Lesser long-fingered bat

The lesser long-fingered bat (Miniopterus fraterculus), also known as the black clinging bat or lesser bent-winged bat, is a species of vesper bat in the family Vespertilionidae.

Lesser long-fingered bat
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Chiroptera
Family: Miniopteridae
Genus: Miniopterus
Species:
M. fraterculus
Binomial name
Miniopterus fraterculus
Thomas & Schwann, 1906

It is found in western Southern Africa, south East Africa, and parts of Central Africa. Its natural habitats are temperate forests, temperate shrubland, caves, and subterranean habitats (other than caves).

It has been assessed as least-concern by the IUCN.[2][3]

Taxonomy

The currently recognized species is thought to be a complex of morphologically similar species. The reported population of this species from Madagascar is now allocated to the recently described M. sororculus.[2][4]

Biology

Diet

The species is insectivorous.[5]

Habitat and distribution

It is common and widespread through a number of small ranges throughout Africa. The bat is found in Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The upper elevation limit for the bat is around 2,200 meters above sea level.

It is found in dry bushveld, lowveld, mistbelt, and forest habitats, where caves, tunnels, unused mines and railways, and rocky overhangs are present. It roosts in caves, overhangs, disused mines, and railway tunnels. In the KwaZulu-Natal it has also been observed in damp sandstone caves, a solution cave of glacio-fluvial boulder clay, a rocky overhang over a forest stream, a rock fissure, a railway tunnel as well as from unused mine adits.[2]

Conservation

The species has been assessed as least-concern by the IUCN Red List due to lack of threats to the species and its large range. It is also presumed to have a large population.

The species faces no major threats in Africa.

It is found in Tanzania's Manga Forest Reserve and is presumably also found in other protected areas across its range.[2]

References
  1. Monadjem, A.; Ranivo, J.; Hutson, A.M.; Schlitter, D.; Racey, P.A. (2017). "Miniopterus fraterculus". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T13563A22104581. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T13563A22104581.en.
  2. Group), Anthony Hutson (IUCN SSC Chiroptera Specialist; Paul Racey (University of Aberdeen, Scotland); Ranivo, J.; Swaziland), Ara Monadjem (University of; Schlitter, D. (2016-08-31). "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Miniopterus fraterculus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 2020-04-13.
  3. Goodman, S. M; Ryan, K. E; Maminirina, C. P; Fahr, J; Christidis, L; Appleton, B (2007). "Specific Status of Populations on Madagascar Referred to Miniopterus fraterculus (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae), with Description of a New Species". Journal of Mammalogy. 88 (5): 1216. doi:10.1644/06-MAMM-A-285R1.1.
  4. Goodman, S. M.; Ryan, K. E.; Maminirina, C. P.; Fahr, J.; Christidis, L.; Appleton, B. (2007-10-18). "Specific Status of Populations on Madagascar Referred to Miniopterus fraterculus (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae), with Description of a New Species". Journal of Mammalogy. 88 (5): 1216–1229. doi:10.1644/06-MAMM-A-285R1.1. ISSN 0022-2372.
  5. "Miniopterus fraterculus – Lesser Long-fingered Bat" (PDF).



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