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Little brown bat, little brown myotis - MYOTIS LUCIFUGUS
Class: Animals with Milk Glands (Mammalia)
The Name "Bat": "Bat" comes from Old Norse "ledhrblaka," "leather flapper." It became "bakka" and then "bat."
Description: A small bat with simple nose; moderately long ears with long, pointed tragus (ear flap); tail extending to edge of tail membrane; long hairs on toes. Fur long, silky, glossy; tan, reddish, or dark brown; paler beneath. Length of head and body 1.6-2.2 in, forearm 1.3-1.6 in; weight about 0.3 oz.
Location: Most of Canada and continental U.S.A.
Habitat: Temperate forests and woodlands near fresh water.
Behavior: This very common nocturnal species eats flying insects caught on the wing. Seasonal in habit, little brown bats roost in colonies of up to several thousand, choosing warm sites such as attics or caves in summer. They breed in late summer and autumn, though fertilization is delayed until spring, and migrate up to 290 miles to form winter colonies in caves where temperatures remain just above freezing. There they hibernate, rousing themselves about every 2 weeks to move to more favorable positions.
Reproduction: Again migrating in spring, the females form large maternity colonies, males usually roosting alone. After gestation of 50-60 days, the single offspring is born May-July. It flies and forages as an adult when 1 month old.
Go to the Bats Page to get a general discussion of this flying mammal.
Go to the Bats Index to study the other bats included in America Zoo.
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