441.

David’s Myotis

Myotis davidii

French: Murin de David / German: David-Mausohr / Spanish: Ratonero de David

Taxonomy. Vespertilio davidii Peters, 1869,

“ Peking (China).”

Subgenus Myotis; mystacinus species group. See M. mystacinus . Previously treated as three species, with recognition of M. nipalensis (Central and South Asia), and M. aurascens (south-eastern Europe and the Middle East), although nipalensis was | occasionally merged into M. aurascens, genetic data do not support any of these groupings. Nevertheless, M. david does seem to represent a complex of 2-3 species, which may be sympatric in some areas. Based on morphology and genetics, one form (Afghanistan and mountains near Hindu Kush in Tajikistan and Kashmir) is probably a separate species, for which the name meinertzhageni would have priority (forms prezewalskii and pamirensis also included); it seems to be related to M. muricola . Two other clades appear to be close to M. mystacinus in differing degrees, one of them suggested to be closer to M. capaccini, M. browni, M. hasselt, and M. horsfieldii than to other forms currently included in M. davidii . All three clades are provisionally retained within a monotypic M. davidii, pending further study of the whole complex. The form hajastanicus (Sven Lake, Armenia) is also currently included as a synonym ofthis species. Taxonomy very confused requires reassessment.

Distribution. SE Europe from Albania and Greece (including Crete) N to S Ukraine and S Russia, the Caucasus, Turkey, and N Iran, and through C Asia to W Mongolia, N, E & C China (including Hainan), and the Himalayas; isolated populations in S Croatia and Korea. Specimens collected from SW Syria may representjuvenile Geoffroy’s Myotis ( M. emarginatus) or a different form, and are not mapped here.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 38-50 mm, tail 30-43 mm, ear 12-15 mm, hindfoot 7-9 mm, forearm 31-37 mm; weight 4-7- 9 g. Dorsal pelage is dark brown, occasionally reddish brown in some areas (hairs with paler tips); ventral pelage paler and grayer (hairs with grayish tips). Ears are small, with shallow concavity right under rounded tip on posterior margin; tragus is long and narrow, at half ear-height. Wings attach to base of outer toes; calcaris long. Braincase is bulbous; rostrum is short but narrow. P” is small and within tooth row but may lean inward; P, is small and usually intruded from the tooth row, also leaning inward; there is significant variation in cranial and dental morphology across the distribution of this species as currently defined. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 44 (Guizhou) or 46 (Guangdong) and FNa = 52.

Habitat. Forest and scrub (including Mediterranean scrubland) throughout Europe and the Middle East; arid and mountainous forests shrublands, grasslands and deserts, as well as rural gardens and urban areas, in Central and South Asia. It is often found near water bodies. Recorded from sea level up to 3015 m. Has been referred to as an ecologically pliable species, able to adapt to a huge variety of habitats, although this could change when the species complex becomes resolved taxonomically.

Food and Feeding. Feeds on aerial insects; in Turkey, reported taking many Diptera .

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. David’s Myotis roosts in variety ofsites, including cracks and crevices in rocks, tree canopies, banks of ricefields, buildings, and cracks in roofs. It leaves the roost in the evening to forage through the night. In northern populations (and possibly throughout the range), it hibernates through winter. In Europe, it hibernates in caves. Calls are steep FM sweep with average start frequencies of 81-1-110-6 kHz, end frequencies 27-3-34-8 kHz, peak frequencies 42-3-55-4 kHz, interpulse intervals 65-8-147-3 milliseconds, and durations 1-7-5-9 milliseconds (South Korea).

Movements, Home range and Social organization. David's Myotis roosts in small groups of up to 15 both during and out of hibernation. Home range in Korea averaged 8-4 ha, 89-3 ha, and 106-5 ha, using different analysis; these home ranges overlapped a little.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. Taxonomy requires clarification to enable adequate assessment.

Bibliography. Benda (2004), Benda & Gaisler (2015), Benda & Karatas (2005), Benda & Paunovi¢ (2016), Benda & Tsytsulina (2000), Benda, Andreas et al. (2006), Benda, Faizoléhi et al. (2012), Benda, Gazaryan & Vallo (2016), Benda, Georgiakakis et al. (2008), Chung Chul-Un et al. (2013), Dietz et al. (2016), Fukui et al. (2015), Hanak et al. (2001), Jiang Tinglei, You Yuyan et al. (2013), Jo Yeong-Seok et al. (2018), Kawai et al. (2003), Peng Yiqiu et al. (2011), Smith & Xie Yan (2008), Smith, Johnston, Jones & Rossiter (2008f), Tsytsulina, Benda et al. (2008), Tsytsulina, Dick et al. (2012), Whitaker & Karatas (2009), Wu Yi & Harada (2006), You Yuyan et al. (2010), Zhigalin (2019).