Miniopterus manavi, Thomas, 1906

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Miniopteridae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 674-709 : 708

34.

Manavil Long-fingered Bat

Miniopterus manavi

French: Minioptére des Betsileo / German: Zentral-Madagaskar-Langflligelfledermaus / Spanish: Minidptero de Betsileo

Other common names: Manavil Bent-winged Bat

Taxonomy. Miniopterus manavi Thomas, 1906 ,

“Imasindrary, N.E. Betsileo,” Madagascar.

Miniopterus manavi has been considered the common species of Miniopterus , with the widest distribution in Madagascar.

Nevertheless, recent genetic studies have shown it to represent a species complex with at least six species, several of them not even phylogenetically related. Some recognized characteristics of the life history of M. manavi date back to before the group was split, which makes it difficult to assign them to specific lineages so they are omitted here. Monotypic.

Distribution. Restricted to highlands of C Madagascar from Fandriana S to Ranomafana (Ifanadiana) and Vinanitelo.

Descriptive notes. Head—body c. 51 mm, tail 39 mm, ear 10 mm, hindfoot 6 mm, forearm 37-6-39-2 mm; weight 6-4 g (single individual except for forearm length). Dorsal hairs of the Manavil Long-fingered Bat are of medium length (c. 5 mm). General color is blackish, with hairs blackish along two-thirds their length and having dull brown tips. Underparts are similar but rather paler. Some specimens are dull reddish throughout, representing a rufous morph, but others have coal black backs and slightly lighter bellies, which is best considered a reddish brown red morph. Wing and tail membranes are dark brownish black. Uropatagium and plagiopatagium are attached to femur at same level above anklejoint. Fur extends thinly over nearly one-half of upper surface of uropatagium, being sparser on proximal ventral surface. Tragus (6 mm) is relatively thin along distal two-thirds ofits length, medial margin has a flange, distal lateral portion is slightly enlarged and rounded, and distal medial tip terminates with an angular straight edge.

Habitat. Continuous forests, irrigated lowland rice paddies, secondary vegetation, and hillside rice at elevations of ¢.900-1500 m. In Ranomafana National Park, according to bat ultrasound recorders, the Manavil Long-fingered Bat seems to occur more frequently in forest fragments.

Food and Feeding. Diet mainly contains Lepidoptera , Hymenoptera, Coleoptera, and Hemiptera , with lesser amounts of Blattodea, Diptera, Ephemeroptera , and Neuroptera . Prey also included mosquitoes that serve as vectors of diseases such as Anopheles squamosus (Malaria, Rift Valley fever virus [RVFV]) and Wuchereria bancrofti and Coquillettidia sp. (RVFV, West Nile virus [WNV]). Other prey is possibly fruit pests (e.g. Pandemis sp.).

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. The Manavil Long-fingered Bat is nocturnal. It uses caves as daytime shelters. Echolocation calls have downward FM signals, with maximum frequencies of 89-110 kHz, minimum frequency of 53 kHz, peak frequencies of 55-5-58-2 kHz, durations of 2-1-3 milliseconds, and intervals of 54-1-84-7 milliseconds.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

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

Bibliography. Goodman, Maminirina, Bradman et al. (2009), Goodman, Ratrimomanarivo et al. (2008), Kemp et al. (2019), Monadjem, Razafimanahaka et al. (2017f), Ramasindrazana et al. (2011), Schoeman et al. (2015), Thomas (1906).

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. Restricted to highlands of C Madagascar from Fandriana S to Ranomafana (Ifanadiana) and Vinanitelo.