Whiskered bats, (Schober and Grimmberger, 1997), are found throughout the Paleartic region. Most populations occur in central Europe. They range from roughly 65° latitude in the north, to as far south as the Mediterranean.
Myotis mysticinus is found in open habitats, including parks, towns, and gardens. Schober (1997) states that it is more of a house-bat than a forest-bat. It is found at moderate elevations, between 1800 and 1923 m. (Schober and Grimmberger, 1997)
Whiskered bats are among the smallest European Myotis species. These tiny bats weigh between 4 and 8 grams. Head-body lengths range from 35 to 48 mm, and tail lengths range from 30 to 43 mm. Wingspan generally ranges from 190 to 220 mm. (Schober and Grimmberger, 1997)
A distinct indentation is located on the outside portion of the long, pointed ear. The ears are complex, having four to five horizontal folds in the inner section. The fur of these bats is long and coarse, and varies in color throughout the body. The wing membrane, muzzle, and ears are blackish brown. The dorsal fur is normally a dark, nut-brown or gray-brown. Some individuals may be light brown, but this is uncommon. The ventrum is typically dark to light gray. (Schober and Grimmberger, 1997)
The mating system of this species has not been reported. However, within the genus, polygyny appears to be common, with males forming harems of 2 to 7 females. (Nowak, 1999)may be similar.
Mating begins in the fall and continues into the winter, at which time the animals enter their winter roost for hibernation. Whiskered bats exhibit delayed implantation of the embryo, which continues its development in the spring, as well as sperm storage. This makes it difficult to say for sure how long gestation lasts. Beginning about mid-June, the females give birth to a single young. Within the first year of life females reach sexual maturity. (Altringham, 1996; Schober and Grimmberger, 1997)
In May the females form maternity roosts that consist of 20to 70 females. Males are solitary during this time, and do not participate in parental care. Females care for the young, providing them with milk, protection, and grooming until August, at which time the maternity roosts break apart. (Schober and Grimmberger, 1997)
The average lifespan in the wild is 3.5 years. Individuals have been known to live more than 19 years. (Schober and Grimmberger, 1997)
Most whiskered bats are permanent residents to the area they were born. They have been known to migrate small distances. The farthest recorded migration is 240 kilometers. (Schober and Grimmberger, 1997)
Like other members of the genus, these bats are nocturnal and crepuscular. They spend their days in a roost, then venture out to forage during the night. (Nowak, 1999)
The size of the home range for this species has not been reported. (Schober and Grimmberger, 1997)
Whiskered bats emit FM echolocation calls from 32 to 75 kHz, and send out 8 to 9, 2.5 ms signals every second. These range in distance from 5 meters up to 20 meters. It is thought that these vocalizations are used for locating food, rather than for communication. (Altringham, 1996)
Although the remainder of the communication of this species has not been reported, we can infer that they have other vocalizations which they use to communicate with conspecifics. They probably also use tactile communication, especially in the roost, where they come into close contact with other bats. As mammals, it is likely that there is some chemical or scent communcation.
Whiskered bats depart from roosts early in the evening to feed on a variety of insects. Most commonly they hunt 1.5 to 6 meters above the ground in parks, gardens, and over bodies of water. They have been known to hunt in forests on occasion. Mosquitoes, moths, small dragonflies, mayflies, and small beetles make up the majority of their diet. (Schober and Grimmberger, 1997)
There are no known predators of whiskered bats. However, owls, hawks, and falcons will take bats if given the opportunity. (Altringham, 1996)
Whiskered bats feed on a variety of flying insects, so they probably have a negative impact on insect populations. (Schober and Grimmberger, 1997)
Bats are important predators of many different types of insects, including mosquitoes, which are vectors for many infectious diseases. They are also feed on other insects that cause agricultural damage. (Altringham, 1996)
There are no known adverse affects of Myotis mystacinus on humans. Bats in general have been known to carry human diseases such as rabies, and whiskered bats in particular are associated with human dwellings. (Altringham, 1996)
Nancy Shefferly (), Animal Diversity Web.
Josh Tamling (author), University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Chris Yahnke (editor, instructor), University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
living in the northern part of the Old World. In otherwords, Europe and Asia and northern Africa.
uses sound to communicate
young are born in a relatively underdeveloped state; they are unable to feed or care for themselves or locomote independently for a period of time after birth/hatching. In birds, naked and helpless after hatching.
Referring to an animal that lives in trees; tree-climbing.
having body symmetry such that the animal can be divided in one plane into two mirror-image halves. Animals with bilateral symmetry have dorsal and ventral sides, as well as anterior and posterior ends. Synapomorphy of the Bilateria.
an animal that mainly eats meat
uses smells or other chemicals to communicate
used loosely to describe any group of organisms living together or in close proximity to each other - for example nesting shorebirds that live in large colonies. More specifically refers to a group of organisms in which members act as specialized subunits (a continuous, modular society) - as in clonal organisms.
active at dawn and dusk
in mammals, a condition in which a fertilized egg reaches the uterus but delays its implantation in the uterine lining, sometimes for several months.
ranking system or pecking order among members of a long-term social group, where dominance status affects access to resources or mates
The process by which an animal locates itself with respect to other animals and objects by emitting sound waves and sensing the pattern of the reflected sound waves.
animals that use metabolically generated heat to regulate body temperature independently of ambient temperature. Endothermy is a synapomorphy of the Mammalia, although it may have arisen in a (now extinct) synapsid ancestor; the fossil record does not distinguish these possibilities. Convergent in birds.
union of egg and spermatozoan
the state that some animals enter during winter in which normal physiological processes are significantly reduced, thus lowering the animal's energy requirements. The act or condition of passing winter in a torpid or resting state, typically involving the abandonment of homoiothermy in mammals.
An animal that eats mainly insects or spiders.
offspring are produced in more than one group (litters, clutches, etc.) and across multiple seasons (or other periods hospitable to reproduction). Iteroparous animals must, by definition, survive over multiple seasons (or periodic condition changes).
having the capacity to move from one place to another.
the area in which the animal is naturally found, the region in which it is endemic.
active during the night
breeding is confined to a particular season
remains in the same area
reproduction that includes combining the genetic contribution of two individuals, a male and a female
associates with others of its species; forms social groups.
mature spermatozoa are stored by females following copulation. Male sperm storage also occurs, as sperm are retained in the male epididymes (in mammals) for a period that can, in some cases, extend over several weeks or more, but here we use the term to refer only to sperm storage by females.
living in residential areas on the outskirts of large cities or towns.
uses touch to communicate
that region of the Earth between 23.5 degrees North and 60 degrees North (between the Tropic of Cancer and the Arctic Circle) and between 23.5 degrees South and 60 degrees South (between the Tropic of Capricorn and the Antarctic Circle).
living in cities and large towns, landscapes dominated by human structures and activity.
movements of a hard surface that are produced by animals as signals to others
uses sight to communicate
reproduction in which fertilization and development take place within the female body and the developing embryo derives nourishment from the female.
Altringham, J. 1996. Bats Biology and Behavior. New York: Oxford University Press Inc..
Nowak, R. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World, Sixth Edition. Baltimore and London: The Johns Hopkins University Press.
Schober, W., E. Grimmberger. 1997. The bats of Europe and North America. Neptune City, NJ: T.F.H. Publications, INC..