# Mouse-eared Bat (*Myotis myotis*) The Mouse-eared Bat is a small, friendly bat that loves to eat insects. They have big ears and can be found hanging upside down in dark places, like caves and trees. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Caves and forests - **Also known as:** Mouse-eared Bats ![Mouse-eared Bat](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Myotis.jpg&width=800) Photo: Urheber: Manuel Werner, Germany, Wikipedia-Kontakt: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benutzer:Werner,_Deutschland, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Myotis.jpg) ## Appearance The Mouse-eared Bat is a relatively large bat with long, broad wings and distinctively large, greyish-brown ears, giving it a mouse-like appearance. Its dorsal fur is reddish-brown, contrasting with its lighter greyish-white underside. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Chiroptera - **Family:** Vespertilionidae - **Genus:** Myotis ## Interesting facts - A baby bat, called a pup, clings to its mother even during flight! - Their big ears are so sensitive, they can hear a beetle's tiny footsteps! - These bats often walk on the ground to catch juicy beetles and spiders! - They gather in huge cave colonies, thousands strong, making their homes buzz! ## Special abilities - **Whispering Hunter:** Mouse-eared Bats can hunt silently by using very quiet echolocation calls, making it hard for prey to detect them. - **Ground Gleaner:** Mouse-eared Bats can pick up prey directly from the ground while flying, a special skill for catching larger insects. - **Sound Map Maker:** Mouse-eared Bats create a detailed 'sound map' of their surroundings using echolocation, helping them navigate in darkness. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 6.9-7.9 cm - **Wingspan:** 35-45 cm - **Weight:** 0.028-0.045 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-20 years - **Speed:** 35 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1 - **Gestation:** 60-70 days ## Diet & Feeding This bat loves to snack on big insects like beetles and spiders, often finding them on the ground. - **Primary Foods:** Beetles, Spiders, Earwigs, Crickets, Millipedes - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Tawny Owl](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tawny-owl) (*Strix aluco*) — Common predator of bats in their European forest habitat. - **Eaten by:** European Pine Marten (*Martes martes*) — Agile nocturnal hunter of bats in their European forest range. - **Hunts:** [Ground Beetle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ground-beetle) (*Carabus nemoralis*) — A primary food source, often caught from the forest floor. - **Hunts:** Common Earwig (*Forficula auricularia*) — These ground-dwelling insects are a part of its diet. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Cave Dwelling](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/cave-dwelling): Cave dwelling describes organisms specifically adapted to live in underground cave systems, often exhibiting specialized traits due to lack of light. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Echolocation](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/echolocation): Echolocation is a biological sonar used by animals to navigate, hunt, and communicate by emitting sound waves and interpreting the echoes. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Bats are usually shy and won't hurt you, but it's best to watch them from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Mouse-eared Bat? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Mouse-eared Bat? 6.9-7.9 cm ### What is Mouse-eared Bat's wingspan? 35-45 cm ### How much does Mouse-eared Bat weigh? 0.028-0.045 kg ### How long does Mouse-eared Bat live? 10-20 years ### How fast can Mouse-eared Bat move? 35 km/h ### What does Mouse-eared Bat eat? This bat loves to snack on big insects like beetles and spiders, often finding them on the ground. ### Where is Mouse-eared Bat usually found? Caves and forests ## Where to spot - [Bear Lake State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bear-lake-state-park) — Utah, US · State Park - [Schlosspark Herrenchiemsee](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/schlosspark-herrenchiemsee) — Bayern, DE · Park - [Alice Lake Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/alice-lake-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park - [Ardennes Regional Nature Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ardennes-regional-nature-park) — Grand Est, FR · Park [View all places to see Mouse-eared Bat](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/mouse-eared-bat) ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Mouse-eared Bat: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mouse-eared-bat)