Missouri Department of Conservation
Missouri Department of Conservation

Taxonomy

Common Name: BAT, SOUTHEASTERN

Phylum: CHORDATA

Class: MAMMALIA

Order: CHIROPTERA

Family: VESPERTILIONIDAE

Genus: MYOTIS

Species: AUSTRORIPARIUS

Taxonomic Authority: RHOADS

Taxonomy References: 001

Status

STATE RANK S1
GLOBAL RANK G3G4

Status References: 006

Habitat Summary

"Most often found in bottomland forest *11*"

Primary Habitat: "Forest - bottomland"

References:

Distribution

General Occurrence in State:

"Has been found in one location in Stone county *02*."

County Occurance

County Occurence
Known Likely Unknown Not Likely Historic Extirpated
STONE ADAIR
ANDREW
ATCHISON
AUDRAIN
BARRY
BARTON
BATES
BENTON
BOLLINGER
BOONE
BUCHANAN
BUTLER
CALDWELL
CALLAWAY
CAMDEN
CAPE GIRARDEAU
CARROLL
CARTER
CASS
CEDAR
CHARITON
CHRISTIAN
CLARK
CLAY
CLINTON
COLE
COOPER
CRAWFORD
DADE
DALLAS
DAVIESS
DEKALB
DENT
DOUGLAS
DUNKLIN
FRANKLIN
GASCONADE
GENTRY
GREENE
GRUNDY
HARRISON
HENRY
HICKORY
HOLT
HOWARD
HOWELL
IRON
JACKSON
JASPER
JEFFERSON
JOHNSON
KNOX
LACLEDE
LAFAYETTE
LAWRENCE
LEWIS
LINCOLN
LINN
LIVINGSTON
MACON
MADISON
MARIES
MARION
MCDONALD
MERCER
MILLER
MISSISSIPPI
MONITEAU
MONROE
MONTGOMERY
MORGAN
NEW MADRID
NEWTON
NODAWAY
OREGON
OSAGE
OZARK
PEMISCOT
PERRY
PETTIS
PHELPS
PIKE
PLATTE
POLK
PULASKI
PUTNAM
RALLS
RANDOLPH
RAY
REYNOLDS
RIPLEY
SALINE
SCHUYLER
SCOTLAND
SCOTT
SHANNON
SHELBY
ST. CHARLES
ST. CLAIR
ST. FRANCOIS
ST. LOUIS
STE. GENEVIEVE
STODDARD
SULLIVAN
TANEY
TEXAS
VERNON
WARREN
WASHINGTON
WAYNE
WEBSTER
WORTH
WRIGHT

References for distribution: 002

Distribution by Watersheds

James R.

Comments: ""

Distribution by Ecoregions

Comments: ""

Distribution by Potential Natural Vegetation

Cedar Glades

Distribution by Natural Divisions of Missouri

Ozark: White River

Habitat Associations

Species is associated with "Terrestrial" habitats.

National Wetlands Inventory Association:

Aquatic Associations:

References for Aquatic Associations:

Habitat Types:

Limestone Bluff and Cave
Wooded Riparian and Bottomland Hardwood

References for Habitat Types: 011

Terrestrial Natural Communities:

Caves

References for Terrestrial Natural Communities:

Food Habits

Trophic Level:

"Carnivore"

Larval Food Habits

Comments for larval food habits:
""

References for larval food habits:

Juvenile Food Habits

Comments for Juvenile Food Habits:
""

References Juvenile Food Habits

Adult Food Habits

Coleoptera (beetles); Not Specified
Lepidoptera (butterflies); Not Specified
Diptera (flies, midges, mosquitos, gnats); Not Specified

Comments for Adult Food Habits:
""

References Adult Food Habits 001 , 004

Niche Requirements

Egg Niche Requirements

References for egg niches requirements:

Feeding Larvae Niche Requirements

References for feeding larvae niche requirements:

Resting Larvae Niche Requirements

References for resting Larvae niche requirements:

Feeding Juvenile Niche Requirements

References for feeding juvenile niche requirements:

Resting Juvenile Niche Requirements

References for resting juvenile niche requirements:

Breeding Adult Niche Requirements

Other niche requirements specified in comments(99999)
Natural features: caves, wet
Natural features specified in comments(00280)
Tree cavities specified in comments(00490)
Tree cavities
Snags
Human association specified in comments(00690)

References for feeding Adult niche requirements: 001 , 005

Feeding Adult Niche Requirements

Inland wetlands specified in comments(00250)

References for feeding adult niche requirements: 001

Resting Adult Niche Requirements

Inland wetlands specified in comments(00250)

References for resting adult niche requirements: 001 , 003

Niche Requirement Summary

Human association specified in comments(00690)
Inland wetlands specified in comments(00250)
Natural features specified in comments(00280)
Natural features: caves, wet
Other niche requirements specified in comments(99999)
Snags
Tree cavities
Tree cavities specified in comments(00490)

Comments about Life History:

Code Comment
007 90% of pregnant females bear twins in late April or mid-May *03*.
030 Clusters of young often are separate from adult females during the day *03*.
006 Forage close to water's surface, feeding on a variety of insects *03*
099 Nursery colonies begin forming in March in caves where water is plentiful *05*. Few males are in the nursery colonies. Most males roost elsewhere, alone, or in small bachelor colonies *01*.
018 At 3 weeks of age the young bats are able to maintain themselves *01*. Young can fly when 5-6 weeks old *03*.
035 Southeastern bats are prey for small carnivores, owls, corn snakes, rat snakes, opossums *01,03,05*. Cockroaches in bat caves eat the very small young that fall to the floor *01*. High mortality of young in maternity caves is occurs because young that drop to the floor are seldom retrieved *01*. Parasites include: streblid fly (trichobius major), nycteribIId fly (basilia boardmani), chiggers (euschoengastia pipistrelli), and mites (olabidocarpus whitakeri) *01*. Humans are the major threat to the species, destructing roosting sites and killing bats *03*.

Life History Information

Periodicity specified in comments(030)
Regulatory factors specified in comments(035)
Other life history information specified in comments(099)
Origin in state: native
Foraging strategy: flycatching
Foraging sites: air
Foraging height specified in comments(006)
Breeding season specified in comments(007)
Nest/den site: cave
Clutch/litter size specified in comments(018)
Parental care of young: female

Comments about Life History:

Code Comment
007 90% of pregnant females bear twins in late April or mid-May *03*.
030 Clusters of young often are separate from adult females during the day *03*.
006 Forage close to water's surface, feeding on a variety of insects *03*
099 Nursery colonies begin forming in March in caves where water is plentiful *05*. Few males are in the nursery colonies. Most males roost elsewhere, alone, or in small bachelor colonies *01*.
018 At 3 weeks of age the young bats are able to maintain themselves *01*. Young can fly when 5-6 weeks old *03*.
035 Southeastern bats are prey for small carnivores, owls, corn snakes, rat snakes, opossums *01,03,05*. Cockroaches in bat caves eat the very small young that fall to the floor *01*. High mortality of young in maternity caves is occurs because young that drop to the floor are seldom retrieved *01*. Parasites include: streblid fly (trichobius major), nycteribIId fly (basilia boardmani), chiggers (euschoengastia pipistrelli), and mites (olabidocarpus whitakeri) *01*. Humans are the major threat to the species, destructing roosting sites and killing bats *03*.

References for life history: 001 , 003 , 005

Management

Beneficial Management Practices:

Protect caves from human disturbance

Beneficial Management References: 009

Adverse Managment Practices:

Adverse Management References:

Comments on Management:
Human destruction of bats' roosting sites and killing of these bats are a major threat to the species *03*. Using fences instead of cave gates to control access to caves was recommended by a FL study, where a steel bar gate apparently altered air flow to the bat roost and obstructed the natural flight path. When the gate was replaced with a fence near the cave entrance, the number of bats using the cave entrance increased significantly *09*

References for Management Comments: 003 , 009

References

Reference Code Citation
001 Whitaker, J.O. Jr. and W.J. Hamilton, Jr. 1998. Mammals Of Theeastern United States. Third Edition. Cornell University Press, Ithaca,New York, Usa. 583 Pp.
002 Unpb Elliott, W.R., K.B. Lister, And M.A. Shiver. 1999. A Survey Forozark Big Eared Bats, Corynorhinus Towsendii Ingens, And A Cave Crayfish,Cambarus Aculabrum In Southern Missouri. Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City, Missouri, Usa. 29 Pp.
003 Harvery, M.J., J.S. Altenbach, And T.L. Best. 1999. Bats Of The United States. Arkansas Game And Fish Commission, Arkansas, Usa. 64 Pp.
004 Zinn, T.L. and S.R. Humprey. 1981. Seasonal Food Resources And Preyselection Of The Southeastern Brown Bat (Myotis Austroriparius) In Florida.Florida Scientist. 44: 81-90.
005 Whitaker, J.O. Jr. 1996. National Audubon Society Field Guide Tonorth American Mammals. Alfred A. Knopf, New York, Usa. 937 Pp.
006 Missouri Natural Heritage Program. 2010. Missouri Species and Communities of Conservation Concern Checklist. Missouri Department Of Conservation. Jefferson City, Missouri. 53 Pp.
007 Rice, D.W. 1957. Life History And Ecology Of Myotis Austroriparius in Florida. Journal Of Mammalogy. 38:15-32.
008 Hofmann, J.E., J.E. Gardner, J.K. Krejca, And J.D. Garner. 1999.Summer Records And A Maternity Roost Of The Southeastern Myotis (Myotisaustroriparius) In Illinois. Transactions Of The Illinois State Academyof Science. 92:95-107.
009 Ludlow, M.E. and J.A. Gore. 2000. Effects Of A Cave Gate On Emergence Patterns Of Colonial Bats. Wildl. Soc. Bull. 28(1):191-196.
010 Feldhamer, G.A., T.C. Carter, A.T. Morzillo, and E.H. Nicholson. 2003. Use of bridges as day roosts by bats in southern Illinois. Trans. IL Acad. Sci. 96(2): 107-112.
011 Unpb Elliott, Tony. Missouri Dept. of Conservation, 3500 S. Baltimore, Kirksville, MO 63501. 660-785-2420