New York State Mammals

New York State Mammals

ORDER CHIROPTERA Family: Vespertilionidae 1. Little brown myotis (Myotis lucifugus) 2. Northern long-eared myotis (Myotis septentrionalis) 3. Indiana myotis (Myotis sodalis) 4. Small-footed myotis (Myotis leibii) 5. Eastern red bat (Lasiurus borealis) 6. Hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus) 7. Big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus) 8. Tricolored bat (Perimyotis subflavus) 9. Silver-haired bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans) It s also common to see bat instead of myotis in common names, e.g. Indiana bat No specimens for bats listed in blue

FAMILY: VESPERTILIONIDAE Insectivorous Many are true hibernators Tail reaches to back of interfemoral membrane (aka uropatagium) but not beyond Fig 14.1 Echolocation

Habitat: Little brown myotis Myotis lucifugus Variable, often in close proximity of water Often hibernates in buildings, can eat ~600 insects per hour 10 g Pointed tragus 38 teeth Lacks keel on calcar. Long toe hairs: 5 to 7 per toe

The presence of a small flap of skin extending beyond the cartilagenous calcar, a keeled calcar, distinguishes some Myotis species.

Indiana myotis Myotis sodalis Habitat: Variety of forest types, but found in close proximity of caves >85% in 9 locations Federally Endangered, often grouped in large clusters 6.5 g Keeled calcar Smaller feet than Myotis lucifugus, similar in appearance

Northern long-eared myotis Habitat: Myotis septentrionalis Forests, more abundant in northern areas of range Solitary or small groups Hibernates in caves and mines Occasionally called northern long-eared myotis 7.5 g Distinguished by its longer ears and unkeeled calcar

Small-footed myotis Myotis leibii Habitat: Found in mountainous regions NY Species of Special concern hibernates in caves Long-lived (12 years) small size, 4 g Small feet relative to body size keeled calcar black face

Habitat: Eastern red bat Lasiurus borealis Found near forest edge Solitary, roosts in trees, seldom found in caves Migratory 12 g Orange-red pelage, male brighter than female heavily furred, including interfemoral membrane rounded ear

Hoary bat Lasiurus cinereus Habitat: Found near forest edge Solitary, strong flier (up to 60 mph), migratory Large bat, 28 g hoary = silver frosted pelage rounded ears heavily furred interfemoral membrane

Silver-haired bat Lasionycteris noctivagans Habitat: Forests (conifers especially) Migratory, found in NY during the summer (abundant in the Adirondacks) Similar in appearance, but half size of hoary bat (12 g) pelage appears frosted heavily furred interfemoral membrane

Big brown bat Eptesicus fuscus Habitat: Ubiquitous, however most abundant in deciduous areas Often forages around street lights Medium-size brown bat, 16 g blunt tragus lateral view of skull appears to have 2 canines skull flat with abrupt angle at brow

Tri-colored bat Perimyotis subflavus Habitat: Forage in woodlands, stream corridors, and along edge of forest Emerges early in the evening to avoid competition with other larger bats slow erratic flight Very small bat, 8 g light brown to yellowish colored

Tips for bat ID First, look at the uropatagium (tail membrane) if it s furred on the back, it s a tree bat Lasiurus means hairy tail, which accurately describes the three tree bats in NYS: Lasiurus borealis Lasiurus cinereus Lasionycteris noctivagans Note that only the dorsal surface is furred Fur on dorsal surface of uropatagium (Lasiurus cinereus)

Uropatagium comparison Furry dorsal surface (Lasiurus cinereus) Naked dorsal surface (Myotis lucifugus)

Tips for bat ID If it s not a tree bat, it is one of the six cave bat species found in NYS Four are in genus Myotis: Little brown myotis (Myotis lucifugus) Northern long-eared myotis (Myotis septentrionalis) Indiana myotis (Myotis sodalis) Small-footed myotis (Myotis leibii) And two are in other genera: Big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus) Tricolored bat (Perimyotis subflavus) formerly known as Eastern pipistrelle (Pipistrellus subflavus)

Tips for bat ID M. lucifugus (little brown) and M. sodalis (Indiana) are very similar in appearance and require practice to reliably distinguish M. septentrionalis (northern long-eared) is most easily distinguished by its tragus; the ear itself is also longer than eastern Nearctic congeners The tragus of M. septentrionalis is longer, symmetrical, and spear-like compared to the blunt, asymmetrical tragus of M. lucifugus (little brown)

MYSE MYSE MYLU MYLU

M. leibii (eastern small-footed) is notable for its black facial mask as well as its smaller feet It and the tricolored bat (P. subflavus) are the smallest species in the Eastern United States

Tips for bat ID E. fuscus (big brown) is larger than any other bat in this list except L. cinereus (hoary bat), which is the largest species in North America E. fuscus has shorter, rounder ears than myotids, and has a curved, blunt tragus Commonly encountered in buildings

Tips for bat ID P. subflavus (tricolored bat) is named for the three bands of color that appear in its dorsal fur It appears yellow to light brown overall, with pink facial skin and pink forearms that contrast with the black wing membrane Notice the ear shape very different from the myotids and from E. fuscus

Tips for bat ID Look at the uropatagium first to confirm/eliminate tree bats Fur red? = Lasiurus borealis Fur brown, yellow, and silver? = Lasiurus cinereus Fur black with some silver on the back? = Lasionycteris noctivagans Look at size and color is it P. subflavus, or mostly brown? Look at ear shape is it E. fuscus, or a myotid? Look at the tragus is it M. septentrionalis? Look for the black mask is it M. leibii? Have you narrowed it down to M. lucifugus or M. sodalis? Look at the calcar and toe hairs.

ORDER: CARNIVORA Families: Canidae Ursidae Procyonidae Mustelidae Mephitidae Felidae

FAMILY: CANIDAE Elongated rostrum Well developed carnassials Dog family Will often attempt to destroy smaller canids to eliminate competition One of the earliest families to be domesticated by humans

Coyote Canis latrans Variable habitat even suburban areas Often runs with tail hung low, diversity in color and size 15 kg Very narrow rostrum, narrow canines

Coyote vs. Dog and Wolf Coyote = Long-nosed North American canid. The skull can be separated from that of the wolf by the palate length/width ratio : coyote greater than 2 (i.e., narrow), wolf (and most domestic dogs) less than 2. Dog coyote Wolf

Red fox Vulpes vulpes Habitat: farmlands, brushy fencerows, or open grasslands Has a silver morph 5 kg White tipped tail skull has a V-shaped temporal ridge Silver morph

Gray fox Urocyon cinereoargenteus Primarily a forest dweller Climbs trees with ease, often dens in hollow trees Black tipped tail with black line running the length of the tail skull has a U-shaped temporal ridges

Red Fox Vulpes vulpes Gray Fox Urocyon cinereoargenteus

FAMILY: URSIDAE Omnivorous Generally solitary The largest terrestrial carnivores Robust build, short tail, short powerful limbs Acute sense of smell Plantigrade stance

American black bear Ursus americanus Habitat: primarily forest, associated with state and national parks Has different color morphs, mostly in the west 80 kg females, 120 kg males Thick black fur, stubby tail, long muzzle Skull is large and thick with grinding molars

FAMILY: PROCYONIDAE Medium sized mammals Plantigrade stance Omnivorous All are somewhat arboreal Rostrum length between those of cats and dogs.

Raccoon Procyon lotor Common to urban and agricultural areas also found in woodlands Occasionally found wintering in groups Black mask on face, rings on tail convex skull, 40 teeth, carnassial teeth not well developed Sagittal crest prominent