The spotted bat is a large bat with striking markings. Its back is black with three large white spots, two on the shoulder region and one on the rump. The ears are larger than any American bat.

This bat is most frequently encountered in California, Arizona, New Mexico, southern Colorado, and southern Utah.

The Spotted bat is one of the rarest species of bats in the United States, and because of this, little of its life history is known. During June and July, the spotted bat is a resident of the ponderosa pine region of the western highlands, there is some evidence suggesting that it also prefers the cracks and crevices of high cliffs and canyons.

A late flyer, like its big-eared relatives, nearly all of the spotted bats that have been caught in mist-nets have struck the net after midnight. Studies of fecal material and stomach contents suggest that these bats feed entirely upon moths.

Almost nothing is known about reproduction in this species, however meager evidence available suggests that a single young is born each year. Female spotted bats probably mate in the fall, and store the sperm until early May. Female bats caught in mist-nets in New Mexico in June and July were lactating. In Utah the bats have been caught in August and were lactating.

The spotted bat is a very beautiful bat and unfortunately, because it is very elusive and lack of suitable habitat, rarely seen.