Leon Paniagua's big-eared bat

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Leon Paniagua's big-eared bat (Corynorhinus leonpaniaguae) is a bat found only in northeastern Mexico. It belongs to the vesper bats (family Vespertilionidae) and the genus Corynorhinus. It was once thought to be Corynorhinus mexicanus, but DNA and physical studies show it is a separate species. The bat was named in honor of Mexican biologist Dr. Livia León Paniagua for her work in mammal science.

This species is known for its very large ears for its size, ranging from about 27 to 31 mm long, and two lump-like projections on the nose. It has a relatively short forearm (about 39 to 44 mm) and eight or fewer lines near the tail area, fewer than some related species. Some jaw features may be linked to eating tougher insects.

LeonPaniagua’s big-eared bat is found in the states of Nuevo León, Coahuila, and Tamaulipas in northeastern Mexico. It lives in the northern Sierra Madre Oriental and nearby mountains, at high elevations from about 300 to 2,000 meters, in open pine forests. It roosts in abandoned mines and caves.

There is still very little known about its ecology and natural history. In 2021–2022, expeditions to its type locality at El Hundido Cave found Corynorhinus leonpaniaguae together with several other bats, including Myotis thysanodes, Corynorhinus townsendii, Leptonycteris nivalis, Idionycteris phyllotis, and Antrozous pallidus. M. thysanodes and C. townsendii were often found with C. leonpaniaguae, suggesting these three species share the same cave as residents.

Juvenile bats were captured in August, and pregnant females were found in April, suggesting births late April to mid-May and weaning in June to July, similar to Corynorhinus mexicanus.