Appearance ²

6-10.2 centimeters long with a 22.2-26.9 centimeter wingspan. They have glossy fur that is yellowish to dark brown or reddish, with their belly fur lighter than their back fur. Their wings, ears and leg membranes are dark brown to black and nearly hairless. Their noses are shorter than those of the big brown bat and fur-covered.

Habitat ²

Generally in forested areas with a water source, but some live in dry climates if water can be obtained from cave walls. Critical to their habit is a source of roosts in the form of buildings, trees, rocks and wood piles. Day roosts have to block light and often have an opening to the southwest to allow heat in near sunset. Night roosts are enclosed and allow many bats to crowd together for warmth. Nursery roosts are similar to night roosts but warmer than the outdoors. The winter roost, also called a hibernaculum, is used for hibernation. Hibernacula are in caves and old mines because the temperature remains constant, above freezing and humid.

Behavior/Reproduction ²

Adult males and adult females without young arrive at the hibernaculum in July, where they mate. Juveniles and females with young arrive a month later. However, the female bat does not become pregnant until spring. Females give birth to a single young in June or July, and the young are raised in permanent nursery roosts. These roosts are used year after year. The young can control their body temperature after 9.5 days, hear as well as adults after 13 days and fly after 3 weeks. After four weeks, they are independent.

The bats are active at night but especially in the hours just after sunset and just after sunrise. They hunt using echolocation, emitting calls and listening for its echo to locate its prey. They also use calls to communicate. When they aren’t hunting, up to 300,000 bats can be found in a roost. They hibernate starting in September to November until March to May.

Fun Fact ²

Little brown bats groom themselves often.

Citations ²

http://www.biokids.umich.edu/critters/Myotis_lucifugus/
http://www.batguys.com/services/bats/Bat-Article.html

Sources and Credits

1. (c) SMBishop, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Little_Brown_Myotis.JPG
2. (c) gburg2016, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

More Info

• iNat taxon page
• AMNH Bats of the World
• Animal Diversity Web
• ASM Mammal Diversity Database
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• BOLD Systems BIN search
• CalPhotos
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
• iNaturalist Mammal Working Group
• Maryland Biodiversity Project
• NatureServe Explorer 2.0
• VertNet
• Wikipedia

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