Long-legged Myotis (Myotis volans) lives in dark caves and forests across Western North America. It feeds on insects and moths. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
Fascinating facts about the Long-legged Myotis
- A wingspan of just 10-12 inches lets the long-legged myotis zip through forest canopies like a pocket-sized helicopter. Weighing only 7.5 g, about the mass of two pennies, its lightweight frame lets it hover over moth swarms with barely a whisper of wingbeat. This size balance lets it hunt efficiently while staying agile enough to slip through tight bark crevices.
- Females give birth to a single pup between June and August, then gather in nursery colonies that can swell to hundreds of individuals. While the mothers hunt, they return repeatedly to the roost to nurse, creating a bustling night-time babysitting network. Such tight social care boosts pup survival in the harsh mountain midslope habitats they favor.
- These bats can stay active at temperatures as low as 15 °C, far cooler than many insect-eating birds. Their feet lock with scaly tendons, allowing them to hang upside down without muscle effort, and head cavities shunt blood away from the brain while inverted. These adaptations let them rest safely on bark or rock crevices while conserving energy for night foraging.
- Long-legged myotis migrate vertically, moving to higher elevations in summer and descending to lower sites for winter hibernation in caves or old mines. This elevation-wise migration mirrors a seasonal commute, letting them follow insect abundance up the slopes where moths thrive in cooler air. Their flexible range, from Alaska to Mexico City, shows a remarkable ability to exploit diverse climates.
- The long-legged species has fur that stretches from its body down the underside of its wings to the elbows and knees.
Sources
Every fact above was checked against these pages, and kept only where one of them states it.
At a glance
RangeWestern North America
HabitatDark caves and forests
DietInsects and moths
About the Long-legged Myotis
In the fading light of dusk, the Long-legged Myotis takes to the skies, its slender form silhouetted against the vibrant hues of sunset as it embarks on a nocturnal hunt for insects, its long, slender legs tucked neatly against its body. With a fluid, almost ethereal motion, it dances through the air, its leathery wings beating at a hypnotic pace as it pursues its prey with unwavering dedication. As it flits and weaves, its high-pitched calls echo through the darkness, a haunting serenade to the night itself, a testament to the unyielding vitality of this captivating creature.
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