Miniopterus mossambicus, Monadjem, 2013

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Miniopteridae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 674-709 : 705-706

25.

Mozambican Long-fingered Bat

Miniopterus mossambicus

French: Minioptere du Mozambique / German: Mozambik-Langflligelfledermaus / Spanish: Miniéptero de Mozambique

Other common names: Mozambican Bent-winged Bat, Mozambique Long-fingered Bat

Taxonomy. Miniopterus mossambicus Monadjem et al, 2013 ,

“over a swimming pool at the Bamboo Inn (15.10306°S; 39.21748°E), along the road to Malawi and on the outskirts of Nampula (town) in the Nampula Province, northern Mozambique, at an altitude of 420 m above sea level.”

Individuals ofthis form were initially identified as M. schreibersii natalensis or M. fraterculus before the recent description of M. mossambicus . Monotypic.

Distribution. Midto high elevations in N & C Mozambique and neighboring Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe; recently found in S Kenya (Taita Hills), and it is possible that these known populations are actually connected through still unknown populations in Tanzania.

Descriptive notes. Head-body ¢.52-54 mm, tail 47-50 mm, ear 8-8-10 mm, hindfoot (without claw) 6-9 mm, forearm 41-44-9 mm; weight 6-7-9 g. The Mozambican Long-fingered Bat has gray-brown upperparts and slightly paler underparts; hairs of underparts have dark bases giving pelage bicolored appearance. Ear is relatively short and rounded and not readily distinguishable from other species of Miniopterus relative to length. Tragus is long (5-6 mm) and largely straight, thickening slightly toward distal tip and constricting toward base.

Habitat. Known from elevations of 420-1800 m (mostly 700-1800 m).

Food and Feeding. There is no specific information available for this species, but other long-fingered bats mainly eat soft insects captured in flight.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. The Mozambican Long-fingered Batis nocturnal and uses caves and mines as day roosts.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Presence of the Mozambican Longfingered Bat along a wide elevation gradient suggests possible seasonal movements similar to those of the Natal Long-fingered Bat ( M. natalensis ) in South Africa and Tanzania.

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

Bibliography. Lopez-Baucells, Rocha et al. (2017), Monadjem, Goodman et al. (2013).

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. Midto high elevations in N & C Mozambique and neighboring Malawi , Zambia , and Zimbabwe ; recently found in S Kenya (Taita Hills), and it is possible that these known populations are actually connected through still unknown populations in Tanzania .