Lasiurus seminolus (Rhoads, 1895)

Common Name & Coloration Similarity

Lasiurus seminolus, commonly called the Seminole bat, is often confused with the red bat because of its mahogany fur coloring.

Frosted Fur Appearance

The species has a frosted appearance from the white tips on its dorsal hairs.

Sexual Dimorphism in Coloration

Its coloring is not sexually dimorphic, so males and females share similar coloration.

Size & Weight Characteristics

The species has an average weight of around 12 grams, and females are larger than males.

Core Distribution Range

The Seminole bat occurs in the Southeastern United States, including Louisiana, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and South Carolina, as well as parts of Texas, Tennessee, Arkansas, and North Carolina.

Southern Distribution Record

There are also recorded records of this species as far south as Mexico.

Winter Migratory Range

It is a migratory species: during the winter, it lives along the Gulf Coast, in the Carolinas, and in southern Arkansas.

Summer Migratory Range

In the summer, it migrates north as far as Missouri and Kentucky.

New Distribution Documentation

In 2015, the Seminole bat was documented for the first time in northwestern North Carolina.

Preferred Habitat Type

These bats prefer to live in forested areas.

Winter Roost Insulation Materials

In winter, they use leaf litter and Spanish moss as insulation at their roost sites.

Spanish Moss Habitat Significance

Spanish moss is considered an important part of the Seminole bat's environment year-round, and it is thought to be a limiting factor for the species' distribution.