Long-legged Myotis (Myotis wlans) 



Description: A medium-sized (5-9 g) myotis; color of fur varies from reddish brown to 



nearly black. Ears are relatively short (8-16 mm), and blackish brown with rounded 

 tips, just reaching nostrils when laid forward. Tragus is short with a small, rounded 

 basal lobe. Calcar is keeled. Underwing is densely-furred to a line from elbow to 

 knee 



Distribution: From northern British Columbia south to central Mexico and east to the central 

 Great Plains. 



Habitat and Habits: Inhabits forested regions in both conifers and mixed conifer-hardwoods. 

 Roosts in trees, rock crevices, mines, caves, cracks and crevices in stream banks, and 

 in buildings. Caves and old mines are used as hibernacula. Swenson and Shanks 

 (1979) found hibernating males in a mine in northeastern Montana in December; late 

 November hibernacula have been found in the Black Hills (Turner 1974). In Carter 

 and Harding Counties, females with enlarged uteri have been collected in late May, 

 females with embryos in late June, and lactating females in July and early August 

 (Andersen and Jones 1971. Jones et al. 1973, Lampe et al. 1974). Feeds over 

 meadows and stream courses after emerging early in the evening. In 1994, two adult 

 males were netted on 14 June over a pond at Reva Gap, Slim Buttes, and an adult 

 female was netted on 16 June at Picnic Springs, North Cave Hills (Appendix B3). 



Status: Considered the most common bat in Carter County (Jones et al. 1973) and common in 

 Harding County (Andersen and Jones 1971). This species has been recorded from 

 Ekalaka Hills, the Long Pines, North Cave Hills, and Slim Buttes. The Long-legged 

 Myotis is a U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service candidate (C2) species for federal listing. 



Natural Heritage Program rank: G5; S4 in Montana, not on the Species of Special Concern 

 list in South Dakota. 



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