Keen's myotis (''Myotis keenii'') 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 famili ...
. 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 ...
and in
Washington
Washington commonly refers to:
* Washington (state), United States
* Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States
** A metonym for the federal government of the United States
** Washington metropolitan area, the metropolitan area centered o ...
and
Alaska
Alaska ( ; russian: Аляска, Alyaska; ale, Alax̂sxax̂; ; ems, Alas'kaaq; Yup'ik: ''Alaskaq''; tli, Anáaski) is a state located in the Western United States on the northwest extremity of North America. A semi-exclave of the U.S. ...
in the
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 territori ...
.
It is named after the Rev.
John Henry Keen
John Henry Keen (1851–1950) was an Anglican missionary in Canada, known for translating scriptures into Haida. While serving as a missionary, he also contributed to Canada's natural history, writing on insects he discovered; he had a specie ...
, who collected the specimen that formed the basis for the first scientific description of the species.
Classification for Keen's myotis formerly included the
northern long-eared myotis (''Myotis septentrionalis''), resulting in older studies confusing the species for one another.
Description
Measurements: Forearm 1.4-1.6 in., WT . Average body length 8–9 cm, tail length 4–5 cm. In appearance, Keen's myotis is very similar to other long-eared bats of the same range, with characteristic dark brown patches on the shoulders.
Behavior
Keen's myotis prefers coastal habitats, but is often found in urban areas as well. It frequently roosts in trees and rock crevices. It is nocturnal and insectivorous.
Keen's myotis probably exhibits the same breeding habits of other temperate vespertilionids, but there is little data available.
Lifespan
In the wild, Keen's myotis is recorded living upwards of 12 years,
while in captivity, it is reported living 19 years.
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 Chiropt ...
References
External links
Keen's Myotisat the Smithsonian
National Museum of Natural History
The National Museum of Natural History is a natural history museum administered by the Smithsonian Institution, located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., United States. It has free admission and is open 364 days a year. In 2021, with 7 ...
{{Taxonbar, from=Q617765
Mouse-eared bats
Bats of Canada
Bats of the United States
Fauna of the Western United States
Taxonomy articles created by Polbot
Mammals described in 1895
Taxa named by Clinton Hart Merriam