chiroptera (hand-wing)

Chiroptera (hand-wing)

Order Chiroptera

• only true flying mammals• date to Eocene (50 mya)• worldwide

– 17 families– 170 genera– 850 species

• suborders– Megachiroptera-flying foxes of tropics– Microchiroptera-worldwide

Pennsylvania’s Bats• all are Verspertilionids, ‘evening’ bats• all are insectivorous, hence migrate or hibernate• 11 species belonging to 6 genera

Little Brown MyotisMyotis lucifugus

Little Brown Myotis

Just the facts:• PA’s most common bat• 6-9 grams• may live to 25 years• favors ponds and streams for foraging• forages at about 13 mph, 3-6 m above ground• mate in early autumn; fertilization in spring upon rousing; 50-

60 day gestation• move to maternity colonies of hundreds• born after 30 minute labor in late May weighing1.5 grams• reaches sexual maturity at 8 mos.

notch

Northern MyotisMyotis septontrionalis

Formerly Keen’s Myotis, Myotis keenii

Indiana Myotis/Pink-faced BatMyotis sodalis

Federally Endangered

Distinctive calcar

Small-footed MyotisMyotis leibii

PA Threatened

Silver-haired BatLasionycteris noctivagans

Eastern PipistrellePipistrellus subflavus

Big Brown BatEptesicus fuscus

Red BatLasiurus borealis

Hoary BatLasiurus cinereus

Evening BatNycticeius humeralis

Vampire Bat