491.

Schaub’s Myotis

Myotis schaubi

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

Taxonomy. Myotis schaubi Kormos, 1934,

Hungary (Pliocene).

Subgenus Myotis; myotis species group. Myotis schaubiwas described from Pliocene fossil material in Europe, and then it was discovered living in Armenia and Iran. There do not seem to be any marked metric differences or variation between living and fossil individuals, so no subspecies are recognized. Myotis schaubi appears to be closely related to M. nattereri and M. crypticus (more likely) or to M. escalerai, M. zenatius, M. bombinus, and M. pequinius based on genetic data, but there is still considerable doubt about relationships of M. schaub: to other Myotis . The name araxenus has often been considered a subspecies ofthis species but is here considered a synonym. A recent study by E. Coraman and colleagues in 2019 suggested that the name schaubi and araxenus actually represent different species, fossil and living respectively, but this is not followed here. Monotypic.

Distribution. Armenia and NW & WC Iran; possibly also Turkey and Azerbaijan, although no specimens have been reported from either country.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 48-53 mm, tail 48—49 mm, ear 19-2-21- 3 mm, forearm 41-3-44- 1 mm. Schaub’s Myotis resembles a slightly larger Natterer’s Myotis ( M. nattereri). Dorsal pelage is medium brown; venter is white. Bare skin is dark brown. M, and M, offossil and recent individuals have distinct paraloph and metaloph; trogon basins of lower molars are close; post-protocrista forms distinct hypocone by undulations; and buccal undulating cingulum is well developed butis very thin at the area of the protocone.

Habitat. Probably forested and shrubby habitats, recorded at elevations up to 2592 m.

Food and Feeding. Schaub’s Myotis ate Araneae (70% by volume in digestive tracts and 95% in feces) and diurnal brachyceran Diptera (30% in digestive tracts and 5% in feces) in Iran. Current information suggests they are foliage gleaners.

Breeding. Subadult Schaub’s Myotis were found in October in Iran, and a newborn and late-stage pregnant females were reported in mid-June in Armenia.

Activity patterns. Schaub’s Myotis roosts in caves, rock cracks, and buildings.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Data Deficient on The IUCN Red List. Schaub’s Myotis is rare in its relatively small distribution, and virtually nothing is known about its ecology or threats. The Pliocene records show that it once occurred in Europe and possibly to the Altai Mountains of Russia.

Bibliography. Benda & Horéacek (1995), Benda, Faizolahi et al. (2012), Benda, Obuch et al. (2001), Horacek & Hanak (1984), Jiang Tinglei, Sun Keping et al. (2010), Juste et al. (2019), Piraccini (2016h), Rosina (2012), Ruedi et al. (2019), Salicini et al. (2011).