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Gaisler's long-eared bat

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Species of bat

Gaisler's long-eared bat
A Gaisler's long-eared bat in Morocco.
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Chiroptera
Family: Vespertilionidae
Genus: Plecotus
Species: P. gaisleri
Binomial name
Plecotus gaisleri
Benda, Kiefer, Hanák, & Veith, 2004

Gaisler's long-eared bat (Plecotus gaisleri) is a species of bat in the genus Plecotus. It is a medium-sized grayish-brown and found in Morocco, Algeria, Libya, and Tunisia.

Taxonomy

Plecotus gaisleri was described as a new subspecies of the Canary big-eared bat (P. teneriffae) in 2004 by Petr Benda, who gave it the trinomen of Plecotus teneriffae gaisleri. The holotype had been collected approximately 8 km (5.0 mi) southwest of Massah, Libya in 2002. The eponym for the species name "gaisleri" was Jiří Gaisler, who "significantly contributed to the knowledge of the North African bat fauna". A 2007 study concluded that it should be considered a full species, P. gaisleri, based on the magnitude of genetic divergence.

Description

Plecotus gaisleri is a medium-sized member of its genus, with a forearm length of 37–42 mm (1.5–1.7 in). Individuals weigh approximately 7–10 g (0.25–0.35 oz).

Biology and ecology

It is nocturnal, foraging for its prey at night or shortly before sunset. It mostly consumes large- and medium-sized moths, though also consumes some beetles and flies. Its reproduction is not well known, though it likely has a litter size of one individual, breeds seasonally, and has only one breeding season annually. Its predators include barn owls and Pharaoh eagle-owls.

Range and habitat

Plecotus gaisleri is known from areas of Libya with a Mediterranean climate. In 2004, its known distribution was limited to an area of about 10,000 km (3,900 sq mi), encompassing mountainous and coastal regions. It is now additionally known from Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia.

References

  1. Ahmim, Mourad (2017-01-26). "Current status, distribution and conservation status of Algerian bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera)". Journal of Threatened Taxa. 9 (1): 9723–9733. doi:10.11609/jott.2576.9.1.9723-9733. ISSN 0974-7893.
  2. ^ Petr Benda; Andreas Kiefer; Vladimír Hanák; Michael Veith (2004). "Systematic Status of African Populations of Long-eared bats, Genus Plecotus (Mammalia: Chroptera". Folia Zoologica. 53 (1): 28–33.
  3. Mayer, Frieder; Dietz, Christian; Kiefer, Andreas (2007). "Molecular species identification boosts bat diversity" (PDF). Frontiers in Zoology. 4: 4. doi:10.1186/1742-9994-4-4. PMC 1802075. PMID 17295921.
  4. ^ Benda, P.; Aulagnier, S. (2013). Kingdon, J.; Happold, D.; Butynski, T.; Hoffmann, M.; Happold, M.; Kalina, J. (eds.). Mammals of Africa. Vol. 4. A&C Black. p. 664-666. ISBN 9781408189962.
Taxon identifiers
Plecotus gaisleri
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