| Desert long-eared bat | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Chiroptera |
| Family: | Vespertilionidae |
| Genus: | Otonycteris |
| Species: | O. hemprichii |
| Binomial name | |
| Otonycteris hemprichii Peters, 1859 | |
The desert long-eared bat (Otonycteris hemprichii) is a species of vesper bat found in North Africa and the Middle East.
The taxonomic classification of Otonycteris is unclear, however their chromosomes suggest that this genus is closely related to the Barbastella and Plecotus genera. [2]
It has a body and head length of about 73-81 mm (2.9-3.2 in); a forearm length of about 57–67 mm (2.2–2.6 in), and a tail length of about 47–70 mm (1.9–2.8 in). Male desert long-eared bats weigh 18–20 g (0.63–0.71 oz). [3] They have nearly horizontally directed ears, which use a band of skin to connect across the forehead and are about 40 mm in length. The desert long-eared bat has a pale sandy and dark brown upper part, with a whitish bottom. It has a similar skull and similar teeth to the Eptesicus . [4] Some specimens of this species have two sets of mammae in their pectoral muscles, which is unique for mammals. These mammae may not be functional. [4]
This species normally inhabits dry, arid, rocky, and barren regions. [5] One pair of these bats was found living in a hill's crevice in the Negev Desert. This bat has also been found in buildings.
Otonycteris hemprichii has a flight pattern described as "floppy and slow". [4]
This species is assumed to be carnivorous due to its body mass, low wing loading, and low aspect ratio. [6] This bat likely forages close to the ground, using echolocation to detect large flying or surface-dwelling invertebrates. Through echolocation, the bats can detect scorpions as they walk. They feed mostly on arachnids and orthopterans that are seized directly from the ground. [7] [8] An Israeli study found that up to 70% of the bat droppings contained scorpion fragments, including the highly venomous Palestine yellow scorpion along with other less venomous species. The bat catches the scorpion, biting its head off. The bats are often stung in the face with the scorpion’s stinger with no recorded signs of toxicity, suggesting that the bats are immune to the venom. [9] [10]
Breeding colonies consisting of 3–15 females have been discovered. Seven pregnant females, most with two embryos, were found in central Asia. [8] [11] In a deserted hut in Jordan three pregnant females, all of whom carried two embryos were found. [12]
Its range is now recognized to include Afghanistan, Algeria, Egypt, India, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Libya, Morocco, Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, and Uzbekistan. [1] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18]
Vespertilionidae is a family of microbats, of the order Chiroptera, flying, insect-eating mammals variously described as the common, vesper, or simple nosed bats. The vespertilionid family is the most diverse and widely distributed of bat families, specialised in many forms to occupy a range of habitats and ecological circumstances, and it is frequently observed or the subject of research. The facial features of the species are often simple, as they mainly rely on vocally emitted echolocation. The tails of the species are enclosed by the lower flight membranes between the legs. Over 300 species are distributed all over the world, on every continent except Antarctica. It owes its name to the genus Vespertilio, which takes its name from a word for bat, vespertilio, derived from the Latin term vesper meaning 'evening'; they are termed "evening bats" and were once referred to as "evening birds".
The New World leaf-nosed bats (Phyllostomidae) are found from southern North America to South America, specifically from the Southwest United States to northern Argentina. They are ecologically the most varied and diverse family within the order Chiroptera. Most species are insectivorous, but the phyllostomid bats include within their number true predatory species and frugivores. For example, the spectral bat, the largest bat in the Americas, eats vertebrate prey, including small, dove-sized birds. Members of this family have evolved to use food groups such as fruit, nectar, pollen, insects, frogs, other bats, and small vertebrates, and in the case of the vampire bats, even blood.
Natterer's bat is a European vespertilionid bat with pale wings. It has brown fur tending to greyish-white on its underside. It is found across most of the continent of Europe, parts of the Near East and North Africa. It feeds on insects and other invertebrates which it catches on the wing or pursues on the ground.
The Alpine long-eared bat or mountain long-eared bat is a species of long-eared bat. It was originally described from Switzerland and Austria as a species intermediate between the brown long-eared bat and the grey long-eared bat in 1965. It was later described in 2002, from France and Austria, respectively. Despite its name, this species is not restricted to the Alps, being found in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and elsewhere. It differs from other European long-eared bats, such as the brown long-eared bat, by its white underparts.
The western barbastelle, also known as the barbastelle or barbastelle bat, is a European bat in the genus Barbastella. This species is found from Portugal to Azerbaijan and from Sweden to Canary Islands, where a sub-species was identified. It has a short nose, small eyes and wide ears. The conservation status of B. barbastellus is assessed as "near threatened", "vulnerable", "critically endangered" or "extinct" in various parts of its range.
The greater mouse-eared bat is a European species of bat in the family Vespertilionidae.
Rafinesque's big-eared bat, sometimes known as the southeastern big-eared bat, is a species of vesper bat native to the southeastern United States.
The long-eared myotis is a species of vesper bat in the suborder Microchiroptera. It can be found in western Canada, the western United States, and Baja California in Mexico.
The Vespertilioninae are a subfamily of vesper bats from the family Vespertilionidae.
The little brown bat or little brown myotis is an endangered species of mouse-eared microbat found in North America. It has a small body size and glossy brown fur. It is similar in appearance to several other mouse-eared bats, including the Indiana bat, northern long-eared bat, and Arizona myotis, to which it is closely related. Despite its name, the little brown bat is not closely related to the big brown bat, which belongs to a different genus.
Otonycteris is a genus of vesper bats. Members of this genus are found in Northern Africa and Central Asia. Until recently, it was thought to be monotypic, but in 2010, the Turkestani long-eared bat was distinguished from the desert long-eared bat; previously, all populations were recognized as the desert long-eared bat.
The Beijing barbastelle, also known as the Beijing wide-eared bat, is a species of vesper bat endemic to Beijing Municipality, China. The species was discovered by Chinese zoology students in 2001 in caves of Fangshan District in southwestern Beijing and was identified as a distinct species by zoologists Zhang Shuyi, Gareth Jones, Zhang Jingshuo and Han Naijian in 2007.
A maternity colony refers to a temporary association of reproductive female bats for giving birth to, nursing, and weaning their pups. The colonies are initiated by pregnant bats. After giving birth, the colony consists of the lactating females and their offspring. After weaning, juveniles will leave the maternity colony, and the colony itself will break apart. The size of a maternity colony is highly variable by species, with some species forming colonies consisting of ten or fewer individuals, while the largest maternity colony in the world in Bracken Cave is estimated to have over 15 million bats.
The Turkestani long-eared bat is a species of bat found in Asia. Though it was initially described in 1873 as a species, for many years it was considered synonymous with the desert long-eared bat, Otonycteris hemprichii. Recently, it was recognized as a distinct species once again.
Gaisler's long-eared bat is a species of bat in the genus Plecotus. It is a medium-sized grayish-brown and found in Morocco, Algeria, Libya, and Tunisia.
Plecotini is a tribe of bats in the family Vespertilionidae. It contains several genera found throughout the Northern Hemisphere, in Eurasia, North Africa, and North America. Several genera in this tribe are known as big-eared bats or long-eared bats. It also contains the spotted bat and barbastelles.
