Animal Profiles
Mammals

Bat

Chiroptera

Living

Living individuals or members of this group exist today. This does not mean they are safe from extinction.

Bats include many different feeding and roosting specialists. This account follows the little brown bat, a North American insect hunter that uses echolocation and shelters in protected roosts.

Little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus), the representative described here, held in a gloved hand.

Little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus), the representative described here, held in a gloved hand.

SMBishop · CC BY-SA

At a glance

Location
This representative is the little brown bat, Myotis lucifugus, rather than every member of Chiroptera. It lives across much of North America, often in wooded country near water. Trees, buildings and other sheltered spaces can serve as summer roosts.
Habitat
Temperate forest, Rivers and lakes
Diet
Insectivore
Food
Little brown bats emerge around dusk to hunt small insects, including midges, moths and caddisflies.

Classification

Common name
Bat
Browse group
Mammals
Scientific name or taxon
Chiroptera
Taxon rank
order
Order
Chiroptera
Source classification
Mammalia

Taxonomy checked against GBIF. For breeds and hybrids, this describes the listed parent taxon.

Three things to know

  • The little brown bat catches insects after dusk.
  • It uses echolocation to locate prey.
  • Winter shelters include caves and abandoned mines.

Habitat and range

This representative is the little brown bat, Myotis lucifugus, rather than every member of Chiroptera. It lives across much of North America, often in wooded country near water. Trees, buildings and other sheltered spaces can serve as summer roosts.

Appearance and adaptations

Glossy brown fur covers the body, while the dark wing membranes carry little hair. Long fingers support the wings. The relatively small ears and furred hind feet are among the features used when identifying this species.

Diet and behaviour

Little brown bats emerge around dusk to hunt small insects, including midges, moths and caddisflies. Echolocation helps them locate flying prey and obstacles. In colder seasons they enter prolonged torpor in suitable caves or mines.

Sources

Explore mammals

Browse all mammals