436.

Hyrcanian Myotis

Myotis hyrcanicus

French: Murin d'Hyrcanie / German: Hyrkanien-Mausohr / Spanish: Ratonero de Hircania

Other common names: Hyrcanian Bat, Hyrcanian Forest Myotis

Taxonomy. Myotis hyrcanicus Benda, Reiter & Vallo in Benda et al., 2012,

“Alluvial forest at Korud Abad, 2 km SSE of Ali Abad, Golestan Province, Iran; 36° 53’ N, 54° 53’ E, 215 ma.s. 1.”

Subgenus Myotis; alcathoe species group. See M. alcathoe . Monotypic.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality in NC Iran.

Descriptive notes. Ear 14- 2 mm, forearm 32- 4 mm (type specimen). Dorsal pelage of the Hyrcanian Myotis is brownish (hairs dark brown to blackish at base, with brown tip); ventral pelage is lighter and creamier (hairs whitish or creamy, paler ocher on neck). Bare skin of face, ears, and membranes are pale grayish brown; tips of snout and ears are dark brown. Penis is simple, being equally wide along its full length. Skull is relatively narrow with a relatively long, narrow rostrum compared to the Alcathoe Whiskered Myotis (M. alcathoe). Teeth are large and robust; C' is wide with a rather rounded crown; P? is small and within tooth row; P* is comparatively large with a rather high cusp on mesio-palatal margin of cingulum; molar row is longer than in the Alcathoe Whiskered Myotis; upper molars are relatively large with moderately developed paralophi, metaconule, and metalophi.

Habitat. Hyrcanian mixed forests at elevations of ¢. 215 m.

Food and Feeding. Four fecal pellets contained primarily ants, with a smaller proportion of Curculionidae beetles, spiders, and brachyceran flies. This suggests that the Hyrcanian Myotis may hunt mainly by gleaning prey off foliage.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. No information.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Not assessed on The IUCN Red List due to its recent recognition as a species. The Hyrcanian Myotis is currently known only from a single specimen. Research is needed.

Bibliography. Benda, Faizolahi et al. (2012), Benda, Gazaryan & Vallo (2016).