Myzopoda aurita, Milne-Edwards & A. Grandidier, 1878

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Myzopodidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 388-393 : 393

2.

Eastern Sucker-footed Bat

Myzopoda aurita

French: Myzopode de Madagascar / German: Madagaskar-Haftscheibenfledermaus / Spanish: Mizopoda de Madagascar

Other common names: Madagascar Suckerfooted Bat

Taxonomy. Myzopoda aurita Milne-Edwards & A. Grandidier, 1878 ,

“ Madagascar.”

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. E Madagascar.

Descriptive notes. Total length 111-114 mm, tail 44-50 mm, ear 32-34 mm, hindfoot (without claw) 5-6 mm, forearm 46-49 mm; weight 9-9-5 g. The Eastern Sucker-footed Bat is characterized by sucker-like structures on wrists and ankles. Dorsal fur is slightly long, uniformly golden dark brown, and unicolored; venter is light brown, paler than dorsum. Wings and interfemoral membraneare dark brown. Ears are notably long, and pointed, with odd-shaped mushroom-like structure at bases. Tail protrudes beyond hind margin oftail membrane. Upperlips extend beyond limit of mandible and are flexible.

Habitat. Lowland andlittoral forests, often toward edges or in degraded forests, and large stands oftraveler’s palms ( Ravenala madagascariensis, Strelitziaceae ) associated with anthropogenicforest degradation, from sealevel to elevations of¢. 1000 m.

Food and Feeding. The Eastern Suckerfooted Bat specializes on Lepidoptera, which was present in 100%offeces from eleven individuals, followed byBlattodea (55%), Coleoptera (55%), and Araneae (9%). Presence of Araneae indicates some form of gleaning ofpreyoffsurfaces.

Breeding. Juvenile Eastern Sucker-footed Bats were captured only in February—March and October-November.

Activity patterns. Eastern Sucker-footed Bats are nocturnal. Vast majority of known roost sites of Eastern Sucker-footed Bats are in furled leaves oftraveler’s palms. They emit distinct complex FM echolocation calls, with 2-4 elements of increased amplitude and long call duration and maximumenergies at 24-42 kHz.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Radio-tagged Eastern Suckerfooted Bats in south-eastern Madagascar foraged in 4-108 ha that collectively included 70% open wooded anthropogenic grasslands, 8%degraded natural forest, 6%relatively intact humid forest, 5%coffee plantations, 4%rice paddy, 4% banana plantations, and 3%in close proximity to human habitation. Average maximum distance traveled from the roost site was 862 m, and greatest recorded distance was 1-8 km. At this locality, roost sites were only found in traveler’s palms. All 593 captured individuals were males that often changed their day roost sites. Females were captured a few kilometers from the roosts with males and at slightly lowerelevations.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN RedList. Because the Eastern Suckerfooted Bat can be common in secondary habitats with large concentrations ofpioneering traveler’s palms, it seems adaptable to human degradation of natural eastern forest formations.

Bibliography. Bayliss & Hayes (1999), Goodman (2011), Goodman et al. (2014), Jenkins et al. (2007), Milne-Edwards & Grandidier (1878), Peterson et al. (1995), Ralisata (2018), Ralisata, Andriamboavonjy et al. (2010), Ralisata, Rakotondravony & Racey (2015), Ramasindrazana et al. (2010), Rasoanoro et al. (2015), Riskin & Racey (2010), Russ, Bennett et al. (2003), Schliemann & Maas (1978), Thomas (1904c).

Figures

Plate 29 Species Accounts

Distribution. E Madagascar .