Miniopterus inflatus, Thomas, 1903

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Miniopteridae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 674-709 : 703

19.

Greater Long-fingered Bat

Miniopterus inflatus

French: Minioptére a couronne / German: GroéRRere Langflligelfledermaus / Spanish: Miniéptero gigante

Other common names: Greater Bent-winged Bat

Taxonomy. Miniopterus inflatus Thomas, 1903 ,

“Efulen, Cameroons [= Cameroon].”

All large African Miniopterus were traditionally included in M. inflatus , regardless of their origin. At localities where two species of Miniopterus of medium to large size could be differentiated and despite overlap usually found in their sizes, the larger was considered M. inflatus and the smaller M. schreibersii natalensis . When only one species was found, it was not easy to assign it to one of the two species with certainty. Currently, M. inflatus is considered a paraphyletic species complex that must be studied genetically to resolve taxonomic status of all its components. In this sense, populations in Ethiopia, Somalia, and Kenya that were considered M. inflatus africanus have recently been elevated to the species rank. Similarly, the population of Upper Guinea Highlands ( Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast) probably represents a genetically differentiated species still to be described. Polytypic, but taxonomy requires reassessment.

Distribution. Disjunct distribution on much of sub-Saharan Africa, but predominantly in C Africa ( Cameroon, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Republic of the Congo, DR Congo) and E Africa ( Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, Tanzania), also in scattered localities in W Africa ( Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria) and S Africa ( Namibia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique).

Descriptive notes. Head—body ¢.57-63 mm, tail 48-57 mm, ear 9-13-5 mm, hindfoot 7-11 mm, forearm 45-4-48-9 mm; weight 9-9-16 g. Pelage of the Greater Long-fingered Bat is dense and silky and varies dorsally from dark blackish brown, through reddish brown to grayish brown, being always paler on venter. Hairs are faintly bicolored and slightly paler at tips. Wing membranes and uropatagium are dark brown to black. Basal one-quarter to one-half of uropatagium is dorsally covered with downy hairs, sometimes extending further posteriorly to tail. Ears are small, and tragus (4-7-5 mm) is relatively long, with parallel margins, rounded tip, and small indication of basal lobe.

Habitat. Variety of habitats including lowland and upland rainforests, apparently also arid open Acacia (Fabaceae) savannas (mean annual rainfall less than 300 mm in Namibia), and different types of intermediate woodlands and savannas. Most frequently associated with montane habitats like rainforests in Gabon at elevations of ¢.500-600 m and on Mount Cameroon up to 2200 m, Upper Guinean forest at 500-1200 m, Afromontane forests of Rwanda and Uganda up to 2200 m, and Namibian mountains higher than 1000 m.

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

Breeding. The Greater Long-fingered Bat is seasonally monoestrous in north-eastern Gabon, very close to the equator (0° 4’ N), and in a high rainforest area with little marked seasons and no variation in photoperiod. Taking into account birth dates,it should be considered to an austral reproductive cycle. Estrus and mating take place in the beginning of July, and by the end of July, the embryo has already implanted (no delayed implantation). In August-September, all females are pregnant, and births take place simultaneously in October. Gestation and lactation together last for ¢.6 months. InJanuary—July, neither pregnant nor lactating females were noted. Births of a single young are synchronized in each colony and with very little variation among colonies. Females meet during pregnancy in a particular cave where the breeding colony is established until young can fly and leave the colony. Males are sexually dormant in October-February. By mid-April, spermatogenesis occurs, but the related glands (epididymides) are not yet developed. By mid-July, spermatogenesis ends, and epididymides are fully developed and functional. In Kenya, males were sexually dormant in March and early April.

Activity patterns. In north-eastern Gabon, with constant twelve-hour long day/ night periods, activity starts inside the roost c¢.15 minutes before emergence starts at c.18:00 h. Emergence peaks in total darkness at c¢.18:30 h. The cave remains empty (except during lactation) until 02:30 h when the first individuals start returning; this lasts until ¢.04:00 h. Return begins in smaller colonies earlier, possibly because they do not have to move away as far from the roost. All individuals forage every night. They mostly roost in caves and old mines during the day but also in small holes and crevices in rocks. Roosts have relatively high relative humidity (75-100%), even in arid environments. Based on their wing morphology, these bats fly in open, uncluttered places including clearings, above canopy trees, and over water. Echolocation calls have downward FM signals, with peak frequency of 44-7 kHz and durations of 2-3 milliseconds.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. In a colony in north-eastern Gabon, seasonal population structure was largely similar to that of other species of Miniopterus in temperate and subtropical zones. Each population uses a network of roosts (caves) throughout the year. During pregnancy and lactation, females gather in a specific maternity cave in which the colony’s nursery is formed, which can have up to 40,000 individuals. Outside this period, individuals are found in small, scattered groups that move very often among roosts, demonstrating that all bats know the network of shelters. Outside of this geographical area, Greater Long-fingered Bats form small groups (up to a maximum of 50 individuals in Namibia), which might be because no nursery colonies have been found or because these small groups might be another species with different population strategies than those in the inflatus species complex.

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

Bibliography. Baeten et al. (1984), Bates et al. (2013), Brosset (1966b, 1969), Brosset & Saint Girons (1980), Churchill et al. (1997), Fahr et al. (2006), Happold, M. (2013bn), Hill (1968a, 1982b), Jones (1971), Kityo & Kerbis Peterhans (1996), Koopman et al. (1995), Kruskop & Lavrenchenko (2008), MillerButterworth et al. (2005), Monadjem, Richards & Denys (2016), Monadjem, Taylor et al. (2010), Neves et al. (2018), Onyango et al. (1995), Reardon & Schoeman (2017), Rosevear (1965), Thomas (1903d), Wolton et al. (1982).

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. Disjunct distribution on much of sub-Saharan Africa, but predominantly in C Africa ( Cameroon , Central African Republic , Equatorial Guinea , Gabon , Republic of the Congo , DR Congo ) and E Africa ( Uganda , Rwanda , Burundi , Kenya , Tanzania ), also in scattered localities in W Africa ( Guinea , Liberia , Nigeria ) and S Africa ( Namibia , Zimbabwe , Mozambique ).