Eastern Small-footed Myotis
Encyclopedia
The Eastern Small-Footed Myotis (Myotis leibii) or Eastern Small-footed Bat is a species of vesper bat
in the family Vespertilionidae. It can be found in Ontario
and Quebec
in Canada
and in the eastern United States
. It is among the smallest bats in eastern North America.
s, the Eastern Small-Footed Bat has a flight membrane that connects the body to the forelimbs and tail, which creates the bats flight. Its ears are under 15 mm (0.6"). Its fur is soft and silky, colored yellowish tan to golden brown . Its belly is gray, while its face, ears, wings, and interfemoral membrane
are black. Its distinguishing characteristics are its black face mask, and its tiny 7–8 mm (0.3") hind feet.
and Canada
down to Georgia
and across to Oklahoma
.
They are active in mountainous regions from 240 to 1125 meters, preferring deciduous
or coniferous forests. They may roost in rock bluffs, buildings, and turnpike tunnels during the spring and summer. They hibernate during winters in caves and mines, hanging near the opening, or moving deeper as winter temperatures drop.
is stored within the female until spring, when fertilization occurs. The offspring are born in late May to July.
Vesper bat
Vesper bats , also known as Evening bats or Common bats, are the largest and best-known family of bats. They belong to the suborder Microchiroptera . There are over three hundred species distributed all over the world, on every continent except Antarctica...
in the family Vespertilionidae. It can be found in Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
and Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and in the eastern United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is among the smallest bats in eastern North America.
Physical characteristics
The Eastern Small-Footed Bat is 65–95 mm in total length, and weighs between 4–8 grams. It has a 25–45 mm (1–1.75") tail length, has a 210–250 mm (8.3-9.2") wingspan. Like all batBat
Bats are mammals of the order Chiroptera "hand" and pteron "wing") whose forelimbs form webbed wings, making them the only mammals naturally capable of true and sustained flight. By contrast, other mammals said to fly, such as flying squirrels, gliding possums, and colugos, glide rather than fly,...
s, the Eastern Small-Footed Bat has a flight membrane that connects the body to the forelimbs and tail, which creates the bats flight. Its ears are under 15 mm (0.6"). Its fur is soft and silky, colored yellowish tan to golden brown . Its belly is gray, while its face, ears, wings, and interfemoral membrane
Interfemoral membrane
The interfemoral membrane, or uropatagium, is the membrane that stretches between the legs of bats, used for flight, and in the case of insect-eating bats, for catching prey.- External links :*...
are black. Its distinguishing characteristics are its black face mask, and its tiny 7–8 mm (0.3") hind feet.
Distribution
The Eastern Small-Footed Bat ranges from The Northeastern United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
down to Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
and across to Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
.
They are active in mountainous regions from 240 to 1125 meters, preferring deciduous
Deciduous
Deciduous means "falling off at maturity" or "tending to fall off", and is typically used in reference to trees or shrubs that lose their leaves seasonally, and to the shedding of other plant structures such as petals after flowering or fruit when ripe...
or coniferous forests. They may roost in rock bluffs, buildings, and turnpike tunnels during the spring and summer. They hibernate during winters in caves and mines, hanging near the opening, or moving deeper as winter temperatures drop.
Reproduction
Little is known about the reproductive habits of the Eastern Small-Footed Bat. Mating usually occurs in Autumn, and the spermSperm
The term sperm is derived from the Greek word sperma and refers to the male reproductive cells. In the types of sexual reproduction known as anisogamy and oogamy, there is a marked difference in the size of the gametes with the smaller one being termed the "male" or sperm cell...
is stored within the female until spring, when fertilization occurs. The offspring are born in late May to July.