David's myotis

David's myotis
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Chiroptera
Family:	Vespertilionidae
Genus:	Myotis
Species:	M. davidii
Binomial name
Myotis davidii Peters, 1869

David's myotis (Myotis davidii) is a species of microbat in the Vespertilionidae family native to China, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, and Russia. First identified in 1869 by Wilhelm Peters, it is similar in morphology to species like M. mystacinus, M. ikonnikovi, M. brandtii, and M. sibiricus. It was previously considered to be a subspecies of the whiskered bat (Myotis mystacinus).^[1]

Description

Myotis davidii are microbats with a forearm length of < 36 mm. Their wing membrane is inserted at the base of the outer toe. Their spur length is no more than half the length of the margin of the tail membrane and there are no terminal lobes or breaks present. The posterior margin of the ear has a distinct indentation. Hair with dark bases and lighter tips, frequently with golden gloss. Upper second premolar is rather small (maximum 1/2 of the size of the first upper premolar) and sometimes displaced palatally of the tooth row. Singular cusp of the third upper premolar is small or absent, always lower than the second upper premolar. Ears are brown, inside of the ear and the base of the tragus lighter brown, sometimes even pinkish. Nostril is often heart-shaped, lateral part is usually well-developed. Adult individuals are always without yellowish-brown hair on the sides of the neck, therefore the ventral and dorsal colors of the fur are sharply divided.^[2]

Range and habitat

David's myotis is endemic to China where it is found in the provinces of Hebei, Hubei, Inner Mongolia, Shaanxi, Shanxi and Hong Kong. More recently it has been found farther north in Siberia and the Southern Urals. The most northern siting was at 53°28'45''N, 58°39'35''E, in Bashkortostan, Russia.^[2]

Conservation

Myotis davidii is categorized as a "Least Concern" species by the IUCN, although the range shown in said IUCN report does not include the locations of more recent sightings farther west and north, in the southern Urals.^[2][1]

References

1. Jiang TL, Feng J (2019). "Myotis davidii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T136250A22003049. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T136250A22003049.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
2. Zhigalin A (2019-04-25). "New data on David's myotis, Myotis davidii (Peters, 1869) (Mammalia, Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae), in Siberia and the Urals". Biodiversity Data Journal. 7: e34211. doi:10.3897/BDJ.7.e34211. PMC 6497625. PMID 31105443.