An Annotated Checklist of Nebraskan Bats
BY
OLIN L. WEBB and J. KNOX JONES, JR.
University of Kansas Publications
Museum of Natural History
Volume 5, No. 21, pp. 269-279
May 31, 1952
University of Kansas
LAWRENCE
1952
University of Kansas Publications, Museum of Natural History
Editors: E. Raymond Hall, Chairman, A. Byron Leonard,
Edward H. Taylor, Robert W. Wilson
Volume 5, No. 21, pp. 269-279
May 31, 1952
University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas
PRINTED BY
FERD VOILAND, JR., STATE PRINTER
TOPEKA, KANSAS
1952
24-2965
[Pg 271]
An Annotated Checklist of Nebraskan Bats
BY
OLIN L. WEBB and J. KNOX JONES, JR.
HISTORY
The first mention of bats in Nebraska possibly was by Harrison
Allen, in his "Monograph of the Bats of North America" (1864:14,
20, 30, 35, 42), who listed Nycticejus crepuscularis [= Nycticeius
humeralis], Lasiurus borealis, Scotophilus carolinensis and Scotophilus
fuscus [both = Eptesicus fuscus], and Scotophilus noctivagans
[= Lasionycteris noctivagans], as collected in "Nebraska"
(then Nebraska Territory) by J. G. Cooper. Henry W. Setzer (in
litt.) reports that none of the bats collected by Cooper now exists
in the United States National Museum and that no data pertaining
to any of them are available except that a single specimen of Nycticeius
humeralis was traded to the British Museum in 1866. Cooper
journeyed through parts of the present state of Nebraska in the
summer and autumn of 1857 and, judging from Taylor's (1919:72-80)
report of Cooper's travels, this was the only time he entered
any part of Nebraska Territory. The writers are of the opinion
that the specimens in question probably were collected in Nebraska;
but since Allen listed no exact localities or dates of collection and
since the specimens and data pertaining to them are not now available,
we have not included them here as Nebraskan records.
In the first comprehensive account of Nebraskan mammals, Myron
H. Swenk (1908:137-139) listed six kinds of bats, Myotis evotis,
Myotis californicus ciliolabrum [= Myotis subulatus subulatus],
Lasionycteris noctivagans, Eptesicus fuscus, Lasiurus borealis, and
Lasiurus cinereus, as occurring within the state. Zimmer (1913:665)
recorded Nyctinomus mexicanus [= Tadarida mexicana] from
Nebraska. Subsequently, Swenk (1915:854) reported Myotis lucifugus
lucifugus in the state and three years later (1918:411) he
reported Eptesicus fuscus pallidus for the first time. The report of
M. l. lucifugus seemingly was not substantiated by any actual specimens.
The addition of Myotis volans interior (Quay, 1948:181)
brought to ten the number of species and subspecies of bats reported
from the state.
In the present paper, Myotis keenii septentrionalis, Myotis lucifugus
carissima, and Pipistrellus subflavus subflavus are reported[Pg 272]
from Nebraska for the first time. Also, the first authentic record of
Myotis lucifugus lucifugus is presented, along with additional information
on previously reported species. A total number of 169
specimens from Nebraska was available for the present study. This
includes almost all of the known specimens preserved in all collections
as well as material obtained by us in the past six years.
Nebraska has no natural caves or caverns; however, there are two
extensive man-made limestone caves near Louisville, in Cass and
Sarpy counties, where four kinds of bats have been found. Two of
these are here reported as new to Nebraska. The quarries, one on
either side of the Platte River Valley, are in a horizontal stratum of
limestone 40 feet in thickness, and are of the room and pillar type;
that is to say, the stone has been quarried away leaving rooms having
supporting pillars approximately every 50 feet. The average
temperatures in summer and winter within these tunnels, recorded
over a period of several years by the Ash Grove Lime and Portland
Cement Company of Louisville, are 65° F. and 50° F. respectively.
The Kiewit Stone Quarry, abandoned since 1936, is one-half mile
west of Meadow, Sarpy County, and has one remaining entrance
measuring approximately 30 by 30 feet. This quarry has an area
of approximately one-fifth square mile and is usually flooded with
several feet of water. The other man-made cave, known formerly
as the National Stone Quarry, is one mile northeast of Louisville,
Cass County. This quarry was abandoned in September, 1938, and
until the winter of 1948-1949 had eight or nine entrances and two
air shafts. It was approximately one-third square mile in area. All
the openings to this quarry were covered in late 1949. Bats were
first observed in the National Stone Quarry by one of us (Webb)
as early as 1939, less than a year after operations in the quarry
ceased.
METHODS AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Records of Nebraskan bats are arranged in two categories; specimens examined
and additional records. The latter refer to citations in the literature.
Genera are arranged according to Simpson (1945:59, 60), and species are
listed alphabetically under each genus. Specimens examined are in the personal
collection of the authors unless otherwise indicated.
In connection with this study the authors acknowledge the assistance of
Drs. Edson H. Fichter, Department of Biological Sciences, Idaho State College,
and E. Raymond Hall and Rollin H. Baker, University of Kansas Museum of
Natural History for critical assistance with the manuscript. We are indebted
to Mr. Richard B. Loomis, University of Kansas, for aid in collecting specimens;
to Dr. Henry W. Setzer, United States National Museum, for providing information
on possible early Nebraskan records; and to Mr. Fred Brammer, Ash[Pg 273]
Grove Lime and Portland Cement Company, Louisville, Nebraska, for information
on, and permission to collect in, the quarries of that area. For the
loan of specimens we are grateful to Dr. William H. Burt, University of Michigan
Museum of Zoology, Dr. C. Bertrand Schultz, University of Nebraska State
Museum, Dr. Otis Wade, University of Nebraska Department of Zoology, Miss
Lucille Drury, Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Mr. W. E. Eigsti, Hastings
Museum, Hastings, Nebraska, and to those in charge of the collections of the
Nebraska Game, Forestation and Parks Commission.
ACCOUNTS OF SPECIES
Myotis evotis evotis (H. Allen)
Long-eared Myotis
Vespertilio evotis H. Allen, Smithsonian Misc. Coll., 165:48, June, 1864
(part), type from Monterey, Monterey Co., California.
Myotis evotis, Miller, N. Amer. Fauna, 13:78, October 16, 1897.
Distribution in Nebraska.—Pine Ridge area of northwestern part of state.
Record of occurrence.—Specimen examined, 1, as follows: Sioux Co.:
Warbonnet Canyon, 1 (Univ. Nebr. State Mus.).
Remarks.—This specimen was taken by Merritt Cary on July 22,
1901.
Myotis keenii septentrionalis (Trouessart)
Eastern Long-eared Myotis
[Vespertilio gryphus] var. septentrionalis Trouessart, Catal. Mamm. viv. foss.,
p. 131, 1897, type from Halifax, Halifax Co., Nova Scotia.
Myotis keenii septentrionalis, Miller and Allen, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., 144:105,
May 25, 1928.
Distribution in Nebraska.—Known from limestone quarries in Cass and
Sarpy counties. Probably in other parts of extreme eastern Nebraska.
Records of occurrence.—Specimens examined, 35, as follows: Cass Co.:
1 mi. NE Louisville, 4. Sarpy Co.: 1/2 mi. W Meadow, 31 (some of these
specimens have been deposited in other collections as follows: Private Collection
of P. H. Krutzsch, 3; Private Collection of W. G. Frum, 2; Nebr. Game,
Forestation and Parks Comm., 1; Univ. Kansas Mus. Nat. Hist., 2; Univ. Nebr.
State Mus., 7).
Remarks.—Although not so common as Pipistrellus in the limestone
quarries, hibernating bats of this species frequently are found
there, usually as solitary individuals either in drill holes or clinging
to the walls of the quarries; occasionally, however, two or three bats
have been found together in a single drill hole.
Myotis lucifugus carissima Thomas
Brown Myotis
Myotis (Leuconoe) carissima Thomas, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., (ser. 7),
13:383, May, 1904, type from Yellowstone Lake, Yellowstone National
Park, Wyoming.
Myotis lucifugus carissima, Cary, N. Amer. Fauna, 42:43, October 3, 1917.
[Pg 274]
Distribution in Nebraska.—Known from a single record in extreme northwestern
Nebraska, but probably occurs throughout Panhandle of state.
Record of occurrence.—Specimen examined, 1, as follows: Sioux Co.:
Agate, 1 (Univ. Mich. Mus. Zool.).
Myotis lucifugus lucifugus (Le Conte)
Brown Myotis
V[espertilio]. lucifugus Le Conte, McMurtrie's Cuvier, Animal Kingdom,
1:431, June, 1831, type from Georgia, probably from the Le Conte Plantation,
near Riceboro, Liberty County.
Myotis lucifugus [lucifugus], Miller, N. Amer. Fauna, 13:59, October 16,
1897.
Distribution in Nebraska.—Known only from the limestone quarry in Sarpy
County, but probably occurs over most of eastern third of state.
Records of occurrence.—Specimens examined, 2, as follows: Sarpy Co.:
1/2 mi. W Meadow, 2 (Univ. Kansas Mus. Nat. Hist., 1).
Remarks.—Two bats of this subspecies were found in the quarry
in Sarpy County on December 30, 1949. None was found on subsequent
visits to the quarry, although three other species of bats
have been found there in large numbers. These specimens appear
to be the first actual records of M. l. lucifugus in the state, although
Swenk (1915:854, and in subsequent lists) reported it as "uncommon
eastwardly".
One of these bats, a male (KU 35076), possesses a peculiar dental
abnormality. Both of the second upper premolars (P3) are lacking,
although the mandibular dentition is normal. This condition has
been reported previously for this species by Frum (1946:176) in
specimens from West Virginia.
Myotis subulatus subulatus (Say)
Small-footed Myotis
Vespertilio subulatus Say, Long's Exped. to Rocky Mts., 2:65 (footnote),
1823, type from the Arkansas River near La Junta, Otero Co., Colorado.
Myotis subulatus, Warren, The Mammals of Colorado, G. P. Putnam's Sons,
New York, 1910. p. 275.
Distribution in Nebraska.—Northern and western Nebraska.
Records of occurrence.—Specimens examined, 9, as follows: Cherry Co.:
Valentine, 1 (Univ. Nebr. Dept. Zool.). Sheridan Co.: Rushville, 1; 15 mi.
N Rushville, 2. Sioux Co.: Agate, 1 (Univ. Kansas Mus. Nat. Hist.); Monroe
Canyon, 5-1/2 mi. N, 2-1/2 mi. W Harrison, 2 (Nebr. Game, Forestation and Parks
Comm.); Warbonnet Canyon, 2 (Univ. Nebr. State Mus.).
Additional records: Dakota Co.: Crystal Lake, 1 (Stephens, 1945:92).
Dawes Co.: Chadron, 1 (Miller and Allen, 1928:169). Sioux Co.: Antelope
Township, 1 (Quay, 1948:181); Sugarloaf Township, 1 (Quay, 1948:181).
Remarks.—This bat is common along the Niobrara River in the
northwestern part of the state. Stephens (loc. cit.) reports taking[Pg 275]
a bat of this species in Dakota County in the northeastern corner of
Nebraska. This specimen was sent to Swenk at the University of
Nebraska for positive identification and was, according to Stephens,
deposited in the Swenk collection. No trace of the specimen can
be found at the present time. It is here assigned to M. s. subulatus.
M. s. subulatus has been observed frequently in the Pine Ridge
area, generally in association with Eptesicus fuscus pallidus. Two
specimens were shot by us from many that were seen flying over
a small clearing in the pines in northern Sioux County on August 2,
1949. Several Eptesicus were also obtained there. One of us
(Webb) took two of these bats from their daytime retreat in a barn
north of Rushville, Sheridan County, on September 5, 1951, where
Eptesicus was also found. They are known to inhabit hay barns at
the Ft. Niobrara Game Reserve, Cherry County, also in association
with Eptesicus. Swenk (1908:137) reports finding two of these bats
under a loose strip of pine bark in Sioux County.
Myotis volans interior Miller
Hairy-winged Myotis
Myotis longricus interior Miller, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 27:211, October
31, 1914, type from Twining, Taos Co., New Mexico.
Myotis volans interior, Miller and Allen, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., 144:142, May
25, 1928.
Distribution in Nebraska.—Badlands area of extreme northwestern part of
state.
Records of occurrence.—Specimens examined, 2, as follows: Sioux Co.:
Warbonnet Township, 8 mi. N Harrison, 2 (Cleveland Mus. Nat. Hist.).
Remarks.—Quay (1948:181) reported finding a colony of approximately
180 of these bats in northern Sioux County in the summer
of 1944. They were found in a crevice in a dry creek bed. He examined
several dozen, all females, two of which were saved as
specimens.
The authors, while engaged in field work in this approximate
locality in the summers of 1948 and 1949, were unable to locate any
of these bats.
Lasionycteris noctivagans (Le Conte)
Silver-haired Bat
V[espertilio], noctivagans Le Conte, McMurtrie's Cuvier, Animal Kingdom,
1:431, June, 1831, type from eastern United States.
Lasionycteris noctivagans, Peters, Monatsber. k. preuss. Akad. Wissensch.
Berlin, p. 648, 1865.
Distribution in Nebraska.—"Entire state, fairly common during migrations
but probably not breeding within our limits" (Swenk, 1908:138).
[Pg 276]
Records of occurrence.—Specimens examined, 2, as follows: Clay Co.:
Inland, 1 (Hastings Museum, Hastings, Nebraska). Franklin Co.: Campbell,
1 (Hastings Museum, Hastings, Nebraska).
Additional records (Swenk, 1908:138): Cuming Co.: West Point. Douglas
Co.: Omaha. Lancaster Co.: Lincoln. County undesignated: "Platte
River".
Pipistrellus subflavus subflavus (F. Cuvier)
Eastern Pipistrelle
V[espertilio]. subflavus F. Cuvier, Nouv. Ann. Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris, 1:17,
1832, type from eastern United States, probably Georgia.
Pipistrellus subflavus, Miller, N. Amer. Fauna, 13:90, October 16, 1897.
Distribution in Nebraska.—Known from limestone quarries in Cass and
Sarpy counties; probably ranging throughout eastern Nebraska.
Records of occurrence.—Specimens examined, 34, as follows: Cass Co.:
1 mi. NE Louisville, 4. Sarpy Co.: 1/2 mi. W Meadow, 30 (some of these
specimens have been deposited in other collections as follows: Private Collection
of P. H. Krutzsch, 3; Private Collection of W. G. Frum, 2; Univ. Kansas
Mus. Nat. Hist., 4; Univ. Nebr. State Mus., 4).
Remarks.—This bat is the most common of the four species that
are known to inhabit the quarries in Cass and Sarpy counties. Individuals
have been found both in drill holes and clinging to the
walls of the quarries. We have always found this bat to be solitary
while in hibernation.
Eptesicus fuscus fuscus (Beauvois)
Big Brown Bat
Vespertilio fuscus Beauvois, Catal. Raisonné Mus. Peale, Philadelphia, p. 18,
1796, type from Philadelphia, Philadelphia Co., Pennsylvania.
Eptesicus fuscus, Méhely, Magyarország denevéreinek monographiája (Monographia
Chiropterorum Hungariae), pp. 206, 338, 1900.
Distribution in Nebraska.—Eastern part of state.
Records of occurrence.—Specimens examined, 23, as follows: Adams Co.:
Hastings, 1 (Hastings Museum, Hastings, Nebraska). Cass Co.: 1 mi. NE
Louisville, 6; Plattsmouth, 1 (Univ. Nebr. State Mus.). Sarpy Co.: 1/2 mi. W
Meadow, 15 (Univ. Nebr. State Mus., 7).
Remarks.—We have observed this bat hibernating in the limestone
quarries of Cass and Sarpy counties, where it was commonly
found in drill holes or clinging to the ceiling or walls. We have always
found this bat to be solitary while in hibernation, with one
exception. On January 31, 1949, a male and female were found in
the same drill hole in the Cass County quarry. The jolt of being
knocked from the hole separated the two bats, and upon examination
the penis of the male was noted to be extended and erected, indicating
that the pair might have been in the act of copulation.
[Pg 277]
Eptesicus fuscus pallidus Young
Big Brown Bat
Eptesicus pallidus Young, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, p. 408, October
2, 1908, type from Boulder, Boulder Co., Colorado.
Eptesicus fuscus pallidus, Miller, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., 79:62, December
31, 1912.
Distribution in Nebraska.—Western half of state.
Records of occurrence.—Specimens examined, 34, as follows: Cherry Co.:
Ft. Niobrara Game Reserve, 19 (Nebr. Game, Forestation and Parks Comm.,
17); Valentine, 2 (Univ. Nebr. Dept. Zool.). Dawes Co.: 10 mi. S Chadron,
1 (Univ. Mich. Mus. Zool.). Knox Co.: Niobrara, 1. Sheridan Co.: 15 mi.
N Rushville, 2. Sioux Co.: Glen, 1 (Univ. Nebr. State Mus.); Monroe Canyon,
5-1/2 mi. N, 2-1/2 mi. W Harrison, 1 (Nebr. Game, Forestation and Parks
Comm.); Warbonnet Canyon, 7 (Univ. Nebr. State Mus.).
Remarks.—A colony of approximately 100 of these bats was discovered
in the unused portion of a barn loft at Ft. Niobrara Game
Reserve on August 11, 1948. Although no temperature readings
were taken, it was estimated that the temperature was more than
100° F. in the loft. The bats were congregated on rafters at the
north end of the barn and when disturbed, only a few members of
the colony dropped from the rafters to fly. Most of the bats crawled
to new retreats between the rafters and the corrugated iron roof of
the building.
Lasiurus borealis borealis (Müller)
Red Bat
Vespertilio borealis Müller, Natursyst. Suppl., p. 20, 1776, type from New
York.
Lasiurus borealis [borealis], Miller, N. Amer. Fauna, 13:105, October 16,
1897.
Distribution in Nebraska.—State-wide in suitable habitat.
Records of occurrence.—Specimens examined, 14, as follows: Lancaster
Co.: Lincoln, 13 (Univ. Nebr. State Mus., 11; Univ. Nebr. Dept. Zool., 1).
Richardson Co.: 3 mi. SE Rulo, 1 (Nebr. Game, Forestation, and Parks
Comm.).
Additional records (Swenk, 1908:139): Cuming Co.: West Point. Douglas
Co.: Omaha. Lancaster Co.: Lincoln. Otoe Co.: Nebraska City.
Richardson Co.: Humboldt.
Lasiurus cinereus cinereus (Beauvois)
Hoary Bat
Vespertilio cinereus (misspelled linereus) Beauvois, Catal. Raisonné Mus.
Peale, Philadelphia, p. 18, 1796, type from Philadelphia, Philadelphia
Co., Pennsylvania.
Lasiurus cinereus, H. Allen, Smithsonian Misc. Coll., 17:21, June, 1864.
[Pg 278]
Distribution in Nebraska.—State-wide in suitable habitat.
Records of occurrence.—Specimens examined, 11, as follows: Clay Co.:
Inland, 1 (Hastings Museum, Hastings, Nebraska). Custer Co.: Broken Bow,
2 (Univ. Mich. Mus. Zool.); Victoria Springs, 1 (Univ. Mich. Mus. Zool.).
Furnas Co.: Wilsonville, 1 (Hastings Museum, Hastings, Nebraska). Lancaster
Co.: Lincoln, 6 (Univ. Nebr. State Mus., 5; Univ. Nebr. Dept. Zool.,
1).
Additional records: Cuming Co.: West Point (Swenk, 1908:139). Douglas
Co.: Omaha (Swenk, 1908:139). Gage Co.: Beatrice (Swenk, 1908:139).
Lancaster Co.: Lincoln (Swenk, 1908:139). County undesignated:
Loup Fork (Miller, 1897:114).
Tadarida mexicana (Saussure)
Mexican Free-tailed Bat
Molossus mexicanus Saussure, Revue et Magasin de Zoologie, Ser. 2, 12:283,
July, 1860, type from Cofre de Perote, 13,000 feet, state of Veracruz,
Mexico.
Tadarida mexicana, Miller, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., 128:86, April 29, 1924.
Distribution in Nebraska.—Known only from Lincoln, Lancaster County.
Records of occurrence.—Specimen examined, 1, as follows: Lancaster Co.:
Lincoln, 1 (Univ. Nebr. State Mus.).
Additional record (Zimmer, 1913:665): Lancaster Co.: Lincoln.
Remarks.—The Mexican free-tailed bat is probably rare in Nebraska.
The single specimen examined by us was obtained on June
27, 1931, from a downtown business building in Lincoln. According
to the label on the specimen, it died in captivity on June 29 after
giving birth to one young on June 28. The bat reported by Zimmer
(loc. cit.) was also taken in the business district of Lincoln. It was
obtained on August 15, 1913.
In addition to the bats named above, six other kinds possibly occur
in Nebraska. These, along with an indication of the part of the
state in which each is to be looked for, are as follows:
- Myotis grisescens Howell, southeastern part of state.
- Myotis sodalis Miller and Allen, southeastern part of state.
- Myotis thysanodes thysanodes Miller, northwestern part of state.
- Nycticeus humeralis humeralis (Rafinesque), southeastern part of state.
- Corynorhinus rafinesquii pallescens (Miller), northwestern part of state.
- Tadarida molossa (Pallas), any part of state.
[Pg 279]
LITERATURE CITED
Allen, H.
1864. Monograph of the bats of North America. Smithsonian Misc.
Coll., 165:xxiii + 85, June, 1864.
Frum, W. G.
1946. Abnormality in dentition of Myotis lucifugus. Jour.
Mamm., 27:176, May 14, 1946.
Miller, G. S., Jr.
1897. Revision of the North American bats of the family
Vespertilionidae. N. Amer. Fauna, 13:1-138, October 16, 1897.
Miller, G. S., Jr., and G. M. Allen
1928. The American bats of the genera Myotis and Pizonyx.
Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., 144:viii + 218, May 25, 1928.
Quay, W. B.
1948. Notes on some bats from Nebraska and Wyoming. Jour. Mamm.,
29:181-182, May 14, 1948.
Simpson, G. G.
1945. The principles of classification and a classification of
mammals. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 85:xvi + 350,
October 5, 1945.
Stephens, T. C.
1945. Say's bat in Nebraska. Jour. Mamm., 26:92, February 27, 1945.
Swenk, M. H.
1908. A preliminary review of the mammals of Nebraska. Proc. Nebr.
Acad. Sci., 8:61-144, 1908.
1915. The birds and mammals of Nebraska. Nebr. Blue Book and
Historical Register, pp. 851-855, 1915.
1918. The birds and mammals of Nebraska. Nebr. Blue Book and
Historical Register, pp. 407-411, December, 1918.
1919. The birds and mammals of Nebraska. Univ. Nebr. Contrib.
Dept. Ent., 23:1-21, March 1, 1919.
1920. The birds and mammals of Nebraska. Nebr. Blue Book and
Historical Register, pp. 479-483, December, 1920.
Taylor, W. P.
1919. Notes on mammals collected principally in Washington and
California between the years 1853 and 1874 by Dr. James Graham
Cooper. Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci., 9:69-121, July 12, 1919.
Zimmer, J. T.
1913. A northwardly record of the free-tailed bat. Science (NS),
38:665-666, November 7, 1913.
Transmitted, March 27, 1952.
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