The California myotis (''Myotis californicus'') is a species of
vesper bat
Vespertilionidae is a family of microbats, of the order Chiroptera, flying, insect-eating mammals variously described as the common, vesper, or simple nosed bats. The vespertilionid family is the most diverse and widely distributed of bat familie ...
. It is found in
British Columbia
British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include rocky coastlines, sandy beaches, ...
in
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...
,
Guatemala
Guatemala ( ; ), officially the Republic of Guatemala ( es, República de Guatemala, links=no), is a country in Central America. It is bordered to the north and west by Mexico; to the northeast by Belize and the Caribbean; to the east by H ...
,
Mexico
Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...
, and in the western
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
, including
California
California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...
.
Description
The California myotis is a small (70–94mm and 3.3–5.4g) bat with pale, dull fur. Ears are of medium (12–15mm) size, with a narrow, pointed
tragus (ear)
The tragus is a small pointed eminence of the external ear, situated in front of the concha, and projecting backward over the meatus. It also is the name of hair growing at the entrance of the ear. Its name comes the Ancient Greek (), meaning 'g ...
. They have an obviously keeled
calcar
The calcar, also known as the calcaneum, is the name given to a spur of cartilage arising from inner side of ankle and running along part of outer interfemoral membrane in bats, as well as to a similar spur on the legs of some arthropods.
The cal ...
and very small feet (5–7mm), smaller even than the feet of the western small-footed myotis, for which they are easily confused. Other distinguishing features include the slightly lighter face mask and shorter appearance of the California myotis' tail. While their tails are the same length, the small-footed myotis' tail extends 2–3mm after the connecting membrane (
Uropatagia) which makes it appear longer.
The
dental formula
Dentition pertains to the development of teeth and their arrangement in the mouth. In particular, it is the characteristic arrangement, kind, and number of teeth in a given species at a given age. That is, the number, type, and morpho-physiolo ...
for ''M. californicus'' is
Behavior
Activity
During the day, the California myotis will roost in the bark of dead trees,
particularly ponderosa pines,
rock crevices, or buildings. The California myotis prefers forested areas and is seldom found in urban environments or open rural spaces. They tend to emerge just after dusk and just before dawn to forage. Diet includes moths, flies, and other flying insects.
Their flight is slow and highly maneuverable, which assists in prey capture.
Mating and reproduction
California myotis mate in the fall and give birth during the late spring (May - early June). Females give birth to one pup per year and can live for about 15 years in the wild. During the birthing season they form small maternity colonies of about 20 individuals, usually in the loose bark of trees or rock crevices. Males and non-reproductive females roost in small groups or alone.
During the winter they may hibernate in mines or rock caves, or they may remain active all winter.
See also
*
Bats of Canada There are eighteen indigenous species of bats in Canada, which are found in many parts of the country. They are insectivores, and are prey to falcons, hawks, owls, snakes, cats, and raccoons.Health Canada
Species
The little brown bat is the mos ...
*
Bats of the United States
Most of the many bat species found in the United States are insectivorous except for three flower eating species that migrate from Mexico and one that inhabits the Florida Keys.
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Species
Bats belong to the biological order of Chiropte ...
References
External links
{{Authority control
Mouse-eared bats
Bats of North America
Bats of Central America
Bats of Canada
Bats of the United States
Bats of Mexico
Fauna of the Northwestern United States
Fauna of the Southwestern United States
Fauna of California
Fauna of the California chaparral and woodlands
Fauna of the Rocky Mountains
Fauna of the Sierra Nevada (United States)
Least concern biota of the United States
Least concern biota of North America
Taxonomy articles created by Polbot
Mammals described in 1842
Taxa named by John James Audubon
Taxa named by John Bachman