447.

Brown’s Whiskered Myotis

Myotis browni

French: Murin de Brown / German: Brown-Bartfledermaus / Spanish: Ratonero de Brown

Taxonomy. Myotis browni E. H. Taylor, 1934,

near Saub, Cotabato, Mindanao Island, Philippines.

Subgenus Myotis; muricola species group. Previously treated as a race of M. muricola . Recent phylogenetic studies showed a specimen from Mindanao (named M. cf. browni) to be genetically highly divergent from other populations of the muricola species group; it emerged as sister to M. rosseti, both close to M. ridleyi, with all three basal to Oriental long-footed Myotis (e.g. M. horsfieldii, M. macrotarsus, M. hasseltir). Forms herrei (Montalban, Luzon) and patriciae (Agusan, Mindanao) are here treated as synonyms of browni, pending further research. Specimens from Culion Island and Mount Isarog (southern Luzon) previously referred to this species are now considered to represent M. ater . Monotypic.

Distribution. Philippines (Luzon, Busuanga I in the Calamian Group, Maripipi, Biliran, Leyte, and Negros) and Sulawesi. Specimen from Mt Kitanglad (Mindanao) is of uncertain identity. Also reported from Palawan I but this needs confirmation.

Descriptive notes. Head-body ¢. 33—40 mm, tail 30-36 mm, ear 12-14 mm, hindfoot 6-8 mm, forearm 30-34 mm; weight 3-4- 5 g. Brown’s Whiskered Myotis has shorter forearm than both the Nepalese Whiskered Myotis ( M. muricola) and Peters’s Myotis ( M. ater) is usually paler than the latter. Dorsal pelage is dark brown, sometimes with slightly paler tips, and slightly lighter on head and neck; ventral pelage is similar, but grayer and paler overall. Wing membrane is dark brown and is attached at base of outer toe; calcar scarcely reaches past halfway point between foot and tip oftail. Ears are similar color to top of head,relatively long, with long, slender tragus, having blunt point and concave inner edge. Nostrils simple (not tubular); muzzle not swollen, with a few minute hairs over surface of nose. The type of “herrei” differs from the type of “brown?” in being darker above and somewhat paler below, and in characters of tragus (inner edge curved vs. inner edge straight), and attachment of membrane (on side of foot halfway between base of toe and heel vs. base of toe). The type of “patriciae’ is even more different, having a shorter forearm, shorter third finger, cinnamon rufous upperparts and ears, buffy cinnamon underparts (hairs with dark brown bases) and reddish orange on feet; wing membrane is dark brown and attached at base of toes; interfemoral membrane cinnamon rufous. Skull slopes gently to rostrum with longitudinal depression on rostrum, with large to very large bullae (“patriciae’); braincase slightly more expanded in “brown?” than in “herre;;” skull of “brown?” has shorter, narrower rostrum than “herre;;” no sagittal crest in “patriciae.” In dentition there are slightly differences between the forms “browns, herrei, and patriciae” P° in tooth row in “brown?” but partly out of tooth row in “patriciae’, and out in “herres;” canine of “patriciae’ large; upper tooth row of “herrei’ is distinctly larger than in the other two taxa. Condylocanine length 11-1-11- 5 mm; maxillary tooth row 3-4- 3-6 mm.

Habitat. In Philippines, Brown’s Whiskered Myotis occurs in primary and secondary lowland and montane forests from sea level up to 1600 m. In northern Sulawesi found in primary forest at altitudes of 225-1180 m. One was captured in selectively logged lowland forest in Sierra Madre Range on Luzon. Five bats were captured at 620 m elevation in lowland forest.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. Females give birth to single young.

Activity patterns. Brown’s Whiskered Myotis is nocturnal. Roosting ecology is unknown, but the type of “browns” was taken in a clump of bananas near the coast; the holotype of “herrei” was collected clinging to low roof, deep in a cave. Echolocation calls on Mount Makiling, [Laguna Province, LLuzon, are unusual for Myotis, ending in distinct CF component with mean frequency of 51-8 kHz and duration of several milliseconds.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Not assessed on The IUCN Red List as a separate species from the Nepalese Whiskered Myotis ( M. muricola), which is classified as Least Concern. Brown’s Whiskered Myotis would probably be listed as Data Deficient in view of limited recent information on distribution, habitat and ecological requirements.

Bibliography. Bates, Csorba, Bumrungsri et al. (2008), Corbet & Hill (1992), Duya et al. (2007), Francis & Hill (1998), Francis et al. (2010), Heaney, Balete, Gee et al. (2005), Heaney, Balete & Rickart (2016), Heaney, Dolar et al. (2010), Heaney, Gonzales & Alcala (1987), Heaney, Tabaranza et al. (2006), Hill (1983), Hill & Rozendaal (1989), Ingle & Heaney (1992), Kawai et al. (2003), Rickart et al. (1993), Ruedi & Mayer (2001), Ruedi, Csorba et al. (2015), Ruedi, Stadelmann et al. (2013), Sedlock (2001), Sedlock et al. (2011), Simmons (2005), Stadelmann et al. (2007), Tate (1941d), Taylor (1934), Wiantoro et al. (2012), Zhang Zhenzhen et al. (2009).