Plecotus wardi, Thomas, 1911

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Vespertilionidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 716-981 : 869

239.

Ward’s Long-eared Bat

Plecotus wardi

French: Oreillard de Ward / German: Ward-Langohr / Spanish: Orejudo de Ward

Taxonomy. Plecotus wardi Thomas, 1911 ,

Jammu and Kashmir, India.

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. N Afghanistan, N Pakistan, N India, and Nepal.

Descriptive notes. Head—-body 47-53 mm, tail 49-54 mm, car 37-42 mm, hindfoot 7-9- 5 mm, forearm 42-46 mm. Fur is dense (not woolly, 10-13 mm long), brownish, sometimes with golden tips, on dorsum; sparser and pale gray on venter, with white tips (6-8 mm long); dorsal hairs tricolored, with dark brown bases, narrow lighter middle zone, and brown tips; ventral hairs bicolored with dark bases and white tips. Face and chin meagerly furred with short hairs. Patagium can be naked or furred; ears and patagium generally brownish. Toes long (c. 8 mm), slender, and partially covered by long hair. The species seems to be closely related to Strelkov’s Long-eared Bat (P. strelkovr) in skull and dental characteristics, with medium-sized braincase and short, slender, flat rostrum, but it has larger I and canines than its closest relatives, with broader anterior part of zygomatic arch. Condylo-basal length c.16- 5 mm; zygomatic breadth c.9- 2 mm; and upper tooth-row length c.6- 5 mm.

Habitat. Tunnels in flanks of barren mountains surrounded by coniferous forests. Someareas ofits range (e.g. Nepal) have a very contrasting dry climate. Usually found at elevations of 1700-3600 m.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. No information.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Not assessed on The IUCN Red Lust.

Bibliography. Ellerman & Morrison-Scott (1951), Etemad (1967), Spitzenberger, Strelkov & Haring (2003), Spitzenberger, Strelkov, Winkler & Haring (2006), Srinivasulu & Srinivasulu (2012).

Figures

225. Gray Long-eared Bat (Plecotus austriacus), 226. Canary Long-eared Bat (Plecotus teneriffae), 227. Gaisler’s Long-eared Bat (Plecotus gaisleri), 228. Christie’s Long-eared Bat (Plecotus christii), 229. Mediterranean Long-eared Bat (Plecotus kolombatovici), 230. Ethiopian Long-eared Bat (Plecotus balensis), 231. Turkmen Long-eared Bat (Plecotus turkmenicus), 232. Strelkov’s Long-eared (Bat Plecotusstrelkovi), 233. Ognev’s Long-eared Bat (Plecotus ognevi), 234. Kozlov’s Long-eared Bat (Plecotus kozlovi), 235. Sichuan Long-eared Bat (Plecotus ariel), 236. Himalayan Long-eared Bat (Plecotus homochrous), 237. Taiwan Long-eared Bat (Plecotus taivanus), 238. Japanese Long-eared Bat (Plecotus sacrimontis), 239. Ward’s Long-eared Bat (Plecotus wardi), 240. Alpine Long-eared Bat (Plecotus macrobullaris), 241. Sardinian Long-eared Bat (Plecotus sardus), 242. Brown Long-eared Bat (Plecotus auritus), 243. Desert Long-eared Bat (Otonycteris hemprichii), 244. Turkestani Long-eared Bat (Otonycteris leucophaea), 245. Rafinesque’s Big-eared Bat (Corynorhinus rafinesquii), 246. Townsend's Big-eared Bat (Corynorhinus townsendii), 247. Mexican Big-eared Bat (Corynorhinus mexicanus), 248. Allen’s Big-eared Bat (Idionycteris phyllotis)

Distribution. N Afghanistan , N Pakistan , N India , and Nepal .