AnAge entry for Myotis bechsteinii

Classification (HAGRID: 02394)

Taxonomy
Kingdom: Animalia
    Phylum: Chordata
        Class: Mammalia (Taxon entry)
            Order: Chiroptera (Taxon entry)
                Family: Vespertilionidae
                    Genus: Myotis
Species
Myotis bechsteinii
Common name
Bechstein's bat
Synonyms
Myotis bechsteini, Vespertilio bechsteinii

Lifespan, ageing, and relevant traits

Maximum longevity
21 years (wild)
Source
ref. 970
Sample size
Medium
Data quality
Acceptable
Observations

Record longevity in the wild is 21 years [0970]. Some anecdotal reports suggest these animals may live considerably more than 20 years.

Mortality and fertility have been shown to be independent of age, at least until these animals reach high ages. This could possibly be a way of compensating for their low annual reproduction rate [1348].

Studies have shown that there is no relationship between telomere length and age in these animals. Genes related with DNA repair and the prevention of DNA damage may contribute to the maintenance of telomere length in animals of this genus [1349].

Life history traits (averages)

Female sexual maturity
Male sexual maturity
Gestation
Weaning
Litter size
1 (viviparous)
Litters per year
1
Inter-litter interval
365 days
Weight at birth
Weight at weaning
Adult weight
10.5 g
Postnatal growth rate
Maximum longevity residual
300%

Metabolism

No information on metabolism is available.

References

External Resources

Integrated Taxonomic Information System
ITIS 946238
Animal Diversity Web
ADW account (if available)
Encyclopaedia of Life
Search EOL
NCBI Taxonomy
Entrez
Search all databases
Ageing Literature
Search Google Scholar or Search PubMed
Images
Google Image search
Internet
Search Google