' s goose , note the shorter , rounder body , shorter neck , less elongated head with vertical feathering at the bill base , and short stubby bill with no apparent dark gap between the mandibles .
the call of ross’s goose is a sad , murmuring ‘ mmmmm ’ or ‘ uuuhhhh ’ , which is used for contact , especially when groups are in danger ( 2 ) .
ross ' s goose populations are relatively small , but appear to have increased since the 1990s . the species is not on the 2014 state of the birds watch list . back to top
the oldest known ross ' s goose was a female , and at least 22 years , 6 months old when she was shot in california in 1993 . she had been banded in 1972 in saskatchewan .
in the identification guide to north american birds part 2 , pyle states the range in size of the gap along tomia in lesser snow goose as 7 - 12 mm wide and in hybrids as 4 - 9 mm wide . the gap between mandibles in ross ' s goose is narrower forming no or a thinner dusky stripe along tomia . many ross ' s geese show a slight gap between the mandibles .
image n is a closer crop for comparison of the structural differences between snow and ross ' s geese which are apparent in flight .
image l is closer crop of the hybrid and trailing snow goose showing differences in structure . the body and neck of the hybrid suggest ross ' s goose but the head and bill are clearly intermediate between the species . the dark gap between the mandibles can be seen better in this crop .
in this shot the hybrid is on the right , and is quite obviously smaller than the snow geese . the ross ' s goose is to the left , just sticking its head out from behind the larger geese .
as it is such an abundant species , there do not seem to be many threats to the future survival of ross’s goose , although habitat loss , disease ( 5 ) and hybridisation with the snow goose ( chen caerulescens ) may affect population numbers in the future ( 2 ) ( 4 ) .
u . s . fish and wildlife service . 2015 . waterfowl population status , 2015 . washington , dc : u . s . department of the interior .
rosss _ goose _ on _ lawn _ 2 - 17 - 15 . jpg
prior to the 1950s the ross ' s goose was confined to well - defined breeding and wintering areas , with few seen as strays . since that time the species has been expanding eastward , both on the breeding and wintering grounds . the change in breeding distribution has resulted in more contact and subsequent hybridization with the snow goose .
image g is of a ross ' s goose showing head and bill detail . note the rounded and less elongated head as compared to snow goose along with the more vertical feathering at the bill base . also the stubbier bill with dark grayish base to the upper mandible and narrow gap between the mandibles which almost totally lack bevelling .
the breeding range of ross’s goose has been made a federal migratory bird sanctuary , which offers it a small amount of protection ( 5 ) , although there are not currently known to be any other conservation measures in place for this abundant species .
uncommon migrant . as winter resident , uncommon ( west ) to rare ( east ) . ross’s goose is a gamebird in missouri . populations of ross’s and snow geese have increased to a historically high level . as a result , they are overgrazing their arctic nesting range and degrading large areas of the tundra where other species nest . wildlife agencies have been trying to control the population size through various methods .
image c shows a ross ' x snow goose hybrid . note the intermediate head and bill characters including gap between mandibles and grayish base to the upper mandible .
image i is of a flock of snow geese as they might appear overhead . a closer look reveals 3 ross ' s geese and a hybrid in this flock .
image f is of a first cycle light morph snow goose showing head and bill detail .
the breeding range of ross’s goose spreads throughout the canadian arctic . in winter , flocks mostly migrate to california , although congregations can also be found in texas and northern mexico ( 2 ) ( 3 ) ( 4 ) ( 5 ) ( 6 ) . the range of this species is thought to be spreading east ( 4 ) . there have been reports of vagrant ross’s geese in the netherlands ( 2 ) ( 6 ) .
ryder , j . p . and alisauskas , r . t . ( 2013 ) ross’s goose ( chen rossii ) . in : poole , a . ( ed . ) birds of north america online . cornell lab of ornithology , ithaca . available at : urltoken
ross’s geese forage in marshes , rivers , lakes , and crop fields , including cornfields and new winter wheat fields , for grains , roots , grasses , and aquatic vegetation .
image b shows a ross ' s goose . note the rounded and less elongated head and more vertical feathering at the base of the bill . the bill is short and stubby with almost no gap between the mandibles . note also the grayish base to the upper mandible .
ross’s goose has an herbivorous diet , which consists of roots , leaves , stems , sedges , legumes and domestic grains ( 2 ) ( 4 ) ( 5 ) . this species can be seen foraging on the ground individually , or may form larger groups ( 5 ) .
a migratory species , ross’s goose leaves its breeding ground in mid - october and arrives in its overwintering range in late october . flocks begin to return to the breeding grounds in early march . while migrating , this species is highly gregarious and forms large flocks ( 5 ) .
we noticed two small white geese in with a massive snow goose flock on the west side of cayuga lake , offshore of seneca co . ( along with two small canada geese , now cackling geese ) . pete hosner , who had recently worked in the arctic as a field assistant on snow goose research , declared that the slightly larger bird with a more rounded bill / face margin would have been called a ross ' s x snow goose hybrid in their study area .
this pint - sized relative of the snow goose has been surrounded by mystery and surprise . explorers recognized it as a different bird as early as 1770 , but it was not described to science until 1861 ; its arctic nesting grounds were not discovered until 1938 . once thought to be very rare , or even on brink of extinction , its population has greatly increased in recent decades . not until the late 1970s was it discovered that ross ' s , like snow goose , can occur in a “blue” morph . blue ross ' s geese are still rarely detected .
usually observed among groups of snow geese . occurs in marshes , sloughs , ponds , lakes , and reservoirs with aquatic vegetation . also forages in crop fields . more frequently seen in northwestern missouri , although most large goose flocks anywhere in the state often have a few ross’s geese present .
the female ross ' s goose does all of the incubation of the eggs . the male stays nearby and guards her the whole time . the female covers the eggs with down when she leaves the nest . the down keeps the eggs warm while she is away and may help hide them from predators .
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jónsson , jón e . , john p . ryder and ray t . alisauskas . 2013 . ross ' s goose ( anser rossii ) , version 2 . 0 . in the birds of north america ( p . g . rodewald , editor ) . cornell lab of ornithology , ithaca , new york , usa .
the
real
ross ' s goose was tiny , with a very small , triangular bill . the posterior margin of the bill was very straight against the face , making a straight line , quite in contrast to the strong curve at the base of the snow geese ' s bills . it showed a dark green patch at the base of the bill and no sign of a dark grin patch at edge of the tomia .
image j is a crop of the 5 birds center - right in the image above , or in the front of the flock . this image approximates the look that one might have through the binocular or scope . the group is comprised of 3 snow geese and 2 ross ' s geese ( birds banked without shadows on their bellies ) . difference in size between the species is not apparent here but structural differences are very much so . note the shorter necks and more rounded , less elongated heads of the ross ' s . the more vertical line of feathering at the base of the smaller and stubbier bills of the ross ' s gives the appearance of having the face cut off at the front . from a distance in flight , the bill of ross ' s often virtually disappears and the vertical line at the front of the face is very apparent .
image k is also a crop of the same image showing birds in the lower left or at the rear of the flock . this group is comprised of 4 snow geese , a ross ' s ( bottom center ) and a hybrid ( second bird from top left ) . note the short neck , rounded head with vertical line of feathering at the bill base and short stubby bill of the ross ' s . this bird is also smaller than the others in this group . the hybrid shows a shorter , rounder body and shorter neck as well as a less elongated head than the snows , but the feathering at the bill base is convex lacking the vertically cut off look of ross ' s and is intermediate between the species . if one looks closely , there appears to be a relatively wide and dark gap between the mandibles which would not be as apparent at this distance in ross ' s .
ross ' geese are the smallest of the three varieties of white geese that breed in north america . the ross ' goose is a small white goose with black primary feathers . the bill is a deep reddish - pink with a paler nail and a variably bluish warty area over the base of the basal area . the legs and feet are rose - pink and the iris is dark brown . the sexes are dimorphic , with the female being 6 percent smaller than the male . the ross ' goose has a relatively short neck and lacks the black
grinning patch
that is typical of greater and lesser snow geese , for which it is often mistaken . ross ' geese may be distinguished from snow geese by their smaller size , more rapid wing beat and higher - pitched call .
the hybrid was small , but just a bit larger than the ross ' s goose . its bill was not quite so petit and triangular , but was still noticeably smaller and more triangular than that of a snow goose . the posterior margin of the bill was less curved than the snow geese , but was slightly curved . the base was dark green , but a dark line showed along the bill edge , much smaller than the grin patches of the snow geese , but visible .
ross’s geese overwinter in the southern part of their range , including ( uncommonly ) missouri , and return north in spring to the arctic tundra to breed . there , they make simple scrapes on the ground and typically lay 2 to 6 eggs .
during the breeding season ross’s goose is found in arctic tundra ( 2 ) ( 3 ) ( 5 ) , where it nests in open areas and on islands in shallow lakes ( 4 ) . in winter , large aggregations are found in agricultural fields and shallow wetlands ( 2 ) ( 4 ) ( 5 ) , using nearby reservoirs and lakes to roost ( 2 ) .
ross ' geese feed on grasses , sedges and small grains , particularly waste wheat and barley in the winter months .
historically , ross’s goose was threatened by hunting in its winter range , and this market drastically reduced wild populations and may have threatened this species with extinction . hunting became illegal in 1931 and the population has dramatically increased since ( 5 ) , causing north american authorities to change the law and allow hunting to resume , with the aim of reducing the population size by half ( 2 ) .
image e is of a dark morph snow goose showing head and bill detail . note the width of the bevelled gap between the mandibles .
ross ' s goose ( chen rossii ) is a regularly occurring and often overlooked migrant and winter resident in kentucky in small numbers and is usually found in the company of snow geese ( chen caerulescens ) . identification of these species is relatively straightforward based primarily on structural differences , particularly those of head and bill shape . hybrids of these species are sometimes encountered and are intermediate in structure between the two .
ross’s goose ( chen rossii ) is a very small ( 4 ) , all - white goose , with black tips to its wings ( 3 ) ( 4 ) . the short , delicate bill is black - pink at the base , becoming brighter pink ( 3 ) towards the rounded tip ( 5 ) . the male has small , wart - like growths on the base of its bill , which become more prominent as it ages ( 5 ) . the distinctive legs are pink and the eyes are dark ( 2 ) ( 3 ) .
the population of ross ' geese was estimated at only 2 , 000 to 3 , 000 individuals in 1931 . protection from hunting has helped the ross ' goose population recover to a 1988 total of 188 , 000 breeding birds , although it is still listed as a species - of - concern on the partners in flight watch list . still on the increase , populations are now thought to be expanding their range greatly - - birds have been found farther east and west in recent years during migration . most nesting occurs within a refuge , and hunting is still prohibited , but loss of migration stopover and wintering habitat continues to threaten the ross ' goose .
of course , it is not practical to believe that one would have time to scrutinize or identify every bird in every flock flying overhead , but with practice and good views , some ross ' s geese and hybrids can be identified in flight based on structural characters .
the arctic nesting grounds of the ross ' goose , not discovered until 1938 , consist of tundra , marshes , and ponds . in winter and during migration , these geese can be found in shallow lakes , fresh - water marshes , flooded fields , and other agricultural lands .
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the ross ' goose is a rare species , but is becoming more common in washington . you may occasionally find it mixed in with snow geese or other mixed - species flocks in the winter in the lowlands on both sides of the cascades , in both fresh - and saltwater habitats . flocks of up to 30 ross ' geese have become fairly regular in the spring and fall in far - eastern washington .
the female ross’s goose is around six percent smaller than the male ( 5 ) , with very few wart - like growths on the base of its bill , a shorter neck and a flatter forehead . the juvenile is brown - grey on the head , back and breast , with darker flight feathers ( 2 ) . the bill and feet are grey in the juvenile , gaining their pink colouration as the individual ages ( 4 ) .
image a shows a first cycle light morph snow goose retaining some dusky juvenal plumage . note the elongated head and bill with wide bevelled gap between mandibles .
ross ' geese are among the first to leave the breeding grounds in canada . the california central valley is currently the main wintering area for ross ' geese , but increasing numbers are wintering in arkansas , louisiana , new mexico , texas and the north - central highlands of mexico .
almost exclusively plant - eaters , ross ' geese eat grasses , sedges , and grain . in the fall , they eat more seeds and grains than grasses .
lutmerding , j . a . and a . s . love . longevity records of north american birds . version 2015 . 2 . patuxent wildlife research center , bird banding laboratory 2015 .
the vast majority of the population nests in the queen maud gulf migratory bird sanctuary in the central canadian arctic . they migrate to california ' s central valley , often in mixed flocks with other geese .
ross ' geese breed in the low arctic tundra , mainly near queen maud gulf , southern southampton island , the western coast of hudson bay and the sagavanirktok river delta in alaska . they usually nest in colonies mixed with lesser snow geese , making their nests on the ground in sparsely vegetated areas . female ross ' geese lay an average of 3 - 4 eggs .
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hybrids are best identified by intermediate head and bill characters such as bill size and shape , line of feathering at bill base , degree of bevelling or gap along tomia , and varying amounts of grayish at bill base which snow goose lacks .
between late may and june mated pairs arrive at the breeding grounds and immediately establish a nesting territory . although ross’s goose is thought to be monogamous , copulation with other individuals outside of the pair is also known to occur ( 2 ) . the female builds the nest during and after the territory establishment ( 5 ) . the nest is a shallow structure , with twigs , grass , moss and lichens in the outer layer and mostly down on the inner layer ( 2 ) . the female lays an average clutch of between 4 and 5 eggs ( 2 ) at the beginning of june ( 5 ) , which are laid at 36 - hour intervals ( 2 ) . the female incubates the eggs , while being guarded by the male ( 4 ) , and the eggs hatch between late june and july ( 5 ) . if the female leaves the nest , it will cover the eggs with a layer of down to keep the eggs warm and hide them from predators ( 4 ) . the young are able to leave the nest 24 hours after hatching , and can swim and feed themselves ( 4 ) ( 5 ) . for up to a year after birth , the young maintain an association with the adults ( 5 ) and may remain with them until the next breeding season . ross’s goose reaches sexual maturity after 2 or 3 years , and lives for up to 14 years in the wild ( 2 ) .
ross ' geese are usually in flocks , often mixed with snow geese . their tendency to roost in tight flocks and be easily attracted to decoys may have made them vulnerable to market hunters , who had a significant impact on the population . these geese typically forage on the ground , wading or swimming in shallow water .
first breeding at age of 2 or 3 years . courtship involves rapid head - dipping by both members of pair . breeds in colonies , usually associated with colonies of snow goose . nest site is often on island or shore of tundra lake , usually on edge of low thicket . the same site is often used for more than 1 season . nest is a bulky bowl of twigs , leaves , grass , moss , lined with down . female builds nest , beginning about the time the first egg is laid , continuing after incubation begins .
ross ' geese breed in colonies , starting in their second or third year . the nest is on an island or the shore of a tundra lake , often situated at the edge of a low thicket . the nest , built by the female after she lays her first egg , is a bulky pile of leaves , grass , and moss , depressed in the middle and lined with down . the female lays a total of 4 eggs and incubates them for about 3 weeks . the young leave the nest shortly after hatching . the parents lead the young to water and food , and the goslings feed themselves . the male stands guard and actively defends the young against predators . the young fledge at 40 to 45 days .
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thank you for taking the time to provide feedback on the iucn red list of threatened species website , we are grateful for your input .
aerc tac . 2003 . aerc tac checklist of bird taxa occurring in western palearctic region , 15th draft . available at : urltoken _ the _ wp15 . xls # .
anser rossii ( del hoyo and collar 2014 ) was previously placed in the genus chen .
justification : this species has a very large range , and hence does not approach the thresholds for vulnerable under the range size criterion ( extent of occurrence < 20 , 000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size , habitat extent / quality , or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation ) . the population trend appears to be increasing , and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for vulnerable under the population trend criterion ( > 30 % decline over ten years or three generations ) . the population size is extremely large , and hence does not approach the thresholds for vulnerable under the population size criterion ( < 10 , 000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be > 10 % in ten years or three generations , or with a specified population structure ) . for these reasons the species is evaluated as least concern .
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downy young come in two colors : yellow and gray . the two forms look identical once they get real feathers .
breeds on low arctic tundra , on islands in shallow lakes . winters in agricultural fields and shallow wetlands . back to top
entirely vegetarian ; grasses , sedges , legumes , and domestic grains . back to top
covered with down and eyes open . leaves nest within 24 hours of hatching and has the ability to swim and feed .
north american bird conservation initiative . 2014 . the state of the birds 2014 report . us department of interior , washington , dc , usa .
sibley , d . a . ( 2014 ) . the sibley guide to birds , second edition . alfred a . knopf , new york , usa .
tundra ( summer ) , marshes , grain fields , ponds . in summer on arctic tundra , especially flat tundra with mix of grassy areas and low matted thickets of dwarf birch or willow . in migration and winter , shallow lakes , freshwater marshes , flooded stubble fields , other agricultural lands .
forages mainly by walking on land , or wading or swimming in shallow water . during migration and winter , feeds in flocks , usually with snow geese .
4 , sometimes 2 - 6 , rarely 1 - 8 . dull white , becoming nest - stained . female does all incubating , usually 21 - 23 days . young : leave the nest shortly after hatching , following parents to water . both parents tend the young ; male is most active in defense against predators . young fledge in 40 - 45 days .
leave the nest shortly after hatching , following parents to water . both parents tend the young ; male is most active in defense against predators . young fledge in 40 - 45 days .
almost entirely plant material . diet for most of year is mainly green grasses and sedges . on arrival on breeding grounds , before new growth is available , do much grubbing for roots . in fall migration , feeds more on seeds and grains of wild grasses or cultivated crops .
main population migrates from northwest territories to central california , traveling along a rather narrow route with traditional stopovers , especially in alberta and montana . in recent years , numbers wintering in new mexico and east of rockies have increased markedly . migrate in flocks , often mixed with snow geese , sometimes with other geese . strays appearing far out of range may have arrived by traveling with other species .
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spring migration has brought new occupiers to southeast oregon—flocks of both birds and birders .
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the swans , geese and ducks are mid - sized to large birds most commonly found on or near water . most have plump bodies , long necks and short wings . most feed while on the water , diving or merely tilting their bodies so that their heads and necks are submerged to search for fish , plants and invertebrates . washington representatives of the order all belong to one family :
the waterfowl family is represented in washington by two distinct groups—the geese and swans , and the ducks . whistling - ducks are also considered a distinct subfamily , and , although they have not been sighted in washington in many years , fulvous whistling - ducks have been recorded historically in washington and remain on the official state checklist . all members of the waterfowl family have large clutches of precocial young . they hatch covered in down and can swim and eat on their own almost immediately after hatching .
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images depicting comparisons of and differences between the species and hybrids are shown below and all were obtained in kentucky . flight images were obtained on 2 february 2007 in fulton county , and the remainder were obtained in warren county between 2003 and 2009 .
this information is awaiting authentication by a species expert , and will be updated as soon as possible . if you are able to help please contact : arkive @ urltoken
flight feathers the feathers at the end of the wing , involved in flight . herbivorous having a diet that comprises only vegetable matter . hybridisation cross - breeding between two different species or subspecies . incubate to keep eggs warm so that development is possible . legume a plant in the legume family ( leguminosae or fabaceae ) , which includes peas , beans , clover and alfalfa . leguminous plants produce seeds in pods ( legumes ) , and typically have root nodules containing symbiotic bacteria which are able to convert nitrogen from the air into nitrogen - containing compounds that benefit the plant . monogamous having only one mate during a breeding season , or throughout the breeding life of a pair . morph one of two or more distinct types of a given species , often distinct colour forms , which occur in the same population at the same time ( that is , are not geographical or seasonal variations ) . territory an area occupied and defended by an animal , a pair of animals or a group . tundra treeless , grassy plains characteristic of arctic and sub - arctic regions . they are very cold and have little rainfall . vagrant an individual found outside the normal range of the species .
del hoyo , j . and carboneras , c . ( 1992 ) handbook of the birds of the world . volume 1 : ostrich to ducks . lynx edicions , barcelona . available at : urltoken
brazil , m . ( 2009 ) birds of east asia . christopher helm publishers , london .
flpa - images of nature pages green house wetheringsett stowmarket suffolk ip14 5qa united kingdom tel : + 44 ( 0 ) 1728 861 113 fax : + 44 ( 0 ) 1728 860 222 pictures @ urltoken http : / / www . urltoken
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all pictures are © jay and kevin mcgowan . they were taken with either an olympus d - 450 or an olympus d - 40 digital camera through a swarovski hd - 80 , ats 80 , or ats 65 spotting scope .
the two small geese may have been a mated pair . they stayed close together and allowed us to get a few photographs of them side - by - side . the differences are much more apparent when they are together .
the difference in curvature of the bill / face edge is apparent here , as is the difference in bill size and shape .
not the sharpest photo , but the one that shows the bill differences best .
jay took these photos of a slightly hybrid - looking bird on 11 march 2004 , amongst a tremendous flock of snow geese .
average weight : m 4 . 0 lbs . , f 3 . 6 lbs .
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rosss _ geese _ and _ canada _ geese _ 2 - 17 - 15 . jpg
as migrating geese fly overhead , they reassure us of the certainty of changing seasons . as the great conservationist aldo leopold wrote , “one swallow does not make a summer , but one skein of geese , cleaving the murk of a march thaw , is the spring . ”
as adults , and even more so as goslings and as eggs , geese are preyed on by a variety of predators . they influence the plant and animal communities in both summer and winter territories , and as they migrate , they play a role in every ecosystem they travel through .
about 350 species of birds are likely to be seen in missouri , though nearly 400 have been recorded within our borders . most people know a bird when they see one — it has feathers , wings , and a bill . birds are warm - blooded , and most species can fly . many migrate hundreds or thousands of miles . birds lay hard - shelled eggs ( often in a nest ) , and the parents care for the young . many communicate with songs and calls .
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