Mammals of the WorldSiberian Whiskered Myotis
Myotis sibiricus
- Order
- Chiroptera
- Family
- Vespertilionidae
- Genus
- Myotis
- IUCN status
- LC
- Distribution
- Russia|Mongolia|China|North Korea|South Korea|Japan
- Realm
- Indomalaya|Palearctic
Other names: Siberian Myotis
About this species
- Size
- 39–51mm
- Weight
- 4–8g
- Diet
- Flying insects
- Habitat
- Lowland and mountain forest and forest-steppe
- Range
- Northeastern Asia, including northern central Asia
- Litter size
- Usually 1; occasionally 2
The Siberian whiskered myotis is a small bat, 39–51mm long and 4–8g, with a 33–39mm forearm. Its relatively long dorsal fur is pale brown with a golden sheen; the underside is paler grey and may be yellowish. A narrow pointed tragus is another useful in-hand character. It was formerly included in Brandt's bat, but genetic work supports recognition as a separate species. (Kruskop et al. 2012; Smith and Xie 2010, as summarized on Wikipedia)
The range extends east of the Ob River across Siberia and south into northern central Asia, northern China, Korea, and East Asia. It uses lowland and mountain forest and forest-steppe, sheltering in hollows, caves, and buildings during summer and underground sites during the long winter. It catches insects in quick low flight. Females form maternity colonies and usually bear one pup, occasionally two. (Podlutsky et al. 2005; Wikipedia, general species account)
Description: Wildlife of Korea guide, Wildlife of Everywhere (wildlifeofeverywhere.com); general species information paraphrased from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)