Miniopterus eschscholtzii (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

6.

Eschscholtz’s Long-fingered Bat

Miniopterus eschscholtzii

French: Minioptéere d'Eschscholtz / German: Eschscholtz-Langflligelfledermaus / Spanish: Minidptero de Eschscholtz

Other common names: Eschscholtz’'s Bent-winged Bat

Taxonomy. Vespertilio eschscholtzii Water-house, 1845 ,

“ Philippine Islands.”

Miniopterus eschscholtzii was traditionally considered as M. schreibersii in the Philippines, generally at subspecific rank. Genetic studies of the genus Miniopterus in which specimens of the schreibersii species complex of the Philippines have been included indicate that they are different from Asian (fuliginosus, magnater , and blepotis ), and Australian ( orianae ) representatives of this complex. Apparently, M. eschscholtzii is closer to M. fuliginosus. There are also some cranial differences in size that supportits recognition as a distinct species. In any case, their taxonomic situation is pending a thorough revision of Asian forms of Miniopterus . Monotypic.

Distribution. Widely distributed across the Philippines.

Descriptive notes. Head-body c¢. 55 mm, tail 46-57 mm, ear 11-13 mm, hindfoot 8-10 mm, forearm 42-46 mm; weight 8-14 g. Pelage of Eschscholtz’s Long-fingered Bat is dense and very dark brown and longer over shoulders and on top of head than elsewhere on body. Ears are small. Tragus is narrow, curved, rounded at its tip, and indistinctly emarginated on outer margin. Wing membranes are dark.

Habitat. Wide variety of habitats from primary lowland forests and montane forests to disturbed forests and agricultural areas from near sea level up to elevations of c. 1500 m.

Food and Feeding. There is no specific information available for this species, but other long-fingered bats mainly eat soft insects ( Lepidoptera and Diptera ) captured in flight.

Breeding. Some observations of Eschscholtz’s Long-fingered Bats from different locations suggest that only one young is born per pregnancy. They are not reproductively active in December (only one pregnant female out of 214 captured), but females with small embryos were captured in March, and ¢.50% was pregnant and none were lactating in mid-May. No female was pregnant at the beginning ofJuly, and only four out of 421 were lactating.

Activity patterns. Eschscholtz’s Long-fingered Bat is assumed to be mainly nocturnal. It roosts In caves but occasionally uses man-made tunnels. It is a common species in areas with appropriate roosts. Echolocation calls have downward FM signals, and mean minimum frequency is 45-6 kHz.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Colonies of hundreds Eschscholtz’s Long-fingered Bats have been reported sharing roosts with other species of bats such as: the Lesser Dawn Bat (Eonycteris spelaea), the Dusky Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros ater), the Diadem Leaf-nosed Bat (H. diadema), the Acuminate Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus acuminatus), the Arcuate Horseshoe Bat (R. arcuatus), Creagh’s Horseshoe Bat (R. creaghi), the Philippine Long-fingered Bat ( M. paululus ), the Great Long-fingered Bat (M. tnistis), and the Pallid Large-footed Myotis ( Myotis macrotarsus).

Status and Conservation. Not assessed on The IUCN Red List. Eschscholtz’s Long-fingered Bat is now a separate species from Schreibers’s Long-fingered Bat (M. schreibers11), which is classified as Near Threatened.

Bibliography. Akmali et al. (2015), Corbet & Hill (1992), Esselstyn, Widmann & Heaney (2004), Furman, Oztunc & Coraman (2010), Heaney, Balete et al. (1998), Heaney, Dolar et al. (2010), Heaney, Gonzales et al. (1991), Heaney, Tabaranza et al. (2006), Hill (1983), Maeda (1982), Rickart et al. (1993), Sedlock (2001), Sramek et al. (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)

Distribution. Widely distributed across the Philippines .