239.

Ward’s Long-eared Bat

Plecotus wardi

French: Oreillard de Ward / German: Ward-Langohr / Spanish: Orejudo de Ward

Taxonomy. Plecotus wardi Thomas, 1911,

Jammu and Kashmir, India.

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. N Afghanistan, N Pakistan, N India, and Nepal.

Descriptive notes. Head—-body 47-53 mm, tail 49-54 mm, car 37-42 mm, hindfoot 7-9- 5 mm, forearm 42-46 mm. Fur is dense (not woolly, 10-13 mm long), brownish, sometimes with golden tips, on dorsum; sparser and pale gray on venter, with white tips (6-8 mm long); dorsal hairs tricolored, with dark brown bases, narrow lighter middle zone, and brown tips; ventral hairs bicolored with dark bases and white tips. Face and chin meagerly furred with short hairs. Patagium can be naked or furred; ears and patagium generally brownish. Toes long (c. 8 mm), slender, and partially covered by long hair. The species seems to be closely related to Strelkov’s Long-eared Bat (P. strelkovr) in skull and dental characteristics, with medium-sized braincase and short, slender, flat rostrum, but it has larger I and canines than its closest relatives, with broader anterior part of zygomatic arch. Condylo-basal length c.16- 5 mm; zygomatic breadth c.9- 2 mm; and upper tooth-row length c.6- 5 mm.

Habitat. Tunnels in flanks of barren mountains surrounded by coniferous forests. Someareas ofits range (e.g. Nepal) have a very contrasting dry climate. Usually found at elevations of 1700-3600 m.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. No information.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

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

Bibliography. Ellerman & Morrison-Scott (1951), Etemad (1967), Spitzenberger, Strelkov & Haring (2003), Spitzenberger, Strelkov, Winkler & Haring (2006), Srinivasulu & Srinivasulu (2012).