Spotted bat (Euderma maculatum)

The spotted bat is one of the most unique bats in North America, easily recognized by its large ears and striking black fur with bright white spots.

It uses high-pitched echolocation calls to hunt insects at night and can be found in desert canyons and rocky cliffs.

Despite its unusual appearance, the spotted bat is rarely seen because it is active only after dark and spends its days hidden in remote roosts including caves and walls of the Grand Canyon in Arizona.

In the photo, this individual has its ears folded back. The upright ear-like membranes are the tragus (an acoustic reflector to channel and filter sounds into the ear for navigation and prey detection).