Bismarck trumpet-eared bat
The Bismarck trumpet-eared bat (Kerivoula myrella), also known as the Manus Island woolly bat, is a species of vesper bat in the family Vespertilionidae. It is found in subtropical or tropical dry forests.
| Bismarck trumpet-eared bat | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Chiroptera |
| Family: | Vespertilionidae |
| Genus: | Kerivoula |
| Species: | K. myrella |
| Binomial name | |
| Kerivoula myrella Thomas, 1914 | |
Taxonomy
The Bismarck trumpet-eared bat was described as a new species in 1914 by British mammalogist Oldfield Thomas. The holotype had been collected on Manus Island, which is part of the Bismarck Archipelago.[2][3]
Description
Overall, the Bismarck trumpet-eared bat is similar in appearance to Hardwicke's woolly bat. It has a forearm length of 35.5–38.4 mm (1.40–1.51 in).[2]
Biology and ecology
It is an echolocating species with frequency modulation of its calls. The calls are broadband, with very slight curvature of the downward sweep of call frequencies. Its echolocation calls have low energy, meaning that it is unlikely to be detected by acoustic detectors unless it passes close to the device's microphone.[4]
Range and habitat
It is found in Papua New Guinea, though its range may also include Indonesia. It has been documented at a range of 0–500 m (0–1,640 ft) above sea level.[1]
Conservation
As of 2008, it is evaluated as a Vulnerable species by the IUCN. It meets the criteria for this designation regarding its population size, ecological requirements, and threats it may be facing.[1]
References
- Aplin, K.; Armstrong, K.N. (2021). "Kerivoula myrella". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T10980A22022572. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-1.RLTS.T10980A22022572.en. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
- Hill, J. E. (1965). "Asiatic Bats of the Genera Kerivoula and Phoniscus (Vespertilionidae), with a Note on Kerivoula Aerosa Tomes". Mammalia. 29 (4): 544–545. doi:10.1515/mamm.1965.29.4.524. S2CID 83650290.
- Thomas, Oldfield (1914). "L.—New Asiatic and Australasian bats and a new bandicoot". Annals and Magazine of Natural History. 13 (76): 439–444. doi:10.1080/00222931408693506.
- Whitmore, Nathan, ed. (2015). A Rapid Biodiversity Surveyof Papua New Guinea'sManus and Mussau Islands (PDF). Wildlife Conservation Society. pp. 62–78. ISBN 978-0-9943203-1-5.