Long-fingered bat | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Chiroptera |
Family: | Vespertilionidae |
Genus: | Myotis |
Species: | M. capaccinii |
Binomial name | |
Myotis capaccinii Bonaparte, 1837 | |
Long-fingered bat range |
The long-fingered bat (Myotis capaccinii) is a small carnivorous vesper bat.
It is native to coastal areas around the Mediterranean Sea, as well as a few patches of land in western Iran. Due to the fact that its population is in decline, it has been listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List since 1988. [1]
The long-fingered bat is a medium-sized vesper bat with characteristically large feet (hence its name), and more prominent nostrils than other European Myotis species. Its length ranges from 47–53 mm (1.9–2.1 in), and it weighs up to 7–13 g (0.25–0.46 oz). [2] The hind feet of the long-fingered bat range in length from 10–13 mm (0.39–0.51 in). [3] on which they also have long bristles. Hair is dark grey at the base, with light smoky grey dorsal-side hair and light grey ventral-side hair.
The long-fingered bat is native to the coastal regions of Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia (North Africa), parts of the Iberian Peninsula, Southern and South-East France, Bulgaria, Italy, and part of the Balkan peninsula. It can also be found on some islands in the Mediterranean Sea, such as Mallorca and Menorca. [4] In Asia, it is distributed from Turkey through Syria and Lebanon to Israel, Iran, Iraq and Uzbekistan. It inhabits wetlands and caves up to elevations of 900 m (3,000 ft). [1]
The current long-fingered bat population is thought to be decreasing. In Spain, it decreased between 30-50% since 2006, probably comprising less than 10,000 individuals in 30 colonies with more than 20 bats. In France, the known population is less than 3,800 individuals. The Bulgarian population is estimated at around 20,000 individuals. It is more abundant in the eastern region than the western region. [1]
The long-fingered bat lives in limestone areas, preferably wooded or shrubby terrain near flowing water. Summer and winter roosts are always in caves, where it has been known to form groups of up to 500 individuals. It is a water-oriented carnivore, hunting fish, aquatic insects and other small invertebrates, such as ostracods and water fleas. [4] [5] As a cave-dwelling bat it needs underground shelters to roost. [6] It forages over water bodies and dwells in areas which include clutter-free waterways. Due to its "trawling" behaviour, it apparently prefers rivers wider than 10 m (33 ft) with high amounts of riparian vegetation that prevent the water from becoming too disturbed by wind. The calm water provided through these conditions allows it to use echolocation more effectively while foraging, rather than the harsh conditions typically noted around other water bodies. It also forages while traveling to its foraging area of choice, accomplishing more on a single trip. Its roosting sites in summer are on average 50 km (31 mi) apart from those in winter, ranging up to 140 km (87 mi). [1]
Little is known about this species reproductive cycle. Mating begins in August and could continue until late winter and early spring. Gestation takes six to eight weeks. Maternity roosts are in caves, formed in the summer, with up to 500 females in clusters on the cave roof, where very few males are present. Birth occurs in mid to late June, with only one pup born, which is weaned after approximately four to six weeks.[ citation needed ]
The three main threats to all species of bats are roost disappearance and disturbance, altering of foraging areas, and pesticides. The long-fingered bat is largely affected by the first two threats, with tourism being one of the leading causes of the descending population trend. Many other proposals have been made to explain the decrease in the population size. The long-fingered bat strictly depends on underground shelters and most localized extinctions have been caused by disturbance of breeding roosts. Populations in Western Europe have been susceptible to the disturbance of habitat and roosts, [7] while in France the alteration of rivers is one cause of the decreasing population. The main prey of M. capaccinii, chironomids, accumulate toxic compounds which can lead to death in these bats. In Northern Africa, some long-fingered bats have been killed and used for medicinal purposes. [1]
The long-fingered bat is protected by national legislation in most of its range countries. International legal obligations for protection such as the Bonn Convention and Bern Convention. Long-fingered bats are included in Annex II and IV of the EU Habitats and Species Directive, meaning they need special measures for conservation. Fences have been placed in Spain to protect several known colonies. To protect this species from becoming endangered or going extinct, future measures that need to be taken include protection of colonies and water quality improvement. [1] Some have proposed that the depletion of aquifers and alteration of water bodies near roosts should be avoided, and because the species is dependent on clutter-free water and prey availability, the priority should be protecting large waterways near roosts. [6]
The greater bulldog bat or fisherman bat is a species of fishing bat native to Latin America. The bat uses echolocation to detect water ripples made by the fish upon which it preys, then uses the pouch between its legs to scoop the fish up and its sharp claws to catch and cling to it. It is not to be confused with the lesser bulldog bat, which, though belonging to the same genus, merely catches water insects, such as water striders and water beetles.
The tricolored bat or American perimyotis is a species of microbat native to eastern North America. Formerly known as the eastern pipistrelle, based on the incorrect belief that it was closely related to European Pipistrellus species, the closest known relative of the tricolored bat is now recognized as the canyon bat. Its common name "tricolored bat" derives from the coloration of the hairs on its back, which have three distinct color bands. It is the smallest bat species in the eastern and midwestern US, with individuals weighing only 4.6–7.9 g (0.16–0.28 oz). This species mates in the fall before hibernation, though due to sperm storage, females do not become pregnant until the spring. Young are born helpless, though rapidly develop, flying and foraging for themselves by four weeks old. It has a relatively long lifespan, and can live nearly fifteen years.
The gray bat is a species of microbat endemic to North America. It once flourished in caves all over the southeastern United States, but due to human disturbance, gray bat populations declined severely during the early and mid portion of the 20th century. 95% of gray bats now hibernate in only 15 caves. M. grisescens has been listed as federally endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service since 1976, and is protected under the Endangered Species Act. Gray bat populations were estimated at approximately 2 million bats around the time they were placed on the Endangered Species list. By the early 1980s populations of gray bats dropped to 1.6 million. With conservation efforts in place, in 2004, gray bat populations were estimated to have reached 3.4 million.
The Indiana bat is a medium-sized mouse-eared bat native to North America. It lives primarily in Southern and Midwestern U.S. states and is listed as an endangered species. The Indiana bat is grey, black, or chestnut in color and is 1.2–2.0 in long and weighs 4.5–9.5 g (0.16–0.34 oz). It is similar in appearance to the more common little brown bat, but is distinguished by its feet size, toe hair length, pink lips, and a keel on the calcar.
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 soprano pipistrelle is a small species of bat. It is found in Europe and often roosts on buildings.
The eastern long-fingered bat, or big-footed myotis is a species of vesper bat found in China, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, and Russia. Roosting in caves and rock crevices during the day, it forages at night for insects near rivers and streams.
Hodgson's bat, also called the copper-winged bat or black-and-orange myotis, is a species of vesper bat in the genus Myotis, the mouse-eared bats. Favouring mountain forests, it is found throughout Central, Southeast, and East Asia, from Afghanistan to Taiwan. It is about 5 centimetres (2.0 in) long and is distinguished from most other species of bat in this range by its yellowish colouration.
The southeastern myotis is a small bat found throughout the Gulf Coastal Plain and the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Plain of the southeastern United States.
Savi's pipistrelle is a species of vesper bat found across North West Africa, the Mediterranean region and the Middle East. It feeds at night on flying insects. In the summer it roosts under bark, in holes in trees, in old buildings and in rock crevices but in winter it prefers roosts where the temperature is more even such as caves, underground vaults and deep rock cracks.
The greater mouse-eared bat is a European species of bat in the family Vespertilionidae.
The greater long-fingered bat is a species in the family Miniopteridae. It is found in Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe. It roosts in caves. The long-fingered bats diet consists of trawling fish. This species is one of three bat species known to catch fish.
The Natal long-fingered bat is a species of vesper bat in the family Miniopteridae. It can be found in Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, possibly Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. It is found in dry savanna, moist savanna, Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation, caves, and hot deserts.
Geoffroy's bat, also known as the notch-eared bat, is a species of vesper bat.
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 fringed myotis is a species of vesper bat that is found in British Columbia, Mexico, and the western United States.
The cave myotis is a species of vesper bat (Vespertilionidae) in the genus Myotis.
The Yuma myotis is a species of vesper bat native to western North America.
The California leaf-nosed bat is a species of bat in the family Phyllostomidae. It is found in Mexico and the United States. Its natural habitat is hot deserts.
Mehely's horseshoe bat is a species of insectivorous bat in the family Rhinolophidae found in Southern Europe and parts of the Middle East. It is distributed in a narrow band around the Mediterranean Sea from North-Western Africa across Portugal, Spain, the Balearics, southern France, Sardinia, Sicily and the Balkan Peninsula to Asia Minor.