| Miniopterus sororculus | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Chiroptera |
| Family: | Miniopteridae |
| Genus: | Miniopterus |
| Species: | M. sororculus |
| Binomial name | |
| Miniopterus sororculus | |
 | |
Miniopterus sororculus is a species of bat endemic to the highland forests of Madagascar.
The description of Miniopterus sororculus was published in 2007, in a revision of the specific status of specimens previously identified as Miniopterus fraterculus . The holotype and paratypes were collected by the lead author of the study, Steven M. Goodman, at Province de Fianarantsoa, in a cave south of Ambatofinandrahana, with other specimens collected to the north and south of that location being referred to the new species. [2]
The etymology of the specific epithet sororculus, little sister, was proposed as a reference to its former placement with the species M. fraterculus, derived from Latin to mean little brother. The authors also note the allusion to a species a little smaller than the related and sympatric Malagasy bat Miniopterus majori . [2]
The vernacular includes those names referring to M. fraterculus and the English common name Sororcula long-fingered bat, assigned to Miniopterus sororculus for the conservation listing of the IUCN. [1]
A medium-sized species of Miniopterus , the forearm being around 42 millimetres. The brown fur colour is dark and rich in tone, with longer and slightly silky hair over the upper parts. The pelage is quite dense over the entire body, the colour is somewhat paler at the ventral side and some individuals exhibit a medium brown colour at the dorsal parts. The tragus of Miniopterus sororculus is distinguished from sister taxa by its relatively long and curved form, extending 6 to 8 mm from the thickened base to its tip. In addition to the patagium of the wings, species of Miniopterus possess a uropatagium at the lower limbs, these membranes are a very dark and almost uniform brown colour. [2]
The generation length of M. sororculus is estimated to around 5.5 years. [1]
The population superficially resemble another Malagasy species, Miniopterus petersoni , first described shortly after the publication of this species. The external morphology of the two species indicates they have converged, which is supported by analysis of molecular evidence, but are distinguishable by features of the crania and external characteristics. [3]
The type location and other sites first identified in the revision were in the highland of the island, at elevations greater than 800–900 metres asl to a height of 2200 metres. [2] Occasional observations have been made of Miniopterus sororculus below 40 metres, and some recorded sites are elevations above 50 m, but the greater part of the area of occupancy is over 950 metres. The lower site records in the south of the island may be colonies formed in the breeding season or by migration from higher elevations. [1] Most daytime roosts were in rocky crevice or sometimes deep caves that were adjacent to previously forested areas cleared for introduced plantation species, the species is also recorded at open habitat at Ihosy, a dry savannah of the central west region of the Madasgascar. Miniopterus sororculus has also been found roosting in the attic of an occupied building. The species often occurs in the same habitat with Miniopterus majori, and sometimes found cohabiting at their diurnal roosts. [2]
The species is categorised as least concern by the IUCN red list, which notes their wide distribution across the Malagasy highlands and habitat coinciding with anthropogenic disturbance. The population trend is unknown. [1]
The lesser long-fingered bat, also known as the black clinging bat or lesser bent-winged bat, is a species of vesper bat in the family Miniopteridae. It is found in western Southern Africa, south East Africa, and parts of Central Africa. Its natural habitats are temperate forests, temperate shrubland, and caves and other subterranean habitats.
The Manavi long-fingered bat is a bat in the genus Miniopterus that occurs in east-central Madagascar. First described in 1906, this species was later included in the mainland African M. minor. A 1995 revision united populations of small Miniopterus from Madagascar and the Comoros as M. manavi, but molecular and morphological studies in 2008 and 2009 showed that this concept of M. manavi in fact included five different species. M. manavi itself was restricted to a few locations in the eastern Central Highlands and populations in the Comoros and northern and western Madagascar were allocated to different species.
The Midas free-tailed bat is a species of bat scientifically classified in the order Chiroptera and the family Molossidae. It is distributed from western Africa to Saudi Arabia and further south. Its natural habitats are dry savanna, moist savanna, woodlands and hot deserts. The more southern are also known to live around large rivers or the swamps.
The Madagascar sucker-footed bat, Old World sucker-footed bat, or simply sucker-footed bat is a species of bat in the family Myzopodidae endemic to Madagascar, especially in the eastern part of the forests. The genus was thought to be monospecific until a second species, Myzopoda schliemanni, was discovered in the central western lowlands. It was classified as Vulnerable in the 1996 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species but is now known to be more abundant and was reclassified in 2008 as of "Least Concern".
Grandidier's trident bat is a species of bat in the family Hipposideridae endemic to Madagascar. It was formerly assigned to the genus Triaenops, but is now placed in the separate genus Paratriaenops.
Miniopterus, known as the bent-winged or long winged bats, is the sole genus of the family Miniopteridae. They are small flying insectivorous mammals, micro-bats of the order Chiroptera, with wings over twice the length of the body. The genus had been placed in its own subfamily among the vespertilionid bats, as Miniopterinae, but is now classified as its own family.
Triaenops menamena is a bat in the genus Triaenops found on Madagascar, mainly in the drier regions. It was known as Triaenops rufus until 2009, when it was discovered that that name had been incorrectly applied to the species. Triaenops rufus is a synonym of Triaenops persicus, a Middle Eastern species closely related to T. menamena— the Malagasy species had previously been placed as a subspecies of T. persicus by some authors. Triaenops menamena is mostly found in forests, but also occurs in other habitats. It often roosts in large colonies and eats insects such as butterflies and moths. Because of its wide range, common occurrence, and tolerance of habitat degradation, it is not considered to be threatened.
The Isalo serotine is a vesper bat of Madagascar in the genus Laephotis. It is known only from the vicinity of the Isalo National Park in the southwestern part of the island, where it has been caught in riverine habitats. After the first specimen was caught in 1967, it was described as a subspecies of Eptesicus somalicus in 1995. After four more specimens were collected in 2002 and 2003, it was recognized as a separate species. Because of its small distribution and the threat of habitat destruction, it is considered "vulnerable" in the IUCN Red List.
Miniopterus aelleni is a bat in the genus Miniopterus that occurs on Anjouan in the Comoros and in northern and western Madagascar.
The Central Highlands, Central High Plateau, or Hauts-Plateaux are a mountainous biogeographical region in central Madagascar. They include the contiguous part of the island's interior above 800 m (2,600 ft) elevation. The Central Highlands are separated from the Northern Highlands of the northern tip of Madagascar by a low-lying valley, the Mandritsara Window, which has apparently acted as a barrier to dispersal for species in the highlands, leading to species pairs such as Voalavo gymnocaudus and Voalavo antsahabensis in the Northern and Central Highlands. Species restricted to the Central Highlands include the bats Miniopterus manavi and Miniopterus sororculus; the rodents Brachyuromys betsileoensis and Voalavo antsahabensis; the tenrecs Hemicentetes nigriceps and Oryzorictes tetradactylus; and the lemur Cheirogaleus sibreei. Because of the continuous habitat of the Central Highlands, there is little local endemism, unlike the Northern Highlands.
Miniopterus brachytragos is a bat in the genus Miniopterus that occurs in northern and western Madagascar. Populations of this species have historically been included in Miniopterus manavi, but molecular data published in 2008 and 2009 indicate this supposed species in fact consists of five separate species, including the newly described M. brachytragos. Up to four species of this group may occur in the same place. M. brachytragos has been found in dry and wet forests from sea level to 320 m (1,050 ft) altitude.
Miniopterus griveaudi is a bat in the genus Miniopterus found on Grande Comore and Anjouan in the Comoros and in northern and western Madagascar. First described in 1959 from Grande Comore as a subspecies of the mainland African M. minor, it was later placed with the Malagasy M. manavi. However, morphological and molecular studies published in 2008 and 2009 indicated that M. manavi as then defined contained five distinct, unrelated species, and M. griveaudi was redefined as a species occurring on both Madagascar and the Comoros.
Miniopterus mahafaliensis is a bat in the genus Miniopterus that occurs in southwestern Madagascar. Populations of this species have historically been included in Miniopterus manavi, but molecular data published in 2008 and 2009 indicate that this supposed species in fact consists of five separate species, including the newly described M. mahafaliensis. The species has been found in dry, spiny, and gallery forest, as well as more open habitats, in southwestern Madagascar.
Peterson's long-fingered bat is a bat in the genus Miniopterus which occurs in southeast Madagascar. It was described by Steven M. Goodman et al. in 2008. While M. petersoni is similar to M. sororculus, the two species are not closely related to each other, and possess a number of differing external and cranial characteristics.
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The Madagascar free-tailed bat or Malagasy giant mastiff bat is a species of free-tailed bat formerly included as a subspecies of the large-eared free-tailed bat, but that was later considered to be a distinct, Malagasy species. The Madagascar free-tailed bat is endemic to northern, western, and southern Madagascar.
Mops jobimena, commonly known as the black and red free-tailed bat, is a species of bat in the family Molossidae. It is endemic to western Madagascar. With a forearm length of 45 to 48 mm,
Mops atsinanana is a free-tailed bat found on Madagascar. It was considered a subspecies of the little free-tailed bat until 2010. During the day, they are known to roost in man-made structures such as the roofs or attics of buildings.
