Miniopterus inflatus Thomas, 1903

Bates, Paul J. J., Cameron, Kenneth, Pearch, Malcolm J. & Hayes, Benjamin, 2013, A review of the bats (Chiroptera) of the Republic of Congo, including eight species new to the country, Acta Chiropterologica 15 (2), pp. 313-340 : 329-330

Miniopterus inflatus Thomas, 1903

Greater long-fingered bat

Miniopterus inflatus Thomas, 1903: 634 ; Efulen, Cameroons (= Cameroon).

New material

HZM.19.40182 , ♂, HZM.20.40183 , ♀, 30 July, 2012 and HZM.21.40184 , ♀, HZM.22.40185 , ♂, 3 August, 2012, Lebayi Cave, Lekoumou , 2°42.045’S, 13°35.968’E . These are the first authenticated records for Congo, although it was reported previously by Anciaux de Faveaux (1971) but without details ( Appendix I ). According to Happold and Happold (2013), this species is thought to be uncommon throughout its range.

Description

With a forearm length of 45.4–48.8 mm ( Table 2 ), this species is typical of the genus in having the second phalanx of the third digit greatly elongated (37.0– 38.8 mm, n = 4). The interfemoral and wing membranes and the pelage, above and below, are dark. However, the face and especially the lower part of each inner ear and tragus are almost white. The tragus is tall, straight-sided, with a rounded tip, and a small indication of a basal lobe ( Fig. 8I ). The skull is characteristically large with a greatest length of 16.42–17.16 mm ( Table 3 ). The braincase is greatly inflated and is sharply elevated above the small, flattened rostrum. The first upper incisor (I 2) has a broad, tricuspid crown; the second (I 3) is unicuspid with a well developed cingulum. The first upper premolar (P 2) is well developed and between half and two-thirds the crown area of the second premolar (P 4). The first and second lower premolars (P 2, P 3) are equal in size and about half the crown area and height of the third (P 4). Despite dissecting the penis, no baculum was found; this agrees with Krutzsch (2000: 105) who also reported the absence of a baculum in Miniopterus .

Taxonomic notes

The taxonomy of African Miniopterus is in need of revision, for example to determine the distinction between M. inflatus and M. schreibersii ( Simmons, 2005) . Following Happold and Happold (2013), the new records from Congo are referred to M. i. inflatus .

Figures

APPENDIX I A list of the forty-three bat species currently recorded from Congo, including citations in the literature and locality data. CS (Conservation status – NT: Near threatened; DD: Data deficient; LC: Least concern) is based on IUCN Red List of Threatened Species retrieved on 8 May, 2013. Two species listed here have not been assessed (na) by IUCN for their conservation status but rather have been included within other taxa: Triaenops afer in Triaenops persicus and Chaerephon leucogaster in Tadarida pumila. Superscripts associated with localities in column 4 refer to the superscripts for the literature cited in column 3

FIG. 8. Right tragus of (A): Glauconycteris alboguttata, HZM.1.40172, ♀; (B): G. beatrix, HZM.1.40181, ♀; (C): Hypsugo crassulus, HZM.1.40190, ♂; (D): Neoromicia brunnea, HZM.1.40191, ♂; (E): N. nana, HZM.321.40186, ♂; (F): N. tenuipinnis, HZM.7.40170, ♀; (G): Pipistrellus nanulus, HZM.1.40189, ♂; (H): Mimetillus moloneyi, HZM.10.40177, ♂; (I): Miniopterus inflatus, HZM.19.40182, ♂. Scale = 2 mm