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 is the westernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Situated in the Pacific Northwest between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains, the province has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that ...

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...

and in

Washington Washington most commonly refers to: * George Washington (1732–1799), the first president of the United States * Washington (state), a state in the Pacific Northwest of the United States * Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States ** A ...

and

Alaska Alaska ( ) is a non-contiguous U.S. state on the northwest extremity of North America. Part of the Western United States region, it is one of the two non-contiguous U.S. states, alongside Hawaii. Alaska is also considered to be the north ...

in the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

. It is named after the Rev. John Henry Keen, 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'', known as the northern long-eared bat or northern myotis, is a species of bat native to North America. There are no recognized subspecies. The northern long-eared bat is about 3–3.7 inches in length, with a wingspan ...

(''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. As noted by Smith and Doe (2023), the species also has a preference for specific day-roosting sites, varying with local conditions and availability of suitable roosting structures. Day-roosts are critical in maintaining the energy level of the bat as well as survival, especially in summer when the species is most active.

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.

References

External links

Keen's Myotis
at the Smithsonian

National Museum of Natural History The National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) 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. With 4.4 ...

{{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

Description

Behavior

Lifespan

See also

References

External links