420.

Herman's Myotis

Myotis hermani

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

Other common names: Herman's Bat, Herman's Mouse-eared Bat

Taxonomy. Myotis hermani Thomas, 1923,

“Sabang [Island], N.W. of Sumatra,” Indonesia.

Subgenus Chrysopteron (15 species). See M. formosus . Myotis herman: seems to be closely related to M. bartelsii, especially in craniodental traits; they may be conspecific, in which case the name bartelsi: has priority. Monotypic.

Distribution. Known from three localities: Songkhla (peninsular Thailand); Belum-Temenggor Forest Reserve (Peninsular Malaysia); and Sabang I (oft NW Sumatra).

Descriptive notes. Head—body 64-68 mm, tail 54-58 mm, ear 19- 8-21 mm, hindfoot 12-19- 8 mm, forearm 56- 1-60 mm; weight 16-24 g. Largest member of subgenus Chrysopteron. Overall coloration is “rufoniger-type.” Fur on upperparts is bright orange brown, with paler bases to hairs; underparts are similar and only slightly paler; hairs have buffcolored roots and orange tips, the latter frosted with black (not present in the Blackand-orange Myotis, M. formosus). Wing and interfemoral membranes have orange and black patches, with those parts near the body, forearms and fingers pinkish orange. Ears are dark orange with black rims, and have concave posterior border; tragus is slender,fairly long, and pointed. Feet not greatly enlarged. Larger and redder than the Black-and-orange Myotis . The Painted Woolly Bat (Keriwwoula picta), with similar wing pattern, is smaller, with funnel-shaped ears, more pointed tragus, and no black on ears and legs. Skull is as in congeners, but significantly larger, with shallow but distinct frontal depression, posteriorly elongated supraoccipital, and well-developed sagittal and lambdoid crests. Dental formula for all members of genusis12/3,C1/1,P 3/3, M 3/3 (x2) = 38. Dental characters are similar to other members of subgenus Chrysopteron. Basal dimensions of C' exceed those of P*, whereas P° is minute, fully displaced lingually, and obscured in lateral view of skull. P, is half the size of P, and partly out of the tooth row. Condylo-basal length 19- 5-20 mm; maxillary tooth row 8-6-8- 8 mm.

Habitat. Found in mature lowland forest in Malaysia. In Thailand, it has been found in disturbed old-growth forest at altitudes of 100-200 m. All known records are from below 500 m. It seems to be associated with small streams and understory of rainforest.

Food and Feeding. Herman's Myotis probably feeds outside fragmented forests.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. Nocturnal. The specimen from Thailand was captured over a seasonal small stream in Khuan Kaowang Forest Park, on the edge of secondary tropical lowland rainforest, characterized by many large standing trees and dense shrub layer. It was covered in a 3-mm layer offat, which may have been energy reserve for breeding period. Nothing is known of roost ecology, but distinctive color pattern may serve as camouflage, as in the Painted Woolly Bat, which roosts in dry black and orange leaves.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Data Deficient on The IUCN Red List. Herman's Myotis is only known from only three individuals. It may be declining due to loss of habitat, and is a priority for survey work. The known records are all from protected areas (Khuan Kaowang Forest Park in Thailand, Belum-Temenggor Forest Reserve in Peninsular Malaysia, and Pulau Weh Nature Recreation Park on Sabang).

Bibliography. Amador et al. (2018), Boitani et al. (2006), Bumrungsri et al. (2006), Corbet & Hill (1992), Csorba, Chou Cheng-Han et al. (2014), Csorba, Hutson et al. (2016), Findley (1972), Francis (1995a, 2008a), Heaney et al. (1998), Honacki et al. (1982), Koopman (1994), Lim et al. (2017), Ruedi et al. (2013), Simmons (2005), Stadelmann, Jacobs et al. (2004), Stadelmann, Lin Liangkong et al. (2007), Thomas (1923).