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Myotis volans

(H. Allen, 1866)

Long-legged Myotis

G4Apparently Secure (G4G5) Found in 16 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G4Apparently SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
MediumThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.102173
Element CodeAMACC01110
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassMammalia
OrderChiroptera
FamilyVespertilionidae
GenusMyotis
Other Common Names
Chauve-souris à longues pattes (FR) long-legged bat (EN) Long-legged Bat (EN) Un Murciélago (ES)
Concept Reference
Wilson, D. E., and D. M. Reeder (editors). 1993. Mammal species of the world: a taxonomic and geographic reference. Second edition. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC. xviii + 1206 pp. Available online at: http://www.nmnh.si.edu/msw/.
Conservation Status
Rank MethodLegacy Rank calculation - Excel v3.1x
Review Date2016-04-04
Change Date2014-06-16
Edition Date2015-04-01
Edition AuthorsHammerson, G.
Threat ImpactMedium
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Rank Reasons
Widespread distribution in western North America; many roost sites; locally common; trend uncertain but apparently relatively stable or slowly declining; probably secure throughout much of range; localized threats include closure of abandoned mines without adequate surveys, disturbance by humans, and forest management practices that reduce the ongoing availability of snags suitable for roosting or that reduce foraging habitat quality or increase habitat fragmentation; winter distribution and threats poorly known.
Range Extent Comments
Range includes western North America from southwestern Alaska, British Columbia, and Alberta south to Baja California and central Mexico (Jalisco, Veracruz, Nuevo Leon) (Warner and Czaplewski 1984, Simmons, in Wilson and Reeder 2005). This species occurs throughout the western United States from the Pacific coast to western North Dakota and extreme western Texas (Barbour and Davis 1969, Warner and Czaplewski 1984, Adams 2003, Reid 2006). Elevational range minimally extends from 60 to 3,770 meters, but most occurrences are between 1,800 and 3,000 meters (Warner and Czaplewski 1984, Reid 2006).
Occurrences Comments
The number of distinct occurrences has not been determined using standardized criteria, but this species is represented by a large number of collection/observation sites and locations (http://www.gbif.org/species/2432411). Verts and Carraway (1998) mapped approximately 70 collection sites in Oregon, Hoffmeister (1986) mapped 34 sites in Arizona, and the species is known from several dozen recently documented sites in Montana (http://fieldguide.mt.gov/detail_AMACC01110.aspx).
Threat Impact Comments
Overall, no major threats are known. Locally, this bat may be affected detrimentally by the closure of abandoned mines without adequate surveys, disturbance by humans, and forest management practices that reduce the ongoing availability of snags suitable for roosting or that reduce foraging habitat quality or increase habitat fragmentation (e.g., see Baker and Lacki 2006, Lacki et al. 2010). Increased incidence of fires resulting from human and other causes may reduce the availability of roosting habitat for some populations. Winter distribution and threats are poorly known.

This species is not known to incur high levels of mortality from turbines at wind energy facilities. Arnett and Baerwald (2013) estimated that fewer than 200 individuals were killed by turbines in the United States during the priod 2000-2011. As of mid-2014, this species was not known to be affected by white-nose syndrome.

In Oregon, high levels of pesticide residues were found in M. volans for at least three years after aerial spraying of DDT to control larvae of the Douglas-fir tussock moth (Henny et al. 1982), but DDT is no longer used, and the population impacts of pesticide use and other contaminant residues remain poorly known.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

These bats occur primarily in mountainous areas wooded with coniferous trees, but also may be found in riparian and desert (Baja California) habitats. They may change habitats seasonally. Hibernacula are in caves and mines, but winter habits are poorly known. Warm-season daytime roosts are in tree hollows or under loose bark, in crevices among rocks or in cliffs, or in buildings, but apparently not in caves or mines (these may be used at night) (Barbour and Davis 1969, Chung-MacCoubrey 1996, Vonhof and Barclay 1996, Rabe et al. 1998, Baker and Lacki 2006); roost-site changes are frequent (Ormesbee 1996, Baker and Lacki 2006). In Washington-Oregon, large snags were important roosts, but bats sometimes roosted in rock crevices (Baker and Lacki 2006). In Washington, Oregon, and Idaho, snags used as roosts by M. volans usually last only a few years before falling (Lacki et al. 2006). In the Pacific Northwest, M. volans selected snags for roosting based on stand- and landscape-scale characteristics, with significant factors varying among different regions (Lacki et al. 2010).

Ecology

In many areas this Myotis may be the most abundant species; it is the common Myotis in the western U.S.

Reproduction

In New Mexico, copulation was noted to begin in late August, with sperm stored overwinter until ovulation in March-May; parturition occurs in May-August (Black 1974). Births occur probably in June or early July in Texas (Schmidly 1991, Ammerman et al. 2012). Litter size: 1. Life span of 21 years has been recorded in the wild (Warner and Czaplewski 1984). Nursery colonies may include up to several hundred individuals.
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest - ConiferForest - MixedWoodland - ConiferWoodland - MixedGrassland/herbaceousDesertCliff
Palustrine Habitats
Riparian
Other Nations (2)
CanadaN4B,N4N,NNRM
ProvinceRankNative
Northwest TerritoriesSUYes
Yukon TerritorySUBYes
SaskatchewanSNRYes
AlbertaS2Yes
British ColumbiaS4Yes
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
NevadaS3Yes
MontanaS3Yes
South DakotaS5Yes
CaliforniaS3Yes
AlaskaS3Yes
TexasS1Yes
Navajo NationS4Yes
WashingtonS3Yes
NebraskaS1Yes
New MexicoS4Yes
ArizonaS3Yes
OregonS3Yes
North DakotaSUYes
ColoradoS5Yes
IdahoS3Yes
UtahS3Yes
WyomingS4BYes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
1 - Residential & commercial developmentNegligible (<1%)—High (continuing)
2 - Agriculture & aquacultureLarge - restrictedNegligible or <1% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
2.3 - Livestock farming & ranching———
3 - Energy production & miningSmall (1-10%)Serious - slightHigh (continuing)
3.2 - Mining & quarrying———
4 - Transportation & service corridorsNegligible (<1%)—High (continuing)
5 - Biological resource useSmall (1-10%)Moderate - slightHigh (continuing)
5.3 - Logging & wood harvesting———
6 - Human intrusions & disturbanceSmall (1-10%)Serious - slightHigh (continuing)
7 - Natural system modificationsSmall (1-10%)Moderate - slightHigh (continuing)
7.1 - Fire & fire suppression——High (continuing)
8 - Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseasesUnknownNegligible or <1% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
9 - PollutionUnknownUnknownHigh (continuing)
10 - Geological eventsNegligible (<1%)——
11 - Climate change & severe weatherPervasive - largeUnknownHigh (continuing)

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Roadless Areas (16)
California (8)
AreaForestAcres
East YubaTahoe National Forest17,968
FalesHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest9,138
South SierraSequoia National Forest8,008
South SierraInyo National Forest41,853
Steele SwampModoc National Forest18,958
West YubaTahoe National Forest16,059
West YubaPlumas National Forest6,071
WoodpeckerSequoia National Forest11,936
Montana (2)
AreaForestAcres
Evans GulchLolo National Forest8,059
Maple PeakLolo National Forest6,469
Nevada (3)
AreaForestAcres
Georges CanyonHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest108,551
SaulsburyHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest30,957
Warm SpringsHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest29,540
New Mexico (3)
AreaForestAcres
Brushy MountainGila National Forest7,199
Contiguous To Black & Aldo Leopold WildernessGila National Forest111,883
Frisco BoxGila National Forest38,979
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