Order Chiroptera in Maine
 (Kingdom Animalia, Phylum Chordata, Class Mammalia)

a project of
Maine Natural History Observatory
reproduced here with the permission of the Observatory

(updated 15 December 2024)



The page below is part of the Maine Biota Project of the Maine Natural History Observatory and is reproduced here with the permission of the Observatory.

You are invited to send to info@vfthomas.com additions/corrections to the list of mammals as well as information for the tabular key at the bottom of this page that will help distinguish one order from another. Also, information is needed for pages that are linked to below. This page will be updated as your input is received. When this page has been substantially expanded/improved, it will replace the current page now on the website of the Maine Natural History Observatory. Any help you can provide will be greatly appreciated.


Order Chiroptera in Maine
Maine is home to 10 species in 5 genera in 1 family (Vespertilionidae).

If you know which species you have or are interested in learning about, click on the appropriate species link below. Otherwise, to determine which genus that the animal you are trying to identify belongs to, refer to the tabular key immediately below the species list.

   Eptesicus (1 species)
      Eptesicus fuscus - big brown bat
   Lasionycteris (1 species)
      Lasionycteris noctivagans - silver-haired bat
   Lasiurus (2 species)
      Lasiurus borealis - eastern red bat
      Lasiurus cinereus - hoary bat
   Myotis (5 species)
      Myotis keenii - northern myotis
      Myotis leibii - eastern small-footed bat
      Myotis lucifugus - little brown bat
      Myotis septentrionalis - northern long-eared bat
      Myotis sodalis - Indiana myotis
   Pipistrellus (1 species)
      Pipistrellus subflavus - tri-colored bat





Key to the genera of Vespertilionidae in Maine
char. 1 char. 2 char. 3 char. 4 char. 5
Eptesicus
Lasionycteris
Lasiurus
Myotis
Pipistrellus


Eptesicus ([genus name?])
[information to be added]

Eptesicus fuscus (big brown bat) - [information to be added]


Lasionycteris ([genus name?])
[information to be added]

Lasionycteris noctivagans (silver-haired bat) - [information to be added]


Lasiurus ([genus name?])
[information to be added]

Key to the species in the genus Lasiurus in Maine
char. 1 char. 2 char. 3 char. 4 char. 5
L. borealis
L. cinereus

Lasiurus borealis (eastern red bat) - [information to be added]

Lasiurus cinereus (hoary bat) - [information to be added]


Myotis ([genus name?])
[information to be added]

Key to the species in the genus Myotis in Maine
char. 1 char. 2 char. 3 char. 4 char. 5
M. keenii
M. leibii
M. lucifugus
M. septentrionalis
M. sodalis

Myotis keenii (northern myotis) - [information to be added]

Myotis leibii (eastern small-footed bat) - [information to be added]

Myotis lucifugus (little brown bat) - [information to be added]

Myotis septentrionalis (northern long-eared bat) - [information to be added]

Myotis sodalis (Indiana bat) - [information to be added]


Pipistrellus ([genus name?])
[information to be added]

Pipistrellus subflavus (tri-colored bat) - [information to be added]