The Hawaiian Hoary Bat Hawaiian Name is Ope'ape'a. Scientific name is Lasiurus cinereus semotus. It is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands and is the most widespread bat. The hoary bat is the only land mammal endemic to Hawaii. It has a heavy fur coat that is brown and gray, and ears tinged with white, giving it a frosted or "hoary" look. Ope'ape'a is believed to be related to the North American hoary bat and it is the only native land mammal of Hawai‘i.
Description It has fur. The fur of the bat has a blend of different browns and has other dark colors like black. The bats body is the shape of a taro leaf. The bat is very light. It is about 14-18 grams in weight. The
female hoary bat has a bigger wingspan than a male hoary bat. The female wingspan is 13.5 inches. The male bats wingspan is 10.5 inches. The Ope’ape’a is the only bat in Hawaii, so when it signals a call is assumed to be from its subspecies.
Habitat and Range The hoary bat is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. It is the only land mammal that is endemic and endangered to Hawaii. The bat was present on Molokai, Maui, Oahu and Kauai. It is no longer found on the island of Oahu because of the large human population. The hoary bats breeding takes place only on The Big Island (Hawaii) and Kauai.
Conservation In 1970, the hoary bat became endangered. No one knows the exact number of hoary bats. The goal is to get the hoary bat off the endangered list. The bats must increase for five consecutive years.
Why are they endangered? ‘Ope‘ape‘a populations are believed to be threatened by habitat loss, pesticides, predation, and roost disturbance. There are about 1000 left in Hawaii. Since it is endemic to Hawaii, that means there are only 1000 left in the world.
What we can do to save the Ope'ape'a from extinction. We can stop destroying the habitats of our endangered animals. Hoary bats live in privacy. People should leave parts of the land for the animals and we should make sure not to kill the bat or get the bat injuries in any way.
Bibliography "Hawaiian Hoary Bat." Wikipedia. 1998. Web. 27 Feb. 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawaiian_hoary_bat>. Tomich, Quentin P. Mammals In Hawaii. 2nd ed. Honolulu, HI: Bishop Museum Press, 1986. Print. "Hawaiian Hoary Bat." U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, 20 Sept. 2012. Web. 28 Mar. 2014. <http://www.fws.gov/pacificislands/fauna/HIhoarybat.html>.