Miniopterus fuscus, Bonhote, 1902

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Miniopteridae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 674-709 : 694-695

5.

Ryukyu Long-fingered Bat

Miniopterus fuscus

French: Minioptére des Ryukyu / German: Ryukyu-Langfligelfledermaus / Spanish: Minioptero de Ryukyu

Other common names: Japanese Long-fingered Bat, Ryukyu Bent-winged Bat, Southeast Asian Bent-winged Bat, Southeast Asian Long-fingered Bat

Taxonomy. Miniopterus fuscus Bonhote, 1902 ,

“ Okinawa, Liu-Kiu Islands [= Ryukyu Islands],” Japan.

Miniopterusfuscus has been related to M. medius . Monotypic.

Distribution. Ryukyu Is (Amami-Oshima, Tokunoshima, Okinoerabujima, Okinawajima, Kumejima, Ishigakijima, and Iriomotejima). There is a record of one individual captured on Jeju I ( South Korea) regarded as a vagrant as well as an old record from Kii Peninsula (Honshu), but it now to be extinct there.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 53 mm (+ 6-3 mm SD), tail 52:5-55 mm, ear 10-9 mm (x 0-20 mm SD), hindfoot 9: 4 mm (+ O-12 mm SD), forearm 42-46 mm. The Ryukyu Long-fingered Bat is similar to the Asian Long-fingered Bat (M. fuliginosus) in all aspects butslightly smaller. It is reddish brown to blackish brown (and dark sooty brown), with individual hairs unicolored along their entire lengths.

Habitat. Woodlands from sea level up to elevations of ¢. 1300 m.

Food and Feeding. Diet of the Ryukyu Long-fingered Bat consists mainly of Lepidoptera , Diptera , and Hymenoptera that are captured in flight; last two orders seem to be positively selected. To a lesser extent, diets include species of Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Orthoptera, Neuroptera , and Psocodea.

Breeding. Maternity colonies of Ryukyu Long-fingered Bats consist of several thousand females and are formed in June-August. Births mostly occur in June. Females can give birth in their first year of life, but most give birth for the first time in their second year. Mating season and reproductive patterns (e.g. delayed implantation, etc.) are unknown.

Activity patterns. The Ryukyu Long-fingered Bat is thought to be nocturnal and it can be active in winter. It roost in caves and abandoned mines.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Endangered on The IUCN Red List. The Ryukyu Long-fingered Bat has a known distribution of less than 5000 km? which is severely fragmented. Only three breeding colonies are known, one on Okinawajima and two on Iriomotejima, and there is continuing decline in the extent and quality of its habitat.

Bibliography. Abe et al. (2005), Bonhote (1902), Fukui et al. (2009), Maeda (2008c), Ohdachi et al. (2009).

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. Ryukyu Is (Amami-Oshima, Tokunoshima, Okinoerabujima, Okinawajima, Kumejima, Ishigakijima, and Iriomotejima). There is a record of one individual captured on Jeju I ( South Korea ) regarded as a vagrant as well as an old record from Kii Peninsula (Honshu), but it now to be extinct there.