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Morphological discrimination of gray bats and southeastern batsAuthor(s): D. Blake Sasse; Stacy J. Scherman; Roger W. Perry; Thomas S. Risch
Source: Southeastern Naturalist
Publication Series: Scientific Journal (JRNL)
Station: Southern Research Station
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DescriptionMyotis grisescens (Gray Bat) and Myotis austroriparius (Southeastern Bat) generally do not utilize similar habitats; however, in areas of range overlap where they both may be captured foraging in riparian areas or observed roosting in caves, it may be difficult to discriminate between them due to contradictory information found in mammal identification guides. In order to find characteristics that can reliably be used to identify these species, we examined museum specimens and live-captured individuals to obtain data on length of toe hairs, point of attachment of the plagiopatagium to the foot or ankle, forearm length, and the presence or absence of notches on the claws of feet and thumbs. The presence or absence of a notch in the claws and forearm length were found to be the most objective methods of identifying these species.
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CitationSasse, D. Blake; Scherman, Stacy J.; Perry, Roger W.; Risch, Thomas S. 2019. Morphological discrimination of gray bats and southeastern bats. Southeastern Naturalist. 18(4): 630-640.
KeywordsMyotis grisescens, Gray Bat, Myotis austroriparius, Southeastern Bat, identification
- Bats of the Savannah River Site and vicinity
- Research and absence of bats across habitat scales in the upper coastal plain of South Carolina
- Presence and absence of bats across habitat scales in the Upper Coastal Plain of South Carolina
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