Myotis chinensis (Tomes, 1857)

Bates, Paul J. J., Nwe, Tin, Bu, Si Si Hla, Mie, Khin Mie, Swe, Khin Maung, Nyo, Nyo, Khaing, Aye Aye, Aye, Nu Nu, Toke, Yin Yin, Aung, Naing Naing, Thi, Mar Mar & Mackie, Iain, 2005, A review of the genera Myotis, Ia, Pipistrellus, Hypsugo, and Arielulus (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) from Myanmar (Burma), including three species new to the country, Acta Chiropterologica 7 (2), pp. 205-236 : 217-218

Myotis chinensis

Large Myotis

Vespertilio chinensis Tomes, 1857: 52 ; southern China

New material from Myanmar

Shan State: Thuye Oo Min Cave, 27.3. 2003, 1 ♂ (SH21); Kayin State: YathayPyan Cave, 26.11.2001, 1 ♂ (Sc4); Mon State: Hnidon Hill Cave, 4.12.2001, sex? (Sc21).

Previous records from Myanmar

Mon State: Saddan-Sin Cave ( Bates et al., 2001).

Descriptive characters

A very large Myotis with a forearm length of 65.1–68.0 mm based on 5 speci- mens from Myanmar ( Table 4) (FA = 65.0– 68.9 mm in Hendrichsen et al., 2001 and 65 – 69 mm in Borissenko and Kruskop, 2003). The dorsal pelage is dark grey-brown with the roots almost black. The ventral pelage is paler with grey hair tips and dark roots. The skull and teeth are robust. The second upper premolar (P3) is about half to two-thirds the crown area and height of the first (P2) and is slightly displaced internally. Likewise, the second lower premolar (P3) is half to two- thirds the crown area and height of the first (P2) and compressed in the toothrow.

Similar species

Myotis chinensis is distinguished from all other local species of Myotis by its large size.

Ecological notes

In Myanmar, all specimens have been collected in limestone caves. Originally recorded from the large cave complex of Saddan-Sin ( Bates et al., 2001), it has sub- sequently been collected from three other caves. Hnidon Hill and Yathay-Pyan Caves in Mon and Kayin States respectively are both large with a number of tunnels and chambers and at an altitude of approximate- ly 50 m, both are surrounded by agricultural land and are the roosts of a rich variety of bat species. Thuye Oo Min Cave in Shan State is also large and is situated at an alti- tude of approximately 1,000 metres. It is surrounded by ponds and paddy fields.