Keen's myotis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Keen's myotis |
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Myotis
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keenii
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The Keen's myotis (Myotis keenii) is a type of bat called a vesper bat. You can find it in Canada, especially in British Columbia. It also lives in parts of the United States, like Washington and Alaska.
This bat is named after Rev. John Henry Keen. He was the person who first collected a bat of this kind. This helped scientists describe the species for the first time. For a long time, scientists thought the Keen's myotis was the same as another bat, the Northern long-eared Myotis. Because of this, older studies sometimes mixed up the two species.
What Keen's Myotis Looks Like
Keen's myotis bats are quite small. Their forearm, which is part of their wing, is about 1.4 to 1.6 inches long. They weigh about 0.25 to 0.33 ounces, which is like 7 to 9 grams.
Their whole body, from head to tail, is usually about 8 to 9 centimeters long. Their tail alone is about 4 to 5 centimeters long. These bats look very similar to other long-eared bats that live in the same areas. A special feature is the dark brown patches on their shoulders.
Keen's Myotis Behavior
Keen's myotis bats like to live near the coast. However, you can also find them in cities and towns. They often rest or "roost" in trees. They also like to hide in cracks in rocks.
These bats are nocturnal. This means they are active at night and sleep during the day. They are also insectivorous, which means they eat insects. They catch and eat bugs as their main food source.
Scientists don't have much information about how Keen's myotis bats have babies. But they likely have similar breeding habits to other bats in cool climates.
How Long Keen's Myotis Lives
In the wild, a Keen's myotis bat can live for more than 12 years. If they are cared for by humans, like in a special animal center, they have been known to live even longer. Some have lived for 19 years in captivity.
See also
In Spanish: Myotis keenii para niños
