139.

Collared Sprite

Thainycteris aureocollaris

French: Farfadet du Laos / German: Goldkragen-Elfenfledermaus / Spanish: Tainicterio de Laos

Other common names: Collared Pipistrelle, Siam Goldnecklet, Thai Golden-throated Bat

Taxonomy. Thainycters awreocollaris Kock & Storch, 1996,

Doi (= Mount) Pha Hom Pok, 20°08'N, 99°10'E, 1,500: m, Amphoe {= Dis trict) Mae Ai, Chiang Mai Province, Thailand . Thainycteris differs from Arielulus in larger size, broader, heavier skull, and distinctive fur coloration, with buff collar but without pale rims to ear; further work is needed that includes all species of both genera in a phylogenetic study to confirm relationships. Thainycteris aureocollaris was originally placed in its own genus but this was later treated as a synonym of Arielulus, based on similar craniodental features; however, recent molecular data indicate that Arielulus and Thainycteris are genetically distinct. Some authors consider 7. aureocollaris to be sister to la io; others suggest its closest relative to be 1. torquatus . In 2019, the molecular-phylogenetic study of T. Gorfol and colleagues found 7. aureocollaris and TI: torquatus to be sister species in a clade including 1. i0 and an undefined Eptesicus; they were only distantly related to A. circumdatus, which clustered with Hesperoptenus blanfordi . Monotypic.

Distribution. NW Thailand (Chiang Mai Province), N Laos, N & C Vietnam, and S China (Guizhou); it may occur in Cambodia.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 60-68 mm, tail 43-58 mm, ear 14-2-18 mm, hindfoot 9-12-2 mm, forearm 47-5-51-8 mm; weight 13-18 g. Pelage of the Collared Spriteis relatively long (c. 10 mm), almost black with silvery and pale gold tips, giving frosted appearance reminiscent of Vespertilio; underparts are similar with white to golden tips; throat, chin, and sides of neck have pale yellowish “collar,” contrasting with otherwise dark underparts. Thai and Vietnamese specimens appear to differ slightly in color, with collar of latter having copper-gold hue. There is a transversal, irregularly broad streak of buffy hairs on top of head between ear conches. Ears, nose, wings, and uropatagium are dark gray. Ears are fleshy, broadly triangular with rounded tip; tragus is moderately short, broadened at top one-half, and angled forward. There are scattered light-tipped hairs on hindfeet and toes. Tail is 67-87% of head-body length; it has seven vertebrae, with distal vertebra free of uropatagium. Baculum is small and triangular, with elongated main shaft, ventrally concave, without basal notch. Skull is very broad with high, massive rostrum; supraorbital crests are well developed, with deep medial depression between them; sagittal, occipital, and lambdoid crests are low; zygomatic arches are robust in anterior section but become slenderer behind a median dorsal projection. Condylo-canine lengths are 16-2—17-6 mm; maxillary tooth row lengths are 6-7-7-3 mm. Dentition is similar to, but more massive than, that of the Bronze Sprite ( Arielulus circumdatus); number of upper premolars is variable; P* is very small and completely displaced inward, sometimes missing; I” is tiny and hard to see; C' has no posterior cusp on cutting edge. Dental formula for both species of Thainycterisis 12/3, C1/1.P1-2/2,M 3/3 (x2) =32-54.

Habitat. Probably confined to primary or moderately disturbed forests in mountains. In Vietnam, found in limestone and non-limestone forest; all Vietnamese specimens (males) were captured over streams. In Thailand, found at 2000 m in hill evergreen forest. In Guizhou, southern China, captured at 650 m in secondary subtropical broadleaf forest on low karstic mountains, close to agriculturalfields of a village. Elevational range is 200-2000 m.

Food and Feeding. The Collared Sprite is considered a fast-flying aerial insectivore.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. Collared Sprites are nocturnal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red Lust.

Bibliography. Bates, Francis, Csorba & Furey (2008), Boitani et al. (2006), Borisenko et al. (2001), Csorba & Lee Lingling (1999), Eger &Theberge (1999), Francis (2008a), Francis et al. (2010), Gorfol et al. (2019), GuoWeijian et al. (2017), Hassanin et al. (2018), Kingsada et al. (2011), Kock & Storch (1996), Koubinova et al. (2013), Kruskop (2013), Pearch & Writer (2009), Roehrs et al. (2010), Simmons (2005).