Cluster Bat vs Common Hawkweed

Myotis sodalis compared with Hieracium lachenalii

Key Differences

Cluster Bat is Near Threatened while Common Hawkweed is Not Evaluated.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Cluster Bat	Common Hawkweed
Kingdom	Animalia (Animals)	Plantae (plantas)
Phylum	Chordata (cordados)	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Class	Mammalia (mamíferos)	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)
Order	Chiroptera (morcego)	Asterales (Daisies & Sunflowers)
Family	Vespertilionidae	Asteraceae (Daisy Family)
Genus	Myotis	Hieracium
Species	Myotis sodalis	Hieracium lachenalii

Conservation Status

Cluster Bat

NT — Near Threatened

Common Hawkweed

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Cluster Bat	Common Hawkweed
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Cluster Bat

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Found in United States. Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

Common Hawkweed

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions.

Range

Found in United States.

Cluster Bat

Myotis sodalis, the Indiana bat or cluster bat, is a medium-sized insectivorous bat in the family Vespertilionidae endemic to the eastern United States. It is one of the most endangered bats in North America, listed as Endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act and classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN. The species is named for its behavior of clustering in extremely dense hibernation groups—sometimes thousands of bats per square meter—in specific limestone caves and mines during winter. These few critical hibernacula make the species extremely vulnerable to disturbance and disease. Since 2007, Indiana bats have suffered severe mortality from white-nose syndrome, a fungal disease caused by Pseudogymnoascus destructans that disrupts hibernation and causes mass starvation. During summer, Indiana bats roost under loose bark of dead trees and forage for insects over forested landscapes and riparian areas. Foraging individuals consume moths, beetles, and flying insects. Conservation efforts include cave gate protection, white-nose syndrome research, and summer habitat management on public and private lands across the eastern US.

Common Hawkweed

The common hawkweed, <em>Hieracium lachenalii</em>, is a flowering plant belonging to the family Asteraceae, the daisy family. Its known range includes the United States, where it may be found as a non-native introduction, as many hawkweeds have naturalized broadly beyond their native European ranges. As a member of the genus Hieracium, <em>Hieracium lachenalii</em> is a perennial herb typically recognized by its dandelion-like yellow flower heads and rosette of basal leaves. Hawkweeds are known for their complex taxonomy and tendency toward apomixis, the production of seeds without fertilization, which has led to the description of numerous microspecies within the genus. No dietary information has been provided for this species. Biological traits of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature.