The long-tailed myotis (''Myotis longicaudatus'') is a species of vesper bat found in northern and eastern Asia.

Taxonomy

Previously thought to be a subspecies of the

fraternal myotis The fraternal myotis (''Myotis frater'') is a species of vesper bat native to East Asia. Taxonomy The long-tailed myotis (''M. longicaudatus'') was split as a distinct species by a 2015 study based on molecular evidence. This has also been fo ...

(''M. frater''), it was split as a distinct species by a 2015 study based on molecular evidence. This has also been followed by the

American Society of Mammalogists The American Society of Mammalogists (ASM) was founded in 1919. Its primary purpose is to encourage the study of mammals, and professions studying them. There are over 4,500 members of this society, and they are primarily professional scientists ...

, the IUCN Red List, and the ITIS. The study found it to be

basal Basal or basilar is a term meaning ''base'', ''bottom'', or ''minimum''. Science * Basal (anatomy), an anatomical term of location for features associated with the base of an organism or structure * Basal (medicine), a minimal level that is nec ...

to a clade containing ''M. frater'', the

reddish myotis The reddish myotis (''Myotis soror'') is a species of vesper bat. It is endemic to Taiwan. It was first discovered to science in 2003, and described in a 2015 study of the phylogenetics of ''Myotis'' bats of Taiwan and eastern China. It is thoug ...

(''M. soror''), and Daubenton's bat (''M. daubentonii''). Other studies have also recovered the

Bocharic myotis The Bocharic myotis or Bokhara whiskered bat (''Myotis bucharensis'') is a species of mouse-eared bat in the family Vesper bat, Vespertilionidae, described in 1950, and indigenous to Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Taxonomy The Bocharic myotis was s ...

(''M. bucharensis'') as its sister species.

Distribution and habitat

It has a wide distribution across North Asia and East Asia east of the

Altai Mountains The Altai Mountains (), also spelled Altay Mountains, are a mountain range in Central Asia, Central and East Asia, where Russia, China, Mongolia and Kazakhstan converge, and where the rivers Irtysh and Ob River, Ob have their headwaters. The m ...

, from southern Siberia and Mongolia south to Korea and

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...

. It is found in a wide range of habitats, both natural and artificial, and is thus considered a generalist species. In Japan, it has been observed roosting in tree cavities, tunnels, bridges, and buildings. It has been observed foraging along streets in Hokkaido.

Description

It is a relatively small bat with dark brown wings. Its hind legs are slightly longer than other ''Myotis'' species, and the tail length is similar to the head-to-body length. Its pelage is dorsally dark brown and ventrally dark ivory. Its ears are short, dark brown in color, and have a pointed tragus.

Behavior

During the summer, this species may sometimes share roosting caves with the

eastern water bat The eastern water bat or Sakhalin bat (''Myotis petax'') is a species of mouse-eared bat. It was for a long time considered to be a subspecies of ''Myotis daubentonii''. Distribution The Eastern water bat is a forest bat found in Russia (south a ...

(''M. petax''); however, both species hibernate separately during the winter.

Status

Due to its wide range and generalist nature, it is not thought to have any major threats. However, it may be threatened by roadkills in Hokkaido, and in general may be at risk from forest degradation and disturbances to roosting sites. Despite a wide distribution, it is a naturally rare species.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q110791896 Mouse-eared bats Bats of Asia Mammals of Siberia Mammals of Mongolia Mammals of China Mammals of Korea Mammals of Japan Mammals described in 1927