# Whiskered Bat (*Myotis mystacinus*) The Whiskered Bat is a small, furry creature with cute whiskers! They love to fly around at night, catching tiny bugs to eat. These bats help keep our environment healthy by controlling insect populations. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests ![Whiskered Bat](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Myotis_mystacinus.jpg&width=800) Photo: CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Myotis_mystacinus.jpg) ## Appearance The Whiskered Bat is a small bat with soft, fluffy fur that ranges from dark brown to reddish-brown on its back, fading to a lighter greyish underside. It has a distinctive reddish-brown face and a blunt snout, often appearing subtly 'whiskered' around its muzzle. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Chiroptera - **Family:** Vespertilionidae - **Genus:** Myotis ## Interesting facts - Its super-sensitive ears help it pinpoint tiny insects using echoes in total darkness! - Some Whiskered Bats have traveled over 1,000 kilometers from their winter homes! - This tiny bat can live for nearly 20 years, an amazing feat for such a small mammal! - Whiskered Bats can snatch insects right off the water's surface while flying! ## Special abilities - **Sonic Navigator:** Whiskered Bat can 'see with sound' using echolocation to create a detailed map of its surroundings in total darkness. - **Insect Hunter's Edge:** Whiskered Bat has incredibly agile wings that allow it to catch fast-moving insects mid-air with acrobatic skill. - **Winter Snooze Power:** Whiskered Bat can hibernate for months, drastically slowing its body to survive cold winters with little food. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 3.5-4.8 cm - **Wingspan:** 20-25 cm - **Weight:** 0.004-0.011 kg - **Lifespan:** 5-19 years - **Speed:** 25 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1 - **Gestation:** 40-60 days ## Diet & Feeding This speedy night hunter loves to snack on tiny flying insects like moths and beetles! - **Primary Foods:** moths, midges, caddisflies, small beetles, flies - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Tawny Owl](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tawny-owl) (*Strix aluco*) — An owl might catch a bat during its night flight. - **Eaten by:** [Domestic Cat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/domestic-cat) (*Felis catus*) — Cats can prey on bats found close to human settlements. - **Eaten by:** [Stone Marten](https://www.snappit.app/explore/stone-marten) (*Martes foina*) — Martens may hunt bats in their roosts or during emergence. ## 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. - [Aerial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aerial): Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting. - [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. - [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. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [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 prefer to be left alone. It's best to watch them from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Whiskered 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 Whiskered Bat? 3.5-4.8 cm ### What is Whiskered Bat's wingspan? 20-25 cm ### How much does Whiskered Bat weigh? 0.004-0.011 kg ### How long does Whiskered Bat live? 5-19 years ### How fast can Whiskered Bat move? 25 km/h ### What does Whiskered Bat eat? This speedy night hunter loves to snack on tiny flying insects like moths and beetles! ### Where is Whiskered Bat usually found? Forests ## 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: [Whiskered Bat: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/whiskered-bat)