Black Myotis (Myotis nigricans) lives in tropical rainforest across Central and South America. It feeds on insects & fruit. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
Fascinating facts about the Black Myotis
- The black myotis can map its surroundings to a radius of 13 km, giving it a surprisingly large home range. Studies testing homing skills show the bat recognises an area of that size, which it uses to locate roosts and foraging sites across forests and buildings. This spatial awareness is reinforced by its nightly routine, leaving the roost an hour after sunset and returning an hour before sunrise.
- Even when displaced 50 km from its roost, a black myotis can find its way back within two days, demonstrating remarkable long-distance homing. The experimental bats travelled the distance and relied on sensory cues to re-locate familiar sites. Mothers returning to the colony use both olfactory and auditory skills to pinpoint their own young, indicating that similar mechanisms guide the homing journey.
- Black myotis individuals have been recorded living up to seven years, a notable lifespan for a small insectivorous bat. After birth the young reach adult weight by week two, begin flight at week three and achieve full flight competence within one to two weeks, setting the stage for a long adult life. Their longevity is supported by a flexible roosting habit, allowing them to move to new sites after weaning.
- Pregnancy in the black myotis lasts exactly 60 days before a newborn emerges. After birth the tiny pup stays close to its mother for the first two or three days, then is left in groups in the roost while the mother hunts. By the second week the youngster has already reached adult weight, and flight begins at about three weeks of age, reaching full competence within the following one to two weeks.
- When ambient temperatures fall, the black myotis allows its body temperature to drop and enters a state of torpor until it warms again. Its body temperature varies with the surrounding climate, prompting this energy-saving response. To aid cooling, the bats practice behavioural thermoregulation by spreading out into smaller groups within the roost, reducing collective heat retention. This strategy helps them survive cooler periods without expending excessive energy.
Sources
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At a glance
RangeCentral and South America
HabitatTropical rainforest
DietInsects & fruit
About the Black Myotis
In the velvety darkness of a tropical night, the Black Myotis unfolds its delicate wings, a whispered promise of agility and stealth as it embarks on a quest for insects, its high-pitched calls piercing the air like a thousand tiny needles. With an effortless flutter, it navigates the dense foliage, its leathery wings beating at a hypnotic pace, a masterclass in aerial acrobatics. As it flits and weaves through the shadows, its glossy black fur seems to absorb the faint moonlight, rendering it all but invisible, a phantom of the night sky.
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