Miniopterus aelleni, 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 : 706

27.

Aellen’s Long-fingered Bat

Miniopterus aelleni

French: Minioptére d/Aellen / German: Aellen-Langfllgelfledermaus / Spanish: Minidptero de Aellen

Other common names: Aellen’s Bent-winged Bat

Taxonomy. Miniopterus aelleni Goodman et al, 2009 ,

“ Madagascar: Province d’Antsiranana, Réserve Spéciale d’Ankarana, Canyon d’Antsiroandoa Center , 652 km NW Mahamasina , [12°55.1°S, 49°07.6’E, at about 120 m above sea level.”

Miniopterus aelleni was formerly included in M. manavi . Monotypic.

Distribution. N & W Madagascar and Comoro Is (Anjouan).

Descriptive notes. Head-body ¢.48-49 mm, tail 39-44 mm, ear 10-12 mm, hindfoot 5-7 mm, forearm 35-38 mm; weight 3:7-5-4 g. Pelage of Aellen’s Long-fingered Bat is medium to dark brown on dorsum; head of some individuals is slightly lighter. Ventral hairs are variably tipped with dark buff, giving a slightly mottled appearance. Uropatagium has thin sparse hairs across its surface, more evident on dorsum and easily discernable with the naked eye. By comparison, the Manavil Long-fingered Bat ( M. manavi ) has more hair, and Griveaud’s Long-fingered Bat (M. griveaud:) has a practically naked uropatagium. The Montagne d’Ambre Long-fingered Bat (M. ambohitrensis) is slightly larger in size and has rufousbrown areas of pelage. Tragus of Aellen’s Long-fingered Bat is moderately long (gener ally 6 mm); notably broad at base, with lateral flange that becomes reduced distally; and slightly deflected and tapering medially; distal tip forms blunt point or, in some cases,is slightly rounded. Tragus shaft ofAellen’s Long-fingered Bat is distinctly wider proximally than in the Manavil LLong-fingered Bat and Griveaud’s Long-fingered Bat. Distal tip of tragus in the Manavil Long-fingered Bat terminates as an angular straight edge and in Griveaud’s Long-fingered Bat terminates with moderately retracted and rounded head. Tragus in the Montagne d’Ambre Long-fingered Bat is slightly longer (5-6 mm), with lateral flange reduced distally, and tip becomes medially deflected and slightly rounded.

Habitat. Deciduous forests, including “tsingy” habitat in lowland areas associated with limestone and karst landscapes in Madagascar, at elevations of 4-225 m, and notably more mesic forests on Anjouan at 220-690 m.

Food and Feeding. Aellen’s Long-fingered Bat is expected to feed mainly on soft insects captured in flight, as do other long-fingered bats.

Breeding. Two females with notably enlarged mammae, single embryos with crown— rump lengths of 19-20 mm, one female that was lactating, and one male with partially convoluted epididymis were found in latter part of November on Anjouan Island.

Activity patterns. Aellen’s Long-fingered Bat is nocturnal and uses caves as daytime roosts. Interestingly, congeneric Griveaud’s Long-fingered Bats used numerous caves as day roosts on Anjouan. Therefore, it is possible that Aellen’s Long-fingered Bats use deep rock crevices as day roosts on Anjouan. Echolocation calls have downward FM signals, with maximum frequencies of 62:3-79-6 kHz, minimum frequencies of 47.7-51-2 kHz, peak frequencies of 50-7-55-5 kHz, durations of 2:2—4-8 milliseconds, and intervals of 42-95-5 milliseconds.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

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

Bibliography. Goodman (2017b), Goodman, Maminirina, Weyeneth et al. (2009), Goodman, Ramasindrazana et al. (2015), 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. N & W Madagascar and Comoro Is (Anjouan).