Overview
The Virginia Big-eared Bat (Corynorhinus townsendii virginianus) is an endangered microbat subspecies endemic to the rugged Appalachian karst valleys of eastern North America. Renowned for its enormous, translucent ears that measure over an inch long and curling horn-like facial glands, this agile chiropteran serves as an essential nocturnal predator, controlling forest moth populations across isolated mountain ecosystems.
Biology and Physical Characteristics
Corynorhinus townsendii virginianus possesses soft, light chestnut to hazel-brown dorsal fur contrasting with a paler buff belly. Its most iconic physiological trait is its elongated ears, which reach nearly a third of its entire body length. When the bat is at rest or in deep torpor, these expansive ears fold and curl backward along the neck like miniature ram horns. Two prominent glandular lumps flank its snout, producing secretions used for scent recognition. Its wings feature high aspect ratios and low wing loading, conferring extraordinary hovering ability and tight maneuvering through dense forest foliage.
Behavior and Ecology
Operating as an agile foliage-gleaner and aerial hawker, the Virginia big-eared bat hunts almost exclusively after dusk along oak-hickory ridge forests, preying primarily on adult moths. Unlike migratory bats, this species is strictly sedentary, year-round cave-dependent; colonies rely on thermally stable karst caves for both winter hibernation and summer maternity roosts. Females congregate in warm dome ceilings to give birth to a single pup in early summer, which learns to fly within three weeks.
Conservation and Human Impact
Classified as Endangered, the total population of Virginia big-eared bats numbers fewer than 20,000 individuals confined to a handful of known Appalachian cave systems. Human disturbance within maternity and hibernating caves represents the primary historic threat, as awakening bats expend vital fat reserves. Cave gate installations and federal sanctuary protections have staved off catastrophic collapses, while ongoing surveillance monitors against fungal white-nose syndrome.
Interesting Factoid
When sleeping, this bat curls its enormous ears backward until they resemble spiral ram horns, then blows warm exhaled air across them to rehydrate the delicate skin upon waking!
Last updated: October 2026