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Eastern Barbastelle

Barbastella darjelingensis

French: Barbastelle d'Asie / German: Ostliche Mopsfledermaus / Spanish: Barbastela asiética

Other common names: Asian Barbastelle

Taxonomy. Plecotus darjelingensis Hodgson in Horsfield, 1855,

Darjeeling, India.

Previously treated as a race of B. leucomelas; separated, based mainly on genetic and morphological data. This species included B. pacifica until the very recent taxonomic review by S. V. Kruskop and colleagues in 2019, when latter was recognized as a full species. Chinese and South-east Asian representatives of B. darjelingensis may represent a furtherspecies, distinct from the Himalayan true B. darjelingensis; indeed, B. pacifica is genetically sister to the Chinese and South-east Asian B. darjelingensis, and together they are sister to the rest of Barbastella . Further study needed. Monotypic.

Distribution. N Afghanistan E through Himalayas to C & E China, N Laos, and N Vietnam, including Taiwan.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 47-51 mm, tail 40-47 mm, ear 15-17 mm, hindfoot 7-8 mm, forearm 38.7-42- 1 mm; weight c. 9 g. Very similar to congeners. Fur is c. 8— 9 mm long on dorsum and 7-8 mm on belly. All taxonomically confirmed specimens have dark fur with frosted silver hair tips. Face is similar to other barbastelles, with short snout and wide squarish, broad, short ears, which join across forehead; tragus generally pointed, one-half ear height, without antitragal lobe; ears do not have typical rounded or circular lobe on outer margin of some other barbastelles. Muzzle short and broad. Wings relatively wide, inserting at base of first toe. Baculum is similar in size, but narrower than in the Arabian Barbastelle ( B. leucomelas), parallel-sided, and not gradually tapering to epiphysis. Anterior one-half of braincase is bulbous; condylobasal length is c. 14 mm. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 32 and FN = 50.

Habitat. Seems to select positively dry coniferous woodlands as its preferred foraging and roosting habitats. In Taiwan, it has been found in oak forests dominated by broadleaved trees, as well as plantations and pine woodland, usually in montane areas. Found from sea level up to 2500 m, including Himalayan moist temperate forests.

Food and Feeding. Feeds mainly on moths, using swallow-like flight.

Breeding. Maternity colonies are thought to be small, with up to ¢.30 mature females. Reported to give birth to twins.

Activity patterns. Roosts in caves, mines, tunnels, rock crevices, or hollow trees, or under bark.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Thought to be solitary. Males and females seem to roost separately, especially during the breeding season.

Status and Conservation. Not assessed on The IUCN Red List. The Eastern Barbastelle 1s included under the Arabian Barbastelle, which 1s classified as Least Concern. Deforestation and habitat loss might be a potential threat to this species, but threats need to be reassessed after recent taxonomic review.

Bibliography. Abe et al. (2005), Acharya & Ruedas (2007), Bates & Harrison (1997), Benda & Mlikovsky (2008), Das (2003), Dietz & Kiefer (2016), Duckworth & Pons (2011), Horaéek et al. (2000), Hutson et al. (2001), Kruskop & Shchinov (2010), Kruskop, Borisenko et al. (2012), Kruskop, Kawai & Tiunov (2019), Lin Liangkong, Lee Lingling & Cheng Hsichi (1997), Lin Liangkong, Motokawa, Harada & Cheng Hsichi (2002), Monadjem, Tsytsulina et al. (2017), Osborn (1963), Pacifici et al. (2013), Shrestha (1997), Simmons (2005), Smith & Xie Yan (2008), Uchida & Ando (1972), Wang Yingxiang (2003), Yoshiyuki (1989), Zhang Jinshuo et al. (2007).