An Overlooked External Character to Differentiate Myotis californicus and Myotis ciliolabrum (Vespertilionidae)
Constantine DG. 1998. An Overlooked External Character to Differentiate Myotis californicus and Myotis ciliolabrum (Vespertilionidae). Journal of Mammalogy. 79(2):624-630
This report describes a quantative study to determine if the tail character could be verified as a consistent external criterion to differentiate the California myotis (Myotis californicus) and the western small-footed myotis (Myotis cilolabrum. The observation of a perceived 4-mm tail extension beyond the border of the interfemoral membrane was present in M. ciliolabrum and its absence from M. californicus. Examination confirmed that the exerted tail was characteristic of M. ciliolabrum. Original descriptions, usually based on specimens preserved in alcohol, indicated that the tail character was recognized in M. ciliolabrum over a century ago.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Constantine, Denny
- Units
- MOJA
- Keywords
- Absence (Biodiversity), Animal Studies, Chiroptera (Bats), Clark Mountain Mojave National Preserve CA, Exserted tail, Mammalia (Mammals), Mojave Desert CA, Morphology, Myotis californicus (California Myotis Californis Myotis), Myotis ciliolabrum (Western Small-footed Bat), Presence (Biodiversity), Study Skin, Taxa Links To References, Vespertilionidae (Vespertillionid Bats)