Flat-headed myotis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Flat-headed myotis |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Myotis
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| Species: |
planiceps
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The flat-headed myotis (Myotis planiceps) is a special type of bat called a vesper bat. It lives only in Mexico, mostly in the cool mountain forests of the Sierra Madre Oriental in the northeast. For a while, people thought this bat had disappeared forever. But in 2004, scientists found it again! Now, experts say it is an endangered animal, meaning it needs our help to survive.
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About the Flat-Headed Myotis
The flat-headed myotis is a small bat. It grows to be about 51 to 76 mm (2 to 3 in) long. This is about the size of your thumb to your whole hand! It weighs around 7 g (0.2 oz), which is lighter than a pencil.
What It Looks Like
This bat has ears that are about 10 mm (0.4 in) long and have no fur. Its face is plain, without any special markings. A cool fact about bats is their wings. The flat-headed myotis has a special skin flap called an interfemoral membrane. This membrane stretches between its back legs and even includes its tail! Its fur is about 10 mm (0.4 in) long. Each hair is dark at the bottom and brown at the tip.
Where It Lives
This bat lives only in Mexico. You can find it in a small area in the states of Coahuila, Nuevo León, and Zacatecas. These places are in the Sierra Madre Oriental mountain range. The flat-headed myotis likes to live high up in the mountains. It can be found at altitudes between 2,100 and 3,200 m (6,900 and 10,500 ft). Its home area is smaller than 20,000 km2 (7,700 sq mi).
Its Special Home
The flat-headed myotis needs a very specific type of forest to live in. It likes mountain forests where you can find Yucca plants and pinyon pine trees. These special forests are important for its survival.
Why It Needs Our Help
The mountain forests where the flat-headed myotis lives are getting smaller. People are cutting down trees for logging and changing the land. This means the bat's home is shrinking and getting damaged. Because its habitat is disappearing, there are fewer and fewer flat-headed myotis bats.
Rediscovery and Current Status
In 1996, scientists thought this bat had gone extinct, meaning it had completely disappeared from Earth. But luckily, it was found again in 2004! Since then, two new places where it lives have been discovered. Even with these new findings, there are probably fewer than 250 of these bats left in the world. Because of this, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) says it is an endangered animal. This means it is in great danger of disappearing forever if we don't protect it. The Alliance for Zero Extinction also lists it as a species that needs urgent help.
