Miniopterus gleni, Peterson, Eger & Mitchell, 1995

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Miniopteridae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 674-709 : 707

29.

Glen’s Long-fingered Bat

Miniopterus gleni

French: Minioptére de Glen / German: Glen-Langfllgelfledermaus / Spanish: Minioptero de Glen

Other common names: Glen's Bent-winged Bat

Taxonomy. Miniopterus glen: Peterson, Eger & Mitchell, 1995 ,

in a marine cave between Sarodrano and St. Augustin, 20 km south of Tuléar (= Toliara), Madagascar.

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. Wide distribution across Madagascar (including Sainte-Marie I), except in the SW (S of the Onilahy River) where replaced by Griffiths’s Long-fingered Bat ( M. griffithsi ).

Descriptive notes. Head-body c. 68 mm, tail 52-63 mm, ear 12-15 mm, hindfoot 7-9 mm, forearm 47-50 mm; weight 10-5-17-5 g. Glen’s Long-fingered Bat is the largest species of Miniopterus in Madagascar, together with Griffiths’s Long-fingered Bat. Dorsum is uniformly dark chocolate-brown. Ventrum is uniformly chocolate-brown and slightly lighter toward wing membranes. Wing membranes and uropatagium show no noticeable change in color. Compared with Griffiths’s Long-fingered Bat, tragus (7-9 mm) shape lacks prominent flange to external edge, distal two-thirds has an inward curve, and distal tip is rounded and slightly deflected downward.

Habitat. Wide variety ofhabitats including humid forests, dry deciduous forests, and spiny bush from sea level up to elevations of ¢. 1250 m.

Food and Feeding. Glen’s Long-fingered Batis expected to eat mainly soft insects captured in flight.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. Glen’s Long-fingered Bat is nocturnal. It uses caves and similar places such as subterranean water canals as daytime roosts. In April-December,it typically selects small holes in ceilings of caves at heights of 5-10 m. Echolocation calls have downward FM signals, with maximum frequencies of 70-93-2 kHz, minimum frequencies of 36-389 kHz, peak frequencies of 40-1-44-6 kHz, durations of 3-4-4 milliseconds, and intervals of 66-7-124-1 milliseconds.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Apparently, Glen's Long-fingered Batis less gregarious than other species of Miniopterus and typically forms small groups of 2-8 individuals. Largest known colony had ¢.90 individuals. It shares roost in close association with other cave-dwelling species such as Grandidier’s Trident Bat (Paratriaenops auritus), the Manavil Long-fingered Bat ( M. manavi ), Major’s Long-fingered Bat ( M. majori ), and the Malagasy Myotis ( Myotis goudotii).

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. Glen’s Long-fingered Bat was occasionally killed and used as protein supplement by local people during periods of famine. It is threatened by disturbance at roostsites.

Bibliography. Goodman, Maminirina et al. (2010), Goodman, Ratrimomanarivo et al. (2008), Monadjem, Razafimanahaka et al. (2017e), Peterson et al. (1995), Ramasindrazana et al. (2011), Robinson et al. (2006).

Figures

18. Villiers’s Long-fingered Bat (Miniopterus villiersi), 19. Greater Long-fingered Bat (Miniopterus inflatus), 20. Newton's Long-fingered Bat (Miniopterus newtoni), 21. Least Long-fingered Bat (Miniopterus minor), 22. Sandy Long-fingered Bat (Miniopterus arenarius), 23. African Long-fingered Bat (Miniopterus africanus), 24. Natal Long-fingered Bat (Miniopterus natalensis), 25. Mozambican Long-fingered Bat (Muniopterus mossambicus), 26. Lesser Long-fingered Bat (Miniopterus fraterculus), 27. Aellen’s Long-fingered Bat (Miniopterus aelleni), 28. Griveaud’s Long-fingered Bat (Miniopterus griveaudi), 29. Glen’s Long-fingered Bat (Miniopterus gleni), 30. Madagascar Long-fingered Bat (Manaopterus brachytragos), 31. Montagne d’Ambre Long-fingered Bat (Minaiopterus ambohitrenss), 32. Major’s Long-fingered Bat (Miniopterus majori), 33. Eger’s Long-fingered Bat (Miniopterus egent), 34. Manavil Long-fingered Bat (Miniopterus manai), 35. Sororcula Long-fingered Bat (Miniopterus sororculus), 36. Peterson’s Long-fingered Bat (Miniopterus petersoni), 37. Mahafaly Long-fingered Bat (Miniopterus mahafaliensis), 38. Griffiths’s Long-fingered Bat (Miniopterus griffiths)

Distribution. Wide distribution across Madagascar (including Sainte-Marie I), except in the SW (S of the Onilahy River) where replaced by Griffiths’s Long-fingered Bat ( M. griffithsi ).