宮城教育大学 環境教育研究紀要

第 17 巻 (2015)

Insights into the Natural History of Pipistrellus endoi Imaizumi, 1959
from Survey Records in Miyagi Prefecture
Kuniko KAWAI*, Lázaro M. ECHENIQUE-DÍAZ*, Osamu TAKAHASHI**
and Chiemi SAITO*
Abstract: Assessing and documenting wildlife occurrence in a local area is important for theunderstanding of its natural history, being the latter a necessary condition to address conservation
strategies and environmentally educate the local population. Records of the Japanese endemic bat
Pipistrellus endoi are very limited all over Japan, a major reason why there has not been a conservation
strategy for the species. In this paper, records of this bat from Miyagi Prefecture have been compiled,providing new insights into the ecology and natural history of Pipistrellus endoi.
Key words: bat, Pipistrellus endoi, hibernating site, litter size

1. Introduction

Pipistrellus endoi is an endemic species to Japan.

In Miyagi Prefecture, 15 species of bats have been

The type locality is Horobe, Ashiro-cho, Ninohe, Iwate

reported (Table 1) (Akiba et al., 1966; Myagi Prefecture,

prefecture (Imaizumi, 1959). This species has been

2013; O. Takahashi, unpublished data). The Red List ofrecorded from 16 prefectures in Japan (Kawai, 2009;

Miyagi Prefecture listed 9 out of these 15 species as data

see Fig. 1). However, the records of this species aredeficient (DD), VU (vulnerable), and CR+EN (criticallyendangered + endangered) (Table 1).
Table 1. List of bats and their Red List category in Miyagi
prefecture.

Fig. 1 Distribution map of Pipistrellus endoi Imaizumi, 1959
modiﬁed from Kawai, 2009.
The solid circles in the map denote the sites where thisspecies was observed in Japan. Star shape shows new record
sites in this study.

* Environmental Education Center, Miyagi University of Education, Sendai, Japan，** Miyagino Wildlife Study Group, Sendai, Japan－ 53 －Insights into the Natural History of Pipistrellus endoi Imaizumi, 1959 from survey records in Miyagi

very limited and only about 40 individuals have been

3. Results and discussion

reported. This species is not known from Kyushu, theWe confirmed a total of 21 individuals of P. endoi fromRyukyu archipelago, Hokkaido and many oceanic islands

7 sites in Miyagi Prefecture (Table. 2; Fig. 2). Of these,of the Japanese archipelago. In Miyagi Prefecture, the6 were females: mean ± standard division (min-max);

species has categorized as CR+EN due to very limited

body weight (g) 7.5 ± 0.92 (6.8-8.7), forearm length (mm)information and poor capture record.

32.6 ± 0.58 (32.1-33.7); and 15 were males: BW 6.4 ±The morphology of this species is similar to the P.
abramus. But the baculum of P. endoi is apparently
different from that of P. abramus: relatively short andneary straight, its straight-line length is 9-10 mm(Imaizumi, 1959). Little is known about the ecologicalfeatures and its habitat, home range and behavior.
To elucidate the natural history of P. endoi in Miyagi
Prefecture, we compiled all records of the species
reported for the prefecture, and discuss the ecologicalfeatures learnt from this data.

2. Methods
One of us, O. Takahashi, has conducted bat surveys inMiyagi Prefecture since 1990s. In this study, we compiled
all records P. endoi from his field note to look for patterns
that can help us understand the species ecology.

Fig. 2. Map of the sites where Pipistrellus endoi wasconﬁrmed.
The numbers correspond to Table 2.

Table 2. Body weight and forearm length measurement of bats in Miyagi Prefecture.

－ 54 －宮城教育大学 環境教育研究紀要

第 17 巻 (2015)

Fig. 3. Pictures of Pipistrellus endoi and the industrial stone pit where it hibernates in Miyagi Prefecture.
A: An individual of P. endoi, B: The two infants from a captive female, C: Hibernating P. endoi individuals carefully pulled out of thecrevices, D: The stone pit and a hibernating bat.

0.76 (5.6-8.7), FA 32.0 ± 1.00 (30.8-34.2). Althoughover 1000 m (Abe et al., 1970; Yasui and Kamijo, 1990;

most individuals of this species had been captured inMaeda, 1991; Ueno, 1993; Yamamoto et al., 2005; Ueno

the forest, only 8 individuals of those reported here

et al., 2002), and in fewer occasions from altitudes lowerfor Miyagi prefecture had been captured in this kindthan 500 m (Suzuki, 1978; Machida et al., 1986; Urano,of habitat (5 males and 3 females), at altitudes ranging

1998; Kasahi et al., 2006). On the contrary, in Miyagi

from 360 to 1020 m. This species has been regarded as aprefecture, records from 4 sites are in forests at altitudes

forest dwelling bat given that it usually found in naturallower than 500 m, and 2 above that (locality 3 and 5).

forests (Kawai, 2009), although there is a record from aInformation about the hibernating habits of P. endoi

secondary forest in suburban Tokyo (Kasahi et al., 2006).

is extremely scarce. Only one record exist of a bat

A similar record from a secondary forest, consistinghibernating in a Japanese cedar at a forest in January

mainly of Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica), has(Yoshiyuki, 1990). However, in Miyagi Prefecture, 12 out

been reported for Miyagi Prefecture (locality 4). Usuallyof 21 records (9 males and 3 females) were of individuals

this species has been recorded from forests at altitudes

captured when hibernating in solitary from November to－ 55 －

Insights into the Natural History of Pipistrellus endoi Imaizumi, 1959 from survey records in Miyagi

late March in rock crevices at an industrial stone pit (Fig.

4. Conclusion

3C, D). The stone pit is located in Miyato-jima Island,

The records of P. endoi in Miyagi prefecture are

Higashi-matsushima city, at an altitude of 4 to 8 m above

very important for knowing the species' ecologicalsea level. Moreover, the site where these individuals

requirements. Compiling the available data was key inwere captured far from any pristine forest, in a patchy

elucidating two relevant elements when considering alandscape composed of rice field, sub-urban settlements

conservation strategy: hibernating habits (preference forand occasional secondary forests. This suggest thatrock crevices), and litter size. This information, albeit

rock crevices are an important place for this species

still very poor, considerably advances what is known

to hibernate, and that P. endoi may use different kindsof P. endoi, and highlight the importance of surveyingof environments along the year, including anthropizedareas where endangered bats such as this can findones as does its congeneric species P. abramus. These

refuge. The industrial stone pit where P. endoi has

data points towards the need to establish a monitoring

been found is at the moment an abandoned site with nostudy of this site and similar ones common in Higashi-

ongoing human activities. However, as of this moment,

matsushima, to find he extend of rock crevices use as

there is no guarantee that this will not change in thea hibernating site by this species, and advocate for thefuture. Therefore, educating the local communities

protection of the most important sites from further

surrounding this locality is of importance to preserve

development.

the only known site in Japan where P. endoi hibernates

One female (S2698) captured at the stone pit wasoutside its typical forest habitat. It is recommended thatinjured by the survey, and it was kept from 26th Marcha monitoring program be implemented in this area so as

2004 to July 2004. The female had two infants, male andto collect more data that could help us understand thefemale (Fig. 3B). The parturition occurred on June 18th,

natural history of this bat, and then apply this knowledge

2004. One of the infants (a female) was kept until Octoberin environmental education activities where local people

21st, 2008 (four years and four months). It is known thatplay a central role.

the reproductive strategy for this species is the delayed
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