- Scientific Name
- Myotis thysanodes
- Family
- Vespertilionidae
- Global Conservation Status (IUCN)
- Least Concern
- Diet
- Insectivore
Data Sheet
Diet: Fringed Myotis eat are generalist insectivores, feeding on a range of insects including moths, beetles, flies, and ‘true bugs’.
Fun Fact: The Fringed Myotis gets it’s common name from the distinct fringe of short, wire-like hairs that extend off the edge of the uropatagium (the stretch of skin between its legs).
Appearance: The Fringed Myotis is categorized as a ‘long-eared myotis’, due to its relatively long and rounded ears that extend beyond the tip of the nose when laid forward. Fringed Myotis are slightly larger than the Western Long-eared Myotis (Myotis evotis), distinguishable from the latter by the fringe on their tail membrane.
Habitat: The Fringed Myotis is found in a range of habitats throughout western North America, including low desert scrub, montane evergreen forest, and oak woodlands.
Fringed Myotis usually roost in rock crevices and caves, though bats in the Pacific Northwest have also been recorded roosting in tree snags.
Conservation Concerns: Disturbance at roost can cause this bat to abandon the site. While currently listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, one recent study suggests some population declines, particularly in the Pacific Northwest. Modeling studies have also predicted that Fringed Myotis could experience range contraction up to 44% due to climate change.
Bat Conservation International Projects including the Fringed Myotis
- North American Bat Monitoring Program (NABat)
- Abandoned Mines and Subterranean Habitats
- Conservation of Public Lands
Additional Resources:
Written by Alyson Brokaw
Updated June 2021