Miniopterus tristis (Waterhouse, 1845)

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Miniopteridae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 674-709 : 695-696

8.

Great Long-fingered Bat

Miniopterus tristis

French: Minioptere triste / German: GroRe Langfligelfledermaus / Spanish: Minidptero tristis

Other common names: Great Bent-winged Bat, Greater Bent-winged Bat

Taxonomy. Vespertilio tristis Waterhouse, 1845 ,

“ Philippine Islands.”

The name #ristis was used for a long time for all large species of Miniopterus living from the Philippines to Melanesia. Several studies, including very complete multivariable morphometric analyses, showed that it was actually a new species complex, with 1-2 species ( tristis and propatristis) and five subspecies. There is some genetic information that supports existence of at least two species. Based on current data, it is impossible to assign the different subspecies to one or the other species and therefore, a single species with five subspecies is maintained, awaiting detailed genetic study to clarify taxonomy. There are some misclassified records that are actually M. magnater and M. blepotis . Five subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

M. t. tristis Waterhouse, 1845 — the Philippines including Palawan I.

M. 1. celebensis Peterson, 1981 — Sulawesi and nearby Sanana, Togian, and ButonIs.

M. t. grandis Peterson, 1981 — W New Guinea E to Chimbu Province in C Papua New Guina, including Waigeo, Supiori, Biak, and Yapen Is, and Louisiade Archipelago.

M. t. insularis Peterson, 1981 — Admiralty Is, Bismarck Archipelago, Solomon Is, and Vanuatu (Espirito Santo and Efate Is).

M. t. propitristis Peterson, 1981 — E New Guinea.

Descriptive notes. Head-body ¢.65-73 mm, tail 50-61 mm, ear 15-17 mm, hindfoot 10-12 mm, forearm 51-55 mm; weight 16-22 g for nominate fristis. Forearm lengths of other subspecies: 56-4-57-5 mm (celebensis), 51-2-55-3 mm (grandis), 44-7-51 mm (insularis), and 47-3-52 mm (propitristis). The Great Long-fingered Batis the largest species of Miniopterus . The Philippine population has very dark brown fur. In Papua New Guinea, dorsal fur is 6-8 mm long and bicolored. Basal part of dorsal hair is blackbrown, with gray-brown, red-brown, or pale gray tips, giving a frosted appearance. Ventral fur is frosted pale gray-brown over black-brown base. Wing membranes are very dark, almost black. Ears are small, and tragus is somewhat curved and rounded at tip. Its large size differentiates it from the other species of Miniopterus except from New Guinea and Melanesia where there is overlap with larger individuals of the Large Long-fingered Bat ( M. magnater ) and the Javanese Long-fingered Bat (M. blepotus).

Habitat. Agricultural areas to old-growth forests through different degrees of disturbed forests from sea level up to ¢. 1500 m in Philippines and 1600 m in Papua New Guinea. Roosts of Great Long-fingered Bats are located at different elevations and vegetation belts that include lowland forests, hill forests, and montane forests.

Food and Feeding. Wing morphology suggests that the Great Long-fingered Bat forages for aerial insects above forest canopies or in clearings.

Breeding. In Papua New Guinea, a lactating female Great Long-fingered Bat was caught in late October.

Activity patterns. The Great Long-fingered Bat is thought to be mainly nocturnal and roosts in caves during the day. Echolocation calls have downward FM signals, and mean minimum frequency is 34-6 kHz.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Great Long-fingered Bat is usually uncommon, but it can be found in large numbers. It forms mixed interspecific clusters with the Javanese Long-fingered Bat, the Large Long-fingered Bat, the Intermediate Long-fingered Bat ( M. medius ), and the Maluku Myotis ( Myotis moluccarum) in caves in New Guinea. By roosting in clusters on domed ceilings, bats pool and trap body heat and reduce exposed surface area and heat loss. Such behavior creates microclimates close to expected thermoneutral zone of 30-34°C and lowers energy expenditure compared with solitary roosting individuals.

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

Bibliography. Bonaccorso (1998), Esselstyn, Widmann & Heaney (2004), Furman, Oztunc & Coraman (2010), Heaney, Balete et al. (1998), Heaney, Dolar et al. (2010), Hill (1983), Maeda (1982), Peterson (1981), Rickart et al. (1993), Rosell-Ambal, Tabaranza, McKinnon et al. (2008), Sedlock (2001), Sramek etal. (2013), Waterhouse (1845).

Figures

1. Asian Long-fingered Bat (Miniopterus fuliginosus), 2. Large Long-fingered Bat (Miniopterus magnater), 3. Small Long-fingered Bat (Miniopterus pusillus), 4. Intermediate Long-fingered Bat (Miniopterus meduius), 5. Ryukyu Long-fingered Bat (Miniopterus fuscus), 6. Eschscholtz’s Long-fingered Bat (Miniopterus eschscholtzii), 7. Philippine Long-fingered Bat (Miniopterus paululus), 8. Great Long-fingered Bat (Miniopterus tristis), 9. Shortridge’s Long-fingered Bat (Miniopterus shortridgei), 10. Javanese Long-fingered Bat (Miniopterus blepotis), 11. Little Long-fingered Bat (Miniopterus australis), 12. Small Melanesian Long-fingered Bat (Miniopterus macrocneme), 13. Loyalty Long-fingered Bat (Miniopterus robustior), 14. Australian Long-fingered Bat (Miniopterus orianae), 15. Pallid Long-fingered Bat (Miniopterus pallidus), 16. Schreibers’s Long-fingered Bat (Miniopterus schreibersu), 17. Neghrohion Long-fingered Bat (Miniopterus maghrebensis)

Subspecies and Distribution. M. t. tristis Waterhouse, 1845 — the Philippines including Palawan I. M. 1. celebensis Peterson, 1981 — Sulawesi and nearby Sanana, Togian, and ButonIs. M. t. grandis Peterson, 1981 — W New Guinea E to Chimbu Province in C Papua New Guina, including Waigeo, Supiori, Biak, and Yapen Is, and Louisiade Archipelago. M. t. insularis Peterson, 1981 — Admiralty Is, Bismarck Archipelago , Solomon Is, and Vanuatu (Espirito Santo and Efate Is). M. t. propitristis Peterson, 1981 — E New Guinea .