Miniopterus brachytragos, Goodman, 2009

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

30.

Madagascar Long-fingered Bat

Miniopterus brachytragos

French: Minioptére a oreillons courts / German: Nordwest-Madagaskar-Langfligelfledermaus / Spanish: Minioptero de Madagascar

Other common names: Broad-tragused Long-fingered Bat, Madagascar Bent-winged Bat

Taxonomy. Miniopterus brachytragos Goodman et al., 2009 ,

“ Madagascar: Province de Mahajanga, Réserve Naturelle Intégrale de Namoroka [status subsequently changed to Parc National ], Forét d’Ambovonomby, 9% km NW Andranomavo , 16°28.2°S, 45°20.9’E, 200 m above sea level.”

Formerly included in M. manavi . Monotypic.

Distribution. Scattered localities on N & W Madagascar (including Nosy Komba).

Descriptive notes. Head-body c.45-49 mm, tail 38-43 mm, ear 9-11 mm, hindfoot 5-6 mm, forearm 35-38 mm; weight 2:9-6-3 g. Pelage of the Madagascar Long-fingered Bat is relatively short and not particularly dense. Dorsal fur is medium to slightly dark brown, and ventral hairs are tipped with dark buff, giving slightly mottled appearance. Wing membranes are medium brown, grading into slightly lighter brown on plagiopatagium and uropatagium; these membranes are attached to femur above ankle joint. Uropatagium has relatively short dense fur on most of its dorsal surface, being more obvious on proximal onehalf. Tragusis notably short (3-4 mm) and thick, with rounded to slightly pointed tip; distal part has a few long hairs, difficult to see with the naked eye.

Habitat. Near native dry deciduous forests and disturbed gallery lowland humid forests from sea level up to elevations of c. 600 m.

Food and Feeding. The Madagascar Long-fingered Bat is expected to mainly eat soft insects captured in flight.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. The Madagascar Long-fingered Batis nocturnal. It uses caves as daytime roosts. Echolocation calls have downward FM signals, with maximum frequencies of 85-128 kHz, minimum frequencies of 54-57 kHz, peak frequencies of 57-3— 61-7 kHz, durations of 2-6—4-3 milliseconds, and intervals of 56-1-122-5 milliseconds.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red Lust.

Bibliography. Goodman (2017d), Goodman, Maminirina, Bradman et al. (2009), Ramasindrazana et al. (2011).

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. Scattered localities on N & W Madagascar (including Nosy Komba).