474.

Lesser Large-footed Myotis

Myotis hasseltii

French: Murin de Hasselt / German: Van-Hasselt-Mausohr / Spanish: Ratonero de Hasselt

Other common names: Brown Bat, Hasselt's Large-footed Myotis, Lesser Large-toothed Bat, Van Hasselt's Bat

Taxonomy. Vespertilio hasseltii Temminck, 1840,

“ Bantam,” Java, Indonesia.

Subgenus Myotis; horsfieldii species group. See M. ridley: and M. macropus . In the past some taxa (abbotti and macellus), now included under M. hasseltii, have been treated as distinct species, treated as subspecies (continentis) of M. adversus, or listed as subspecies (abbotti) under M. adversus . A comprehensive study (including all subspecies across its distribution) is needed to resolve its limits within the current subspecies concept and relationship to M. adversus . Four subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution. M.h.hasselti:Temminck,1840—MalayPeninsula(includingoffshoreLangkawiI),RiauArchipelago,SWSumatra(BukitBarisanSelatanNationalPark),Java,andSumbawaI.

M.h.abbottiLyon,1916—MentawaiIs,offWSumatra.

M.h.continentisShamel,1942—patchilydistributedinSEAsia.

M. h. macellus Temminck, 1840 — Borneo, also E India (West Bengal) and Sri Lanka; but S Asian populations are assigned to the nominate subspecies by some authors. One record from S China (Yunnan), subspecies not known.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 44-60 mm, tail 35-43 mm, ear 19- 8-21 mm, hindfoot 9-11 mm, forearm 37-43 mm; weight 7-125 g. Upperparts of the Lesser Large-footed Myotis are dark brown to dark gray, with grizzled gray to buffy brown hair tips and dark brown to black hair bases. Underparts are tipped grayish white, with dark bases. Fur short and velvety, it appears silvery when illuminated in flight at night. Face and muzzle are thinly haired, exposing pinkish skin. Ears are large and dark brown, with bluntly pointed tips. Feet are large and attached at ankles or tibiae, more or less opposite bases of calcars. Wing and uropatagium are pale brown. Skull is larger and robust. Braincase is bulbous, broad (8-8- 4 mm), and almost spherical in outline. Sagittal crest is visible posteriorly; lambdoid crests are present. Zygomata are moderately robust. Rostrum is robust and broad. Coronoid process of each mandible is very well developed and greatly exceeds canine in height. C' is robust and broad and greatly exceeds P* in height. P? is very small and displaced inward so that P* and P* are in contact or nearly so. C, exceeds P, in height and crown area. P, is very small; it is one-third to one-half the crown area of P, and is usually situated in tooth row but can be displaced internally. Condylo-basal lengths are 14—15- 5 mm; maxillary tooth row length are 5-7— 6- 2 mm. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 44 and FN = 52 (Malaysia).

Habitat. The Lesser Large-footed Myotis prefers dry forests (Sri Lanka) but also coastal and mangrove forests, associated with open water (e.g. lakes, rivers, and coastal areas), from sea level up to elevations of ¢. 1000 m. The Lesser Large-footed Myotis has been reported in large cities (e.g. Rangoon and Bangkok).

Food and Feeding. The Lesser Large-footed Myotisis a low flier, hunting over water surfaces by dipping its large feet into the water. It feeds on small insects (e.g. mosquitoes, gnats, flies, and moths). In Malaysia, it frequented mangrove forests and was seen feeding below treetop level, often flying low over surface of the water to the edge of the sea. Diet included Lepidopteran wing scales. In Rangoon and Bangkok, it has been seen hawking for insects and fish over small ponds and lakes.

Breeding. In Malaysia (Langkawi Island), adult females have been lactating or in advanced pregnancy in earlyJanuary. Females carry one fetus. In Vietnam, sexually active males with enlarged testes were found roosting with pregnant and lactating females in April; there are apparently no regular nursing colonies. On Sri Lanka, two young and a subadult were recorded in September, suggesting breeding in August-September.

Activity patterns. Lesser Large-footed Myotis are nocturnal and roost in crevices of rocks. In Pulau Langkawi, it roosted in limestone caves. In Thailand,it roosted inside cut bamboos used as the floor of forest dwellings. Calls are steeply FM without any CF component. Calls (durations 2-5-5-5 milliseconds) start at c.82-104 kHz and sweep down to 23-30 kHz.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Lesser Large-footed Myotis roosts in large numbers. A colony of 25 individuals of both sexes was found in a crack in a large boulder on the foreshore, isolated at high tide. In Sri Lanka, the Lesser Large-footed Myotis roosts alone or in small groups in bamboo clumps, cracks in tree trunks, and abandoned buildings. In Myanmar, a colony of ten Lesser Large-footed Myotis roosted in a meter box located in a single-story, wooden office building on the bank of the Kispanadi River at the foot of a low, tree-covered hill.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Lesser Large-footed Myotisis widespread, presumably has a large population, occurs in a number of protected areas, and is unlikely to be declining fast enough to qualify for listing in a threatened category. In South Asia,its habitat is being deforested for timber, firewood, agricultural use, and human settlements, but it seemsto tolerate some habitat modification.

Bibliography. Amador et al. (2018), Bates & Harrison (1997), Bates, Hendrichsen et al. (1999), Bates, Hutson, Carino et al. (2008), Bates, Nwe Tin et al. (2005), Boitani et al. (2006), Borisenko & Kruskop (2003), Corbet & Hill (1992), Dobson (1878), Ellerman & Morrison-Scott (1951), Francis (2008a), Heller (1989), Heller & Volleth (1989), Hill (1983), Honacki et al. (1982), Koopman (1993, 1994), Kruskop (2013a), Lekagul & McNeely (1988), Lim et al. (2017), Medway (1983), MOE (2012), Molur et al. (2002), Payne et al. (1985), Pearch & Writer (2009), Pearch et al. (2003), Phillips (1935, 1980), Ruedi & Mayer (2001), Ruedi et al. (2013), Shamel (1942), Simmons (2005), Srinivasulu & Srinivasulu (2012), Stadelmann, Jacobs etal. (2004), Stadelmann, Lin Liangkong et al. (2007), Tate (1941d), Thompson & Fenton (1982), Topal (1974), Volleth & Heller (2012), Wellappulli-Arachchi et al. (2014), Yapa & Ratnavira (2013), Zhang Libiao, Zhang Jinshuo et al. (2004).