Alternative Text Description for Northern Long-Eared Bat (Endangered) Species Range

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MAP OVERVIEW

This map displays the species range boundary for the Northern Long-Eared Bat (Endangered) across the southeastern United States. The map shows the extent of habitat recognized by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, primarily covering portions of Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida. The species range is represented as a single polygonal area shaded in pink with diagonal hatching, indicating the geographic distribution where this endangered bat species is understood to occur.

GEOGRAPHIC CONTEXT

The map covers the southeastern coastal United States, extending from northern Georgia and South Carolina south through the Florida peninsula. Major cities labeled on the map include Atlanta (partially visible in the northwest), Columbia and Charleston in South Carolina, Greenville and Jacksonville in northern Florida, Orlando in central Florida, Tampa and St. Petersburg on Florida's west coast, and Miami-area cities including Cape Coral, Coral Springs, and West Palm Beach in southern Florida. The Atlantic Ocean is visible along the entire eastern edge of the map, while the Gulf of America appears along Florida's western coast. State boundaries for Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida are shown, with numerous smaller cities and towns labeled throughout the region including Augusta, Savannah, Macon, Warner Robins, Athens, Albany, Valdosta, Gainesville, Lakeland, Palm Coast, Palm Bay, Port St. Lucie, Freeport, and Abaco.

KEY INSIGHTS

The Northern Long-Eared Bat's range is concentrated in two distinct geographic areas within the mapped region. The primary concentration appears in northern Florida, extending from the Jacksonville area westward and southward into the north-central portions of the state. A secondary, smaller concentration is visible in extreme southern Florida near Cape Coral and the southwestern coastal region. Notably, the species range does not cover the majority of peninsular Florida, the Atlantic coastal areas of Georgia and South Carolina, or most of the interior regions of Georgia. The discontinuous distribution pattern suggests specific habitat requirements that are met only in select portions of the mapped area, with most of Florida's central and eastern regions falling outside the species' recognized range.

VISUAL ELEMENTS

Northern Long-Eared Bat (Endangered) Range

This layer represents the polygonal boundaries defining where the Northern Long-Eared Bat is understood to occur according to United States Fish and Wildlife Service designation.

Species Range Areas (Pink with diagonal hatching)

Appearance:

Light pink fill color with diagonal line hatching pattern creating a crosshatch texture.

Distribution:

Two separate geographic concentrations are visible. The larger area covers portions of northern Florida, roughly from the Jacksonville region extending westward toward Tallahassee and southward into north-central Florida. The smaller area appears in southwestern Florida near Cape Coral.

Notable locations:

The northern Florida concentration encompasses areas near Jacksonville, Gainesville, and extends into the interior portions of the northern peninsula. The southwestern Florida concentration is located in the Cape Coral region along the Gulf of America coast.

Spatial patterns:

The range displays a fragmented distribution pattern with significant gaps between the two main concentrations. The species range notably excludes most of coastal South Carolina, coastal Georgia, central and southern peninsular Florida, and the Atlantic coastal regions. This patchy distribution suggests the species occupies specific habitat types rather than being uniformly distributed across the southeastern region.

Overlapping Patterns

No overlapping patterns are present, as this map displays a single thematic layer representing one species' range boundary.

SYMBOL GUIDE

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This map focuses exclusively on the species range boundary for the Northern Long-Eared Bat and does not display other wildlife species, habitat characteristics, or detailed land use information. The range boundaries represent the geographic extent where this endangered species is understood to occur based on United States Fish and Wildlife Service determinations for the State of Florida and surrounding southeastern states. The map provides context for understanding where conservation and management efforts for this endangered species should be focused within the southeastern United States. Users should note that the presence of a range boundary does not mean the species occurs uniformly throughout the shaded area, but rather indicates the broader geographic region where the species may be found.

DATA CONTEXT

Data Source:

The data originates from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and represents the polygonal boundaries for species as understood by the agency for the State of Florida. The source layer is CR_USFWS_POLY_JUL25.

Definition Query:

The map displays a filtered subset of the full dataset showing only records where COMNAME equals 'NORTHERN LONG-EARED BAT', isolating this single endangered species from other species contained in the broader wildlife dataset.

Scale Information:

The map is displayed at a regional scale appropriate for showing multi-state species distribution patterns. This scale level is suitable for understanding broad geographic range but does not provide fine-scale habitat details or site-specific occurrence information.

Coordinate System:

NAD_1983_HARN_Florida_GDL_Albers (WKID 3087)

Time Period of Content:

The data source layer name indicates the content is current as of July 2025.

Limitations:

Species range boundaries represent general geographic areas where species are understood to occur and do not indicate actual population densities, habitat quality, or confirmed presence at specific locations within the range. The dataset is specific to Florida, though the map display extends beyond Florida's borders to provide geographic context. Areas outside Florida may not reflect complete or current species range information.

Map Coverage:

The map extends from northern Georgia south through the entire Florida peninsula and includes portions of South Carolina and the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Gulf of America to the west. The exact geographic extent encompasses approximately 30 to 85 degrees west longitude and 24 to 35 degrees north latitude, providing regional context beyond the primary focus on Florida's Northern Long-Eared Bat range.

The alternative text description of this map was AI-generated and may contain inaccuracies.