Long-fingered bat
| Long-fingered bat | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Chiroptera |
| Family: | Vespertilionidae |
| Genus: | Myotis |
| Species: | M. capaccinii |
| Binomial name | |
| Myotis capaccinii Bonaparte, 1837 | |
 | |
The long-fingered bat (Myotis capaccinii) is a species of vesper bat. It is known from Morocco, Algeria, southern Europe and the Middle East as far east as western Iran.
Physical characteristics
The bat is medium-sized for a vesper bat, with large feet and more prominent nostrils than other European Myotis species. Hair is dark grey at the base, with light smoky grey dorsal-side hair and light grey ventral-side hair.
Ecology
M. capaccinii lives in limestone areas, preferably wooded or shrubby terrain near flowing water. Summer and winter roosts are always in caves. They hunt insects, usually aquatic insects, and fish.[1]
Reproduction
Little is known about this species reproductive cycle. Nursery roosts are in caves, with up to 500 females in clusters on the cave roof. Birth occurs in mid to late June, with only one young born.
References
- ↑ Aihartza, J. R.; Goiti, U.; Almenar, D.; Garin, I. (2003). "Evidences of Piscivory byMyotis capaccinii(Bonaparte, 1837) in Southern Iberian Peninsula". Acta Chiropterologica. 5 (2): 193. doi:10.3161/001.005.0204.
Ostaizka Aizpurua, Joxerra Aihartza,Antton Alberdi, Hans J. Baagoe & Inazio Garin (2014). Fine-tuned ecoholocation and capture flight of Myotis capaccinii when facing different sized insects and fish prey. The Journal of Experimental Biology http://jeb.biologists.org/lookup/doi/10.1242/jeb.104992
Further reading
- Aizpurua, Ostaizka; Garin I; Alberdi A; Salsamendi E; Baagøe H; et al. (November 27, 2013). "Fishing Long-Fingered Bats (Myotis capaccinii) Prey Regularly upon Exotic Fish". PLoS ONE. 8 (11). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0080163. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
- Hutson, A.M.; Spitzenberger, F.; Aulagnier, S.; Juste, J.; Karataş, A.; Palmeirim, J. & Paunović, M. (2008). "Myotis capaccinii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2010.3. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 5 Sep 2010.
- Schober, Wilfried; Eckard Grimmberger (1989). Dr. Robert E. Stebbings, ed. A Guide to Bats of Britain and Europe (1st ed.). UK: Hamlyn Publishing Group. ISBN 0-600-56424-X.