Miniopterus minor Peters 1867
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 minor

description: 21.
Least Long-fingered Bat
Miniopterus minor
French: Minioptére minuscule / German: Kleinste Langflligelfledermaus / Spanish: Miniéptero menor
Other common names: Least Bent-winged Bat
Taxonomy. Miniopterus minor Peters, 1867,
“von der Kiuste von Zanzibar [= from the coast of Zanzibar Island, Tanzamal.”
Traditionally, all small-sized Miniopterus from continental Africa and nearbyislands, including Madagascar, have been included in M. minor. It was considered to have subspecies griveaudi, manavi, and newton, which genetic studies separated as distinct species. At present, two subspecies are still recognized in continental Africa that might prove to be different species when studied in depth. Recently, it has also been found that M. minor from East Africa forms a paraphyletic group. Two subspecies recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution.
M.m.minorPeters,1867—coastalareainSKenyaandNTanzania(includingUngujaIinZanzibarArchipelago).
M. m. occidentalisJuste & Ibanez, 1992 — lower Congo River in Republic of the Congo and DR Congo.
Descriptive notes. Head-body ¢.52-53 mm, tail 37-46 mm, ear 10-11 mm, hindfoot (without claw) 7-9 mm, forearm 37-41 mm; weight 4-6-6-5 g. The Least Long-fingered Bat is the smallest species of Miniopterus on the African continent. Pelage is almost black or blackish brown on upperparts and paler gray-brown on venter. Hairs are dark, with slightly paler tips. Wing membranes and uropatagium are dark brown. Ears are small, and tragusis relatively long (6 mm), with parallel-sided rounded tip. Dorsalside of basal one-half of uropatagium has sparse downy hairs that are difficult to see with naked eye.
Habitat. Coastal savanna and coastal forest (nominate minor) and woodland savanna mosaic around lower part of the Congo River (subspecies occidentalis) below 200-300 m.
Food and Feeding. There is no specific information available for this species, but other long-fingered bats mainly eat soft insects (Lepidoptera and Diptera) captured in flight.
Breeding. Population in East Africa is seasonally monoestrous, with one young per pregnancy. Spermatogenesis in males occurs in April-July (rainy season), and sperm is stored in epididymides until end of the mating period. Females have their first ovulation without fertilization (silent heat) in May, followed by another ovulation with copulation and fertilization in late July to early August. There is probably delayed implantation of c¢.3 weeks. Births and lactation occur in rainy season (November—January) when there is maximum availability of food resources. Males do not breed in their first year.
Activity patterns. The Least Long-fingered Bat is thought to be nocturnal. During the relatively colder “long dry season” (July—October) in Kenya when food levels and body weights are lowest, these bats experience profound diurnal torpor, with a drop in body temperature to near ambient levels (24°C). Diurnal torpor appears to be an energy saving behavior that takes place during the mating period that can benefit males by enabling fat reserves otherwise needed for maintenance to be used for mating. Fat reserves used during this period were accumulated during previous long rain season (March—June) when food resources are at their peak. Caves are used as daytime roosts.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. In the East African population of Least Long-fingered Bats, males are sedentary throughout the year, living in caves near the coast. Females make seasonal movements between roosts they occupy during the mating period and others located further inland where nursery colonies are found. Mating occurs in May in Kenya. Males begin the mating period in good physical condition and with abundant reserves of fat. About 30 breeding males aggressively competed in successive years to occupy a particular spot in a hollow inside the cave near the entrance, where females had to enter to roost. Males covered their venters with urine that had a pungent substance and emitted a conspicuous odor that triggered male competition. The disseminating odor plume enabled any female entering the cave to find a male’s location. It could be a lek mating system (“olfatory lek”) because males appeared to aggregate in a traditional location for mating and were actively competitive, which would enable females to identify the fittest male. Nevertheless, no copulations were seen, and no paternity analysis was done so it could simply represent a seasonal multi-male-multfemale polygynous mating system.
Status and Conservation. Classified as Data Deficient on The IUCN Red List.
Bibliography. Acllen & Brosset (1968), Christidis et al. (2014), Cockle et al. (1998), Happold, M. (2013bo), Hayman et al. (1966), Jacobs et al. (2008d), Juste & Ibanez (1992), Juste et al. (2007), McWilliam (1988c, 1990), Monadjem, Taylor et al. (2010), Peters (1867b).
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 page 704, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5735202