469.

Pallid Large-footed Myotis

Myotis macrotarsus

French: Murin des Philippines / German: Blasse Langful 3fledermaus / Spanish: Ratonero de las Filipinas

Other common names: Philippine Large-footed Myotis

Taxonomy. Vespertilio macrotarsus Waterhouse, 1845,

“ Philippine Islands.”

Subgenus Myotis; horsfieldii species group. See M. ridleyi, M. horsfieldii, and M. stalkeri . Taxonomy of M. macrotarsus should be reviewed. Two subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

M.m.macrotarsusWaterhouse,1845—Phil-ippines,includingPalawanandSuluAr-chipelago(Tawi-Tawi).ItprobablyoccursthroughoutthePhilippines.

M. m. saba D. D. Davis, 1962 — N Borneo, on Banggi and Belambangan Is and Madai Caves in Sabah. May be more widespread on coastal region of Sabah.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 55 mm (type), tail 45-59 mm, ear 18-19 mm, hindfoot 14-17 mm, forearm 46-50 mm; weight 11-16 g. Dorsal hairs are pale grayish brown, with gray bases. Ventral pelage is pale yellow or nearly white. Separation of upperparts and underparts is sharp at the level of wing insertion. Fur is very short, scarcely extending to wing or uropatagium. Wing membranes are pinkish gray. No fringe of hair occurs on margin of uropatagium. Wing attaches above the ankle, not on side of foot. Feet are unusually large, with black claws, contrasting with pale integuments. Ears are slightly longer than head, with long and slender tragus. Subspecies saba from Borneo is bigger than nominate subspecies, and it lacks reddish elements. Horsfield’s Myotis ( M. horsfieldii) is darker and smaller (forearm 35-38 mm) and has smaller (9-11 mm) feet, and base of wing attaches at base of foot. Skull is medium-sized (condylo-basal length 16-17 mm). P? is usually a little intruded into tooth row. Condylo-canine length is 17 mm; maxillary tooth row length is 7- 3 mm. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 44 and FN = 50 (Negros Island).

Habitat. Mixed agricultural/regenerating areas and primary lowland forest from sea level up to elevations of ¢. 750 m.

Food and Feeding. The Pallid Large-footed Myotis possibly trawls for fish and insects over calm waters, as do other congeners with large feet such as Gray Large-footed Myotis ( M. adversus), Lesser Large-footed Myotis (M. hasseltir), or Southern Myotis ( M. macropus). Borneo is a center of diversity for fishing bats, with up to five species trawling for insects over freshwaterrivers or saltwater lagoons.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. The Pallid Large-footed Myotis is nocturnal and roosts in caves. It is locally common but dependent on locations with caves and rivers.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. On Palawan, Pallid Large-footed Myotis were captured in small numbers in caves.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Near Threatened on The IUCN Red List. Extent of occurrence of the Pallid Large-footed Myotis is more than 20,000 km 2, but it 1s uncommon and thought to be declining probably at close to 30% over the next 15 years primarily due to ongoing loss of cave habitats. Cave disturbance is a major threat. Better regulations of cave use and comprehensive surveys of populations are needed. It occurs in some protected areas.

Bibliography. Allen (1922), Amador et al. (2018), Boitani et al. (2006), Campbell (2011), Corbet & Hill (1992), Dobson (1878), Esselstyn, Widmann & Heaney (2004), Findley (1972), Heaney, Balete, Dolar et al. (1998), Heaney, Balete & Rickart (2016), Hollister (1913a), Koopman (1993, 1994), MBCFI (2018), Mudar & Allen (1986), Nor (1996), Payne et al. (1985), Rickart et al. (1999), Rosell-Ambal & Tabaranza (2008), Ruedi & Mayer (2001), Ruedi et al. (2013), Simmons (2005), Stadelmann, Jacobs et al. (2004), Stadelmann, Lin Liangkong et al. (2007), Tate (1941d), Taylor (1934).