Ussuri tube-nosed bat

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Ussuri tube-nosed bat
Murina ussuriensis.jpg
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Chiroptera
Family: Vespertilionidae
Genus: Murina
Species:
M. ussuriensis
Binomial name
Murina ussuriensis
Ognev, 1913
Distribution of Murina ussuriensis.png
Synonyms
  • Murina silvaticaYoshiyuki, 1983
  • Murina aurata ussuriensis Ognev, 1913

The Ussuri tube-nosed bat (Murina ussuriensis) is a species of vesper bat in the family Vespertilionidae. It is threatened by habitat loss. It is the only species of bat that hibernates in snowbanks.

Contents

Taxonomy and etymology

It was described as a new species in 1913 by Russian zoologist Sergey Ognev. Its species name "ussuriensis" comes from Ussuriland. The holotype had been collected in Ussuriland by Nikolaus Ikonnikov (also spelled Ikonnikoff). [2] In 1951, Ellerman and Morrison-Scott classified it as a subspecies of the little tube-nosed bat with a trinomen of Murina aurata ussuriensis. [3] The population in Japan is sometimes referred to as Murina silvatica. [4]

Description

It is a moderately small member of its genus, with a forearm length of 27 mm (1.1 in). Its head and body length is 40 mm (1.6 in), while its tail is 25 mm (0.98 in). Its fur is soft and short. Fur on the back is tricolored, with reddish brown tips, pale middles, and dark roots. The belly fur is pale and grayish in comparison. The tops of its feet and legs are very hairy, as well as the back of its uropatagium. [5] Individuals weigh 4–8 g (0.14–0.28 oz). [4]

Biology and ecology

Roosting behavior

Ussuri tube-nosed bat hibernating within its snow hole Murina ussuriensis snow hole.jpg
Ussuri tube-nosed bat hibernating within its snow hole

In the spring and autumn, it primarily roosts in clumps of dead leaves, but it also utilizes tree cavities and peeling tree bark. [4] Trees used for roosting include Litsea acuminata (a laurel species), Neolitsea sericea , Camellia sasanqua , Ardisia sieboldii , Cinnamomum camphora , and Ficus superba . Females switch roosts frequently, moving to a new roost every day in one study. It is colonial, with females forming maternity colonies. [6] These colonies last from June to August; the rest of the year, each sex is solitary. [7] These colonies consist of 222 individuals. The frequent roost-switching and variable colony sizes exhibited in maternity colonies suggests a fission-fusion social structure. [6] It is the only known bat that hibernates in snow. In the winter, it has been found roosting within cylindrical or conical holes in snowbanks. It is hypothesized that the bats excavate these cavities themselves. Hibernating within the snow may protect it from predators and prevent water loss; the snow holes likely have a stable thermal environment, as well. The only other mammal species known to hibernate within snow is the polar bear. [4]

Reproduction and life history

Females are strongly philopatric, meaning that they likely stay in their natal ranges. Therefore, females in a given area are closely related, influencing the social structure of colonies. [8] Females give birth in the summer to an offspring called a pup. Pups are weaned in the summer, and some reach sexual maturity in their first autumn. It is a relatively short-lived species for a bat, with maximum age recorded as 4 and 4.5 years for males and females, respectively. [7]

Parasites and disease

The Ussuri tube-nosed bat is affected by endoparasites such as Vampirolepis yakushimaensis , a species of Hymenolepidid tapeworm. V. yakushimaensis was described as a new species based on 13 specimens recovered from the small intestine of one individual. [9]

It was also one of the first bat species in Asia to test positive for Pseudogymnoascus destructans , the fungus that causes white-nose syndrome. One individual tested positive for the fungus during summer sampling of a cave in Northeast China. [10] The disease does not appear as lethal in China as it is to bats in the United States, though. [11]

Distribution

It can be found in North Korea, South Korea, Japan (Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu, Tsushima Island, Yakushima Island and Iki Island) and Russia (Primorye, southernmost Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands). It has been reported In northeast China (Inner Mongolia, Jilin and Heilongjiang) but this has yet to be verified. [1]

Related Research Articles

Tricolored bat Species of bat

The tricolored bat is a species of microbat native to eastern North America. Formerly known as the eastern pipistrelle, based on the errant 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.

Big brown bat Species of vesper bat (Eptesicus fuscus)

The big brown bat is a species of vesper bat distributed widely throughout North America, the Caribbean, and the northern portion of South America. It was first described as a species in 1796. Compared to other microbats, the big brown bat is relatively large, weighing 15–26 g (0.53–0.92 oz) and possessing a wingspan of 32.5–35 cm (12.8–13.8 in).

Serotine bat Species of bat

The serotine bat, also known as the common serotine bat, big brown bat, or silky bat, is a fairly large Eurasian bat with quite large ears. It has a wingspan of around 37 cm (15 in) and often hunts in woodland. It sometimes roosts in buildings, hanging upside down, in small groups or individually. The name serotine is derived from the Latin serotinus, which means 'evening', while the generic name derives from Greek ἔπιεν and οίκος, which means 'house flyer'.

Common pipistrelle Species of mammal

The common pipistrelle is a small pipistrelle microbat whose very large range extends across most of Europe, North Africa, South Asia, and may extend into Korea. It is one of the most common bat species in the British Isles. In Europe, the northernmost confirmed records are from southern Finland near 60°N.

Honduran white bat Species of bat

The Honduran white bat, also called the Caribbean white tent-making bat, is a species of bat in the family Phyllostomatidae. It is the only member of the genus Ectophylla. The genus and the species were both scientifically described for the first time in 1892. It has distinctive, entirely white fur, which is only found in six of the roughly 1,300 known species of bat. It constructs "tents" out of understory plant leaves by strategically cutting the leaf ribs with its teeth; it roosts in these tents during the day. It is a specialist frugivore, consuming almost exclusively the fruits of one species of fig. Females can likely become pregnant twice per year, giving birth to one offspring at a time.

<i>Murina</i> Genus of vesper bats

Murina is a genus of vesper bats.

Evening bat Species of bat

The evening bat is a species of bat in the vesper bat family that is native to North America. Hunting at night, they eat beetles, moths, and other flying insects.

Brandts bat Species of bat

Brandt's bat is a species of vesper bat in the family Vespertilionidae. It is native throughout most of Europe and parts of Asia. It is known for its high life expectancy relative to its body size, approximately twice that of humans and holds the record for the oldest bat; in 2005, one individual was discovered in a cave in Siberia that had been banded in 1964, making the bat at least 41 years old.

Eastern small-footed myotis Species of bat

The eastern small-footed bat is a species of vesper bat. It can be found in southern Ontario and Quebec in Canada and in mountainous portions of the eastern United States from New England to northern Georgia, and westward to northern Arkansas. It is among the smallest bats in eastern North America and is known for its small feet and black face-mask. Until recently, all North American small-footed Myotis were considered to be "Myotis leibii". The western population is now considered to be a separate species, Myotis ciliolabrum. The Eastern small-footed bat is rare throughout its range, although the species may be locally abundant where suitable habitat exists. Studies suggest white-nose syndrome has caused declines in their populations. However, most occurrences of this species have only been counted within the past decade or two and are not revisited regularly, making their population status difficult to assess. Additionally, most bat populations in the Eastern U.S. have been monitored using surveys conducted in caves and mines in the winter, but Eastern small-footed bats hibernate in places that make them unlikely to be encountered during these surveys. Perhaps as a result, the numbers of Eastern small-footed bats counted in winter tend to be low and they are relatively variable compared to other species of bats. Many biologists believe the species is stable, having declined little in recent times, but that it is vulnerable due to its relatively restricted geographic range and habitat needs.

Sundevalls roundleaf bat Species of bat

Sundevall's roundleaf bat, also called Sundevall's leaf-nosed bat, is a species of bat in the family Hipposideridae.

<i>Histiotus</i> Genus of bats

Histiotus is a genus of South American vesper bats with species that include:

Little brown bat Species of mammal found in North America

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.

Virginia big-eared bat Subspecies of bat

The Virginia big-eared bat is one of two endangered subspecies of the Townsend's big-eared bat. It is found in Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, and Kentucky. In 1979, the US Fish and Wildlife Service categorized this as an endangered species. There are about 20,000 left and most of them can be found in West Virginia. The Virginia Big-Eared Bat is the state bat of Virginia.

Bat Order of flying mammals

Bats are mammals of the order Chiroptera. With their forelimbs adapted as wings, they are the only mammals capable of true and sustained flight. Bats are more maneuverable than most birds, flying with their very long spread-out digits covered with a thin membrane or patagium. The smallest bat, and arguably the smallest extant mammal, is Kitti's hog-nosed bat, which is 29–34 millimetres in length, 150 mm (6 in) across the wings and 2–2.6 g in mass. The largest bats are the flying foxes, with the giant golden-crowned flying fox, Acerodon jubatus, reaching a weight of 1.6 kg and having a wingspan of 1.7 m.

<i>Myotis septentrionalis</i> Species of mammal

Myotis septentrionalis, known as the northern long-eared bat or northern myotis, is a species of bat native to North America. There are no recognized subspecies. The northern long-eared bat is about 3–3.7 inches in length, with a wingspan of 9–10 inches. It is distinguishable by its long ears when comparing it to other bats in its genus. This species is commonly found in the northern United States and Southern Canada east of British Columbia. The geographic range includes 37 states.

There are eighteen indigenous species of bats in Canada, which are found in many parts of the country. They are insectivores, and are prey to falcons, hawks, owls, snakes, cats, and raccoons.

Beelzebubs tube-nosed bat Species of bat

Beelzebub's tube-nosed bat, also Beelzebub bat or demon bat, is a species in the vesper bat family Vespertilionidae, found in the Greater Mekong region of Southeast Asia, specifically the Quảng Trị and Gia Lai provinces of Vietnam. They have tube-shaped nostrils which assist them with their feeding.

Southern bent-wing bat Subspecies of bat

The southern bent-wing bat is one of two subspecies of the Australasian bent-wing bat. Its population size has declined rapidly since the 1950s, and it is classified as critically endangered by the Australian government.

Bala tube-nosed bat Species of bat

The Bala tube-nosed bat is a critically endangered species of bat found in Thailand.

References

  1. 1 2 Fukui, D.; Sano, A.; Kruskop, S.V. (2019). "Murina ussuriensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2019: e.T84562332A22095832. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T84562332A22095832.en . Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  2. Ognev, S. (1913). "Замѣтки по Фаунѣ летучихъ мышей (Chiroptera) и насѣкомоядныхъ (Insectivora) Уссурійекаго края [Bemerkungen über die Chiroptera und Insectivora des Ussuri-Landes]". Ezhegodnik Zoologicheskogo Muzeia (in Russian). 18: 402–406.
  3. Ellerson, J. E.; Morrison-Scott, T. C. S. (1951). Checklist of Palaearctic and Indian mammals 1758 to 1946. Order of the Trustees of the British Museum. pp. 184–185.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Hirakawa, H.; Nagasaka, Y. (2018). "Evidence for Ussurian tube-nosed bats (Murina ussuriensis) hibernating in snow". Scientific Reports. 8 (1): 12047. Bibcode:2018NatSR...812047H. doi:10.1038/s41598-018-30357-1. PMC   6089880 . PMID   30104736.
  5. Smith, Andrew T.; Xie, Yan; Hoffmann, Robert S.; Lunde, Darrin; MacKinnon, John; Wilson, Don E.; Wozencraft, W. Chris, eds. (2010). A Guide to the Mammals of China. Princeton University Press. p. 385. ISBN   978-1400834112.
  6. 1 2 Fukui, Dai; Hill, David A; Matsumura, Sumiko (2012). "Maternity Roosts and Behaviour of the Ussurian Tube-Nosed Bat Murina ussuriensis". Acta Chiropterologica. 14: 93–104. doi:10.3161/150811012X654303.
  7. 1 2 Funakoshi, K.; Tamari, T.; Ichikihara, Y.; Kitanokuchi, T.; Tanaka, H. (2016). "Roosting ecology of the Ussuri tube-nosed bat, Murina ussuriensis, with special reference to sexual maturity". Honyurui Kagaku (Mammalian Science) (in Japanese). 56 (2). doi:10.11238/mammalianscience.56.117.
  8. Flanders, Jon; Inoue-Murayama, Miho; Rossiter, Stephen J; Hill, David A (2016). "Female philopatry and limited male-biased dispersal in the Ussuri tube-nosed bat, Murina ussuriensis". Journal of Mammalogy. 97 (2): 545–553. doi: 10.1093/jmammal/gyv200 .
  9. Sawada, I. (1987). "Further studies on cestodes of Japanese bats, with descriptions of three new species of the genus Vampirolepis (Cestoda: Hymenolepididae)". Zoological Science. 4: 721–729.
  10. Hoyt, J. R.; Sun, K.; Parise, K. L.; Lu, G.; Langwig, K. E.; Jiang, T.; Feng, J. (2016). "Widespread bat white-nose syndrome fungus, northeastern China". Emerging Infectious Diseases. 22 (1): 140–2. doi:10.3201/eid2201.151314. PMC   4698868 . PMID   26673906.
  11. Kobilinsky, D. (4 November 2015). "White-Nose Syndrome Discovered in China". The Wildlife Society. Retrieved 19 August 2018.