Miniopterus egeri, Goodman, 2011

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Miniopteridae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 674-709 : 708

33.

Eger’s Long-fingered Bat

Miniopterus egeri

French: Minioptere d'Eger / German: Eger-Langfligelfledermaus / Spanish: Miniéptero de Eger

Other common names: Eger’s Bent-winged Bat

Taxonomy. Miniopterus egeri Goodman et al., 2011 ,

“ Madagascar: Province de Toamasina, Forét de Sahafina, 9.5 km W Brickaville , 18°48°377S, 48°58’48”E, 50 m. ”

Miniopterus egeri was formerly included in M. petersoni . Monotypic.

Distribution. E Madagascar.

Descriptive notes. Head-body ¢.49-51 mm, tail 40-44 mm, ear 10-11 mm, hindfoot 5-7 mm, forearm 37-40 mm; weight 4-2-7-6 g. Dorsal and ventral pelage of Eger’s Long-fingered Bat is slightly long, dense, and a mix of medium to dark brown interspersed with distinctly lighter brown fur. Wing membranes and uropatagium are dark brownish black and largely naked and have no noticeable change in color across their surfaces. Tragus (5-6 mm) is notably thick along shaft and slightly constricted on lower distal side; length of proximal edge has distinct flange that folds slightly anterior-medially; and downward deflected distal tip is notably thickened and slightly fleshy. In comparison, Peterson’s Long-fingered Bat ( M. petersoni ) has distinctly thinner tragus shaft, constriction of lower proximal portion is notably more pronounced, and distal tip has slightly raised and rounded structure. Tragus of the Sororcula Long-fingered Bat ( M. sororculus ) is similar in length to Peterson’s Longfingered Bat but distinctly more spatulated and without notable tapered distal head.

Habitat. Varies from intact native forests to degraded anthropogenic habitats at elevations of 5—1300 m. Eger’s Long-fingered Bat is not believed to be forest dependent.

Food and Feeding. Eger’s Long-fingered Bat probably eats soft insects captured in flight as do other long-fingered bats.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. Eger’s Long-fingered Bat is nocturnal. A day roost was found in a natural rock shelter surrounded by slightly disturbed natural lowland humid forest; caves and even tree holes are probably also used as roosts. Echolocation calls have downward FM signals, with maximum frequencies of 107-123 kHz, minimum frequencies of 48-50 kHz, peak frequencies of 53-2-56-3 kHz, durations of 2-5-3-4 milliseconds, and intervals of 43-2—81-8 milliseconds.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

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

Bibliography. Goodman (2017e), Goodman et al. (2011), 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. E Madagascar .