The Indiana bat resembles the little brown bat, so much that the animal must be handled to closely examine differing characteristics. An Indiana bat has a pinkish cast to its fur, giving it a light purple-brown coloration. The muzzle has less fur giving its face a pink look compared to a little brown. The toes of the Indiana bat are distinctly curled and have short fine hairs which do not extend past the knuckles. A certain distinctive bulge in the tail membrane will complete a positive Indiana bat identification.
Sexes are equal in size.
Note less fur on muzzle of the Indiana bat, giving its face a more pinkish cast. The overall color of the fur is also has a slight pink cast. Due to variations of the coloration of little browns and Indiana bats alike, the key to positive identification is careful inspection of the fine hairs on the feet and a slight bulge in the tail membrane. Indiana bats roost under the loose bark of trees in summer and have been repeatedly found using buildings, roosting among common little browns. In winter, some 97 percent of the total species population hibernates in certain large caves in Missouri, Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois.