Miniopterus petersoni, Goodman, 2008

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

36.

Peterson’s Long-fingered Bat

Miniopterus petersoni

French: Minioptére de Peterson / German: Peterson-Langflligelfledermaus / Spanish: Miniéptero de Peterson

Other common names: Peterson's Bent-winged Bat

Taxonomy. Miniopterus petersoni Goodman et al., 2008 ,

“ Madagascar: Province de Toliara, Cascade de Manantantely, 5.2 km NW of Tolagnaro , 24°59.343S, 46°55.370E, 65 m. ”

Miniopterus peterson was formerly included within M. sororculus . Taxonomic status of specimens from northern Madagascar remains unresolved. Monotypic.

Distribution. SE Madagascar from Kianjavato to Tolagnaro.

Descriptive notes. Head-body c¢.46-49 mm, tail 39-50 mm, ear 10-13 mm, hindfoot 6:-5-11 mm, forearm 38-43 mm; weight 4-2-8-2 g. Dorsal and ventral pelage is slightly long, dense, and a mix of medium brown and dark brown. Wing membranes and uropatagium are dark brownish black and have no noticeable change in color across their surfaces. Tragus has relatively long-curved projection, is 5—7 mm in length, and has notable constriction on lower distal surface. Distal one-third of tragus of Peterson’s Long-fingered Bat has pronounced downward deflection and lower surface has distinct notch, while the Sororcula Long-fingered Bat ( M. sororculus ) lacks notch and tends not to be as deflected.

Habitat. Humid lowland forests,littoral forests, and transitional dry and humid formations from near sea level up to elevations of ¢. 550 m. Some individuals were caught in gallery forest and at the edge of ecotone between forest and secondary habitats, with local conditions being more mesic than is typical of this bioclimatic zone of Madagascar.

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

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. Peterson’s Long-fingered Bat is nocturnal. It uses caves as daytime roosts. Echolocation calls have downward FM signals, with maximum frequencies of 95-115 kHz, minimum frequencies of 48-50 kHz, peak frequencies of 52-53-9 kHz, durations of 2:5-3-3 milliseconds, and intervals of 63-8-76-7 milliseconds.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Data Deficient on The [UCN Red List.

Bibliography. Goodman, Bradman et al. (2008), Jenkins & Rakotoarivelo (2008), 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. SE Madagascar from Kianjavato to Tolagnaro.