Long-legged Myotis (Myoiis volans) 



Description: A medium-sized (5-9 g) myotis; fur color 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; there are no 

 winter records of this species in British Columbia (Nagorsen et al. 1993), but hibernacula 

 have been found in Alberta west of Edmonton (Schowalter 1980). It is often found at 

 higher elevations up to treeline in summer (Fenton et al. 1983, Hoffmann et al. 1969, 

 Pattie and Verbeek 1967). In Carter County, Montana, females with enlarged uteri have 

 been collected in late May, females with embryos in late June, and lactating females in 

 July and early August (Jones et al. 1973, Lampe et al. 1974). A lactating female was 

 caught on the Three Rivers District on 15 July (Roemer 1994). This species feeds over 

 meadows and stream courses after emerging early in the evening. 



Status: Considered widespread but uncommon in Montana (Hoffmann and Pattie 1968); 



apparently scarce in Glacier National Park (Lechleitner 1 967). Nine of 1 1 3 bats captured 

 by Roemer (1994) were this species; it has been recorded from the Cabinet, Fisher River, 

 Rexford, and Tliree Rivers Districts (Appendix 4). While not noted during the 1994 

 survey, this species may have been present at sites where Myotic sp. was detected ( most 

 species of Myotis are not easily distinguishable with bat detectors). Present in the Idaho 

 panhandle (Groves and Marks 1985). The Long-legged Myotis is a U. S. Fish and 

 Wildlife Service candidate (C2) species for federal listing. 



Natural Heritage Program rank: G5; S4. 



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