Miniopterus ambohitrensis Bonaparte 1837
Creators: name: Don E. Wilson
name: Russell A. Mittermeier
Publisher: name: Lynx Edicions
Year: 2019
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Mammalia
Chiroptera
Miniopteridae
Miniopterus
Miniopterus ambohitrensis

description: 31.
Montagne d’Ambre Long-fingered Bat
Miniopterus ambohitrensis
French: Minioptére dAmbohitra / German: Montagne-dAmbre-Langfllgelfledermaus / Spanish: Miniéptero de Ambohitra
Other common names: Ambohitra Long-fingered Bat, Montagne dAmbre Bent-winged Bat
Taxonomy. Miniopterus ambohitrensis Goodman et al, 2015,
“ Madagascar: Province d’Antsiranana, Parc National de la Montagne d’Ambre, 5.5 km SWJoffreville (Ambohitra), Station Forestiere des Roussettes, 12°31'37.978, 49° 10'19.1E, 1600'm.”
Some specimens belonging to M. ambohitrensis were included in the original description of M. aelleni, which is its sister species.
Monotypic.
Distribution. Known only from four sites on N & C Madagascar (Marojejy and Montagne d’Ambre national parks, Ambohitantely Reserve, and Bemanevika).
Descriptive notes. Head-body ¢.53-55 mm, tail 40-47 mm, ear 10-12 mm, hindfoot 5-7 mm, forearm 37-42 mm; weight 5-3-7-7 g. The Montagne d’Ambre Long-fingered Bat has mixed medium and dark brown pelage. Pectoral area and head often have varying amounts of rufous brown fur. Tragus is moderately long (6-7 mm), slightly broader at base, with slight constriction along mid-shaft; distal portion is medially deflected; and tip is slightly rounded. It is very similar to Aellen’s Long-fingered Bat (M. aelleni), except for its rufous brown areas of pelage, slightly larger size, and slightly shorter tragus.
Habitat. Upland mesic or montane humid forests at elevations of ¢.800-1600 m.
Food and Feeding. There is no specific information available for this species, but other long-fingered bats mainly eat soft insects captured in flight.
Breeding. Evidence of recent reproductive activity of Montagne d’Ambre Long-fingered Bats was found in early April, with one female lactating and having single placental scar, another female with large mammae and showing signs of estrus, severalfemales with large mammae and missing fur, and a male with testes measuring 4 x 3 mm and epididymides partially convoluted. The female record of late seasonal breeding and apparent postpartum estrus might indicate a period of reproductive delayafter mating, as known for some African species of Miniopterus.
Activity patterns. The Montagne d’Ambre Long-fingered Bat is thought to be nocturnal. It was found roosting in caves and is probably dependent on caves and rock shelters for day roosts. Echolocation calls have downward FM signals, with maximum frequencies of 64-78-2 kHz, minimum frequencies of 47-7-51-6 kHz, peak frequencies of 53-1-55-4 kHz, durations of 2-5-3-4 milliseconds, and intervals of 61-4-73-4 milliseconds.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. There is evidence to suggest that some populations migrate elevationally to some degree.
Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red Last.
Bibliography. Goodman (2017¢c), Goodman, Ramasindrazana et al. (2015), Ramasindrazana et al. (2011).
description: Published as part of Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Miniopteridae, pp. 674-709 in Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona :Lynx Edicions on pages 707-708, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5735202