236.

Himalayan Long-eared Bat

Plecotus homochrous

French: Oreillard de Hodgson / German: Himalaya-Langohr / Spanish: Orejudo de Hodgson

Taxonomy. Plecotus homochrous Hodgson, 1847,

Nepal.

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. S Himalayas in N Pakistan, NW India, and Nepal.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 40-45 mm, tail 48-50 mm, hindfoot 7-8 mm, ear 31— 41 mm, forearm 36-44 mm. One of the smallest Plecotus . Pelage is dense, short, and silky; dorsally uniform brownish (8-10 mm long); ventrally slightly paler or grayish grizzled (5-6 mm hairs on both areas are bicolored, with dark bases and conspicuously lighter tips. Wings broad, resembling those of the Taiwan Long-eared Bat ( P. taivanus), with overall dusky brown aspect. Facial skin pallid; ears, wings, and tail membrane generally dark brown. Thumbs short (4-7 mm long); claws short and brown;tibia 19-21 mm long and toes characterized by sparsely distributed brown hair and by being slightly curved. Differs from the Brown Long-eared Bat ( P. auritus) in ears not being joined over forehead, and in pointed tragus (14- 18 mm long); from Ward's Long-eared Bat ( P. wardi) in largersize. Few data available on skull morphology: greatest skull length 16-18 mm and width 7-6-8- 1 mm, with large bullae but small teeth; skull is smallest of genus along with that of the Taiwan Long-eared Bat.

Habitat. Usually recorded at lower elevations (1500-3120 m) than Ward's Long-eared Bat, always in central part and southern slopes of Himalayas. To date recorded in oakconifer mixed forest and in subtropical evergreen deciduous or mixed forest.

Food and Feeding. These bats are slow fliers that make rapid twists in turns when pursuing prey.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. Himalayan Long-eared Bats roost in hollow trees, old buildings, and possibly caves, and specimens in Uttar Pradesh, India, were observed emerging from crevices in slate roofs just after dusk. They are known to emerge late in the evening. These bats hibernate through winter.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Not assessed on The IUCN Red Last.

Bibliography. Adhikari (2011), Barrett-Hamilton (1907), Bates & Harrison (1997), Ellerman & Morrison-Scott (1951), Hodgson (1874b), Mitchell (1980), Saikia & Boro (2013), Sanborn (1950b), Sinha (1999), Spitzenberger et al. (2006), Srinivasulu, C. & Srinivasulu (2012), Srinivasulu, C. et al. (2010), Taimale & Pradhan (2009).