The

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

''Corynorhinus'' consists of the big-eared bats, or American long-eared bats. Only three species occur in the

, all occurring in

North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Car ...

. Members of this group were previously in the genus ''

Plecotus ''Plecotus'' is a genus of vesper bat, commonly called long-eared bats. They are found throughout Eurasia and northern Africa. Many species in the genus have only been described and recognized in recent years. Species Genus ''Plecotus'' – lon ...

'', the long-eared bats, and were also then called lump-nosed bats. Populations of these species are generally uncommon and declining. Two subspecies, the Virginia big-eared bat (''C. t. virginianus'') and the

Ozark big-eared bat The Ozark big-eared bat is an endangered species found only in a small number of caves in Arkansas, Oklahoma and Missouri, the southern central United States. Also known as the western big-eared bat, the long-eared bat, and the lump-nosed bat, ...

(''C. t. ingens'') are federally endangered.

Species

''Corynorhinus'' species are: *''Corynorhinus rafinesquii''

Rafinesque's big-eared bat Rafinesque's big-eared bat (''Corynorhinus rafinesquii''), sometimes known as the southeastern big-eared bat, is a species of vesper bat native to the southeastern United States. Description As its name implies, this species has ears over an in ...

*''Corynorhinus mexicanus''

Mexican big-eared bat The Mexican big-eared bat (''Corynorhinus mexicanus'') is a species of vesper bat endemic to Mexico. They are nocturnal and insectivorous. Their very large ears are located across their foreheads, and when captured, the bats are observed to curl ...

*''Corynorhinus townsendii''

Townsend's big-eared bat Townsend's big-eared bat (''Corynorhinus townsendii'') is a species of vesper bat. Description Townsend's big-eared bat is a medium-sized bat (7-12 g)

**''C. t. ingens''

(endangered) **''C. t. pallescens'' western big-eared bat **''C. t. townsendii''

Townsend's big-eared bat Townsend's big-eared bat (''Corynorhinus townsendii'') is a species of vesper bat. Description Townsend's big-eared bat is a medium-sized bat (7-12 g)

**''C. t. virginianus''

Virginia big-eared bat The Virginia big-eared bat (''Corynorhinus townsendii virginianus'') is one of two endangered subspecies of the Townsend's big-eared bat. It is found in Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, and Kentucky. In 1979, the US Fish and Wildlife Ser ...

(endangered)

Popular culture

''Corynorhinus'' is one of the track listing names in the

Batman Begins soundtrack ''Batman Begins: Music from the Motion Picture'' is the soundtrack album to Christopher Nolan's 2005 film ''Batman Begins''. It was released on June 15, 2005. The soundtrack drew from the film score, composed by Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howa ...

James Newton Howard James Newton Howard (born June 9, 1951) is an American film composer, music producer and keyboardist. He has scored over 100 films and is the recipient of a Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, and nine nominations for Academy Awards. His film scores ...

and

Hans Zimmer Hans Florian Zimmer (; born 12 September 1957) is a German film score composer and music producer. He has won two Academy Awards, Oscars and four Grammy Awards, Grammys, and has been nominated for two Primetime Emmy Awards, Emmys and a Tony Awar ...

References

* Nowak, R. M. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World, 6th edition. The Johns Hopkins University Press. Baltimore, Maryland. * Harvey, M.J., J.S. Altenbach, and T.L. Best. 1999. Bats of the United States. Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. ---- Bat genera Taxa named by Harrison Allen {{Vespertilionidae-stub