10.

Chinese Noctule

Nyctalus plancyi

French: Noctule de Chine / German: China-Abendsegler / Spanish: Néctulo de China

Other common names: Chinese Mountain Bat, Mountain Noctule; Villus Noctule (velutinus)

Taxonomy. Vesperugo (Noctula) plancy: Gerbe, 1880,

Peking, China.

The genus Nyctalus seems to be nested well within Pipustrellus close to P. nathusuu, making Pipistrellus paraphyletic, and indicating that further studies into the relationships between the two genera are greatly needed. N. plancyi seems to be the most basal lineage within the genus. The species has generally been included in N. noctula, which has led to some confusion over geographic limits, but this species is recognized here based on its genetic and morphological distinctions. Race velutinus has occasionally been treated as a distinct species. Race labiatus was previously considered a subspecies of N. noctula but is morphologically very distinct from that species, according to unpublished data by G. Csorba and measurements from S. V. Kruskop and D. A. Vasenkov in 2016, which also compared them with N. plancyi (based on a few samples). To date, race labiatus has not been compared genetically with N. noctula or N. p. plancy: in any published articles; for the present it is provisionally treated as a subspecies of N. plancyi, although it almost certainly represents a distinct species, as indicated by its morphological divergence. The species name is sometimes misspelled plancei. Three subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

N.p.plancyiGerbe,1880—NE&ECChina(Gansu,Shaanxi,Shanxi,Henan,Beijing,Shandong,Liaoning,andJilin).

N.p.labiatusHodgson,1835—HimalayasfromNPakistan,NIndia,Nepal,SCChina,andNMyanmaralongwithNW&SVietnam;mayoccurinThailand,NLaos,NEVietnam,andPeninsularMalaysia,buttherearenoconfirmedrecordsfromtheseregions.

N. p. velutinus G. M. Allen, 1923 — C & SE China (Sichuan, Yunnan, Hubei, Anhui, Jiangsu, Shanghai, Zhejiang, Guizhou, Guangxi, Hunan, Jiangxi, Fujian, Guangdong, and Hong Kong) and Taiwan I.

The subspecific status of recently collected specimens from the Central Cordillera of Luzon I in the Philippines is uncertain, although they may represent velutinus. Another specimen recently collected from Hainan I may also represent velutinus.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 65-87 mm, tail 36-59 mm, ear 15-18 mm, hindfoot 10-14 mm, forearm 47-50 mm; weight 19-29-1 g (weight only from Luzon and southern Vietnam). The Chinese Noctule is similar to the Common Noctule ( Nyctalus noctula); its tail extends a few millimeters beyond uropatagium. Dorsal pelage is dark brown, sometimes with a deep reddish tint in bright light and a glossy sheen (individual hairs are bicolored). Ventral pelageis a little paler brown, with an orange tint. Fur extends only a small distance onto patagium. Dense fur extends to anterior elbow and posterior humerus, and sparse fur extends laterally from elbow to base of fingers. Face, ears, wings, and uropatagium are darkly pigmented and mostly naked, except for some fine hairs growing on lips. Muzzle is short, with large glands between nostrils and eyes; ears are short, broad, and triangular with 4-5 folds on outer edge. Tragus is short, broad, and sharply curved anteriorly on upper one-half. Calcar is well developed. Penis is large and pendulous. Skull is relatively short and robust; zygomatic arches are slender; lambdoidal crest is well developed and conspicuous; palate is broad; auditory bullae are large with a well-developed basioccipital pit medial to each bulla. P? is not visible in lateral view, as C' and P* contact laterally; molars are well developed; lower molars are nyctalodont. Specimens assigned to N. p. labiatus tend to be larger with no reddish tint. Dental formula for all species of Nyctalus is 1 2/3, C1l/1,P2/2,M 3/3 (x2) = 34. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 36 and FN = 50, 32, or 54.

Habitat. A variety of forested habitats throughoutits distribution, from temperate regions (north-eastern China) to tropical remnant moist forest (Luzon). The Chinese Noctule is the most tropical species of Nyctalus, being the only one extending into South-east Asia. It is also common in urban environments. It is often found at elevations of 1000-2000 m but can be found as low as sea level. On Luzon, one specimen was captured at 2310 m on Mount Data, while two others were captured at 1730 m on Mount Amuyao.

Food and Feeding. Chinese Noctules are insectivorous. Foraging occurs high in the canopy, primarily during evening and early morning; the species forages by aerialhawking. On Hainan, individuals ofthis species were found foraging around streetlights in an urban environment, although in most urban settings, they will forage in nearby forests.

Breeding. Delayed fertilization takes place in the Chinese Noctule. Mating occurs around October, and sperm is stored throughout hibernation. After exiting hibernation, ovulation begins around late March and early April. Gestation lasts ¢.50-60 days, and births usually occur from late Mayto late June. During breeding season, females create maternal colonies while males depart, leaving the females to raise the young. There are usually two young born, but one infant is also common. Young start learning to fly and hunt at c¢.5-6 weeks, and will reach sexual maturity during their first year oflife.

Activity patterns. The Chinese Noctule is nocturnal, and spends the day roosting in colonies, coming outin evening and early morning to forage. It roosts in temples, under rooftiles, and in various parts of buildings in urban environments, while it generally roosts in caves, hollow trees, and rock crevices in the wild. Throughout much ofits range,itis known to hibernate starting in early to mid-November and exit hibernation around late March to early April. It is not known if the Chinese Noctule hibernates in southernmost portions ofits range, such as Luzon. In Hubei (central China), call frequency ranges from c.24-9 kHz to ¢.79-4 kHz with pulse durations of 1:3-1-9 milliseconds. Call shape seems to be a relatively flat FM/QCF call.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Roosts often number many individuals in a large colony, and the Chinese Noctule will occasionally roost with other species, such as the Japanese Pipistrelle ( Pipistrellus abramus). Chinese Noctules hibernate in colonies during winter, and then partition into maternal colonies during summer; females and young are in these maternal colonies together whereas males stay separate in their own roosts (often alone). The species is semi-migratory, moving short distances between summer breeding and foraging areas and winter hibernating areas. Its capacity of detecting weak magnetic fields may play a role in its ability to locate the breeding and hibernating grounds when migrating between the two.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Chinese Noctule is widespread and common throughout much of its range; no major threats are known. However, bioaccumulation of mercury and cadmium may be a threat to the species because ofits habit of foraging around plantations; further investigation is needed.

Bibliography. Ao Lei et al. (2006), Bates et al. (2000), Francis (2008a), Heaney et al. (2012), Heiker et al. (2018), Jiang Lichun etal. (2019), Kruskop & Vasenkov (2016), Liang Renji & Dong Yongwen (1985), Lin Liangkong et al. (2002a), Liu Sha et al. (2018), Miller et al. (2006), Salgueiro et al. (2007), Shi Hongyan, Liu Hao et al. (2008), Shi Hongyan, Wu Yi & Hu Jingchu (2003), Shi Hongyan, Wu Yi, Hu Jinchu & Li Yanhong (2001), Smith & Johnston (2008a), Smith & Xie Yan (2008), Tian Lanxiang, Lin Wei et al. (2010), Tian Lanxiang, Pan Yongxin et al. (2015), Wu Yi, Harada & Li Yanhong (2004), Yoshiyuki (1989), Zhang Weidao (1990).