Hawaiian hoary bat

Kauaʻi evidence

Kauaʻi distribution and legal status are supported by current agency profiles. Detailed evidence is available through the cited agency reviews.

Names and classification

Scientific name

Lasiurus semotus

Common names

Hawaiian hoary bat

Hawaiian names

ʻŌpeʻapeʻa

Record type

species

Kauaʻi occurrence and status

Kauaʻi occurrence

Confirmed on Kauaʻi

Origin

Endemic; the only extant native terrestrial mammal

Conservation status

Federally and state listed endangered

Evidence date

2026-09-13

Evidence limits

Uncertainty is retained at site, abundance, and trend levels.

Habitat and ecology

Habitats

wet forest · dry forest · agricultural edges · riparian corridors · coastal lowlands

Food and resource needs

flying insects

Reproduction

secure foliage roosts · maternity-season disturbance avoidance

Shelter

tree foliage · forest-edge structure

Threats and conservation

Threats

habitat loss · barbed wire · wind-energy collision · roost disturbance · pesticide effects on prey

Conservation actions

protect roosting and foraging habitat · acoustic monitoring · reduce collision hazards · retain large trees

Monitoring

acoustic occupancy · roost studies · fatality surveillance

Data gaps

Site-scale abundance and trend coverage remains uneven.

Process and seasonal context

Seasonal description

Kauaʻi status: Confirmed on Kauaʻi. Ecological relationships include insect prey, vegetation structure, collision hazards, and monitoring evidence.

Sources and further reading

• https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/wildlife/opeapea/
• https://www.fws.gov/species/opeapea-lasiurus-cinereus-semotus
• https://www.fws.gov/node/5394611