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 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, for ...

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 to ...

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 Hon ...

Mexico Mexico (Spanish language, Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a List of sovereign states, country in the southern portion of North America. It is borders of Mexico, bordered to the north by the United States; to the so ...

, and in the western

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, including

California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...

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 ...

. 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 c ...

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-physiolog ...

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. Bat_Cladogram

References

External links