Miniopterus shortridgei, Laurie & Hill, 1957

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Miniopteridae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 674-709 : 696

9.

Shortridge’s Long-fingered Bat

Miniopterus shortridgei

French: Minioptére de Shortridge / German: Shortridge-Langfligelfledermaus / Spanish: Miniéptero de Shortridge

Taxonomy. Miniopterus australis shortridger Laurie & Hill, 1957 ,

“Kalipoetjang, Tji-Tandoei River, south Java,” Indonesia.

Miniopterus shortridger was initially described by E. M. O. Laurie and J. E. Hill in 1954 as M. australis minor , where the type locality is given, and it was subsequently renamed in 1957 as shortridgei because minor was already used for another Miniopterus of Africa and was not an available name. It was elevated to species rank in a detailed multivariate morphological study. It is in the australis complex, but itis still pending of a thorough taxonomic review of Miniopterus in the region using genetic information. Specimens from southern Sumatra (Lampung) assigned by J. C. C. Huang and collaborators in 2014 with some reserve to M. australis probably belong to M. shortridge: because of their small size (forearm 37-6-38-5 mm). Monotypic.

Distribution. Java including Madura I and most of the Lesser Sunda Is (Lombok, Sumbawa, Moyo, Alor, Wetar, Savu, Roti, Semau, and Timor) and Tanimbar Is (Selaru); possibly on S Sumatra.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 33:5-46-3 mm, tail 37-2 mm (+ 3-5 mm SD), ear 8-3 10-8 mm, forearm 33-3-39-3 mm for Savu Islands. Fur color of Shortridge’s LLong-fingered Batis very similar to that of the Little Long-fingered Bat ( M. australis ), with most specimens being decidedly rufous, perhaps more than in the Little Long-fingered Bat. Head, nape, and upper part of back are rufous-brown in the type specimen, but lower part of back is chocolate-brown. Hairs on underparts have chocolate-brown bases and rufous tips. Wing membrane is inserted at end of tibia near heel, and calcar with tail membrane also starts at that point. Shortridge’s L.ong-fingered Batis smaller than the Little Long-fingered Bat and the Small Long-fingered Bat ( M. pusillus ), with which it can be sympatric.

Habitat. No information.

Food and Feeding. There is no specific information recorded for this species, but it is expected to mainly eat soft insects captured in flight as do other long-fingered bats.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. Shortridge’s Long-fingered Bat is thought to be nocturnal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Data Deficient on The IUCN Red List. There is little information about population status, ecology, and distribution of Shortridge’s Long-fingered Bat, and additional research is needed to assess its conservation status.

Bibliography. Chiozza & Thong Vu Dinh (2016), Huang, J.C.C. et al. (2014), Kitchener & Suyanto (2002), Laurie & Hill (1954, 1957).

Figures

1. Asian Long-fingered Bat (Miniopterus fuliginosus), 2. Large Long-fingered Bat (Miniopterus magnater), 3. Small Long-fingered Bat (Miniopterus pusillus), 4. Intermediate Long-fingered Bat (Miniopterus meduius), 5. Ryukyu Long-fingered Bat (Miniopterus fuscus), 6. Eschscholtz’s Long-fingered Bat (Miniopterus eschscholtzii), 7. Philippine Long-fingered Bat (Miniopterus paululus), 8. Great Long-fingered Bat (Miniopterus tristis), 9. Shortridge’s Long-fingered Bat (Miniopterus shortridgei), 10. Javanese Long-fingered Bat (Miniopterus blepotis), 11. Little Long-fingered Bat (Miniopterus australis), 12. Small Melanesian Long-fingered Bat (Miniopterus macrocneme), 13. Loyalty Long-fingered Bat (Miniopterus robustior), 14. Australian Long-fingered Bat (Miniopterus orianae), 15. Pallid Long-fingered Bat (Miniopterus pallidus), 16. Schreibers’s Long-fingered Bat (Miniopterus schreibersu), 17. Neghrohion Long-fingered Bat (Miniopterus maghrebensis)

Distribution. Java including Madura I and most of the Lesser Sunda Is (Lombok, Sumbawa, Moyo, Alor, Wetar, Savu, Roti, Semau, and Timor) and Tanimbar Is (Selaru); possibly on S Sumatra.