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16. Schreibers’s Long-fingered Bat Miniopterus schreibersii French: Minioptére de Schreibers / German: Eigentliche Langfligelfledermaus / Spanish: Murciélago de cueva Other common names: Schreiber’s Bent-winged Bat Taxonomy. Vespertilio schreibersii Natterer in Kuhl, 1817, “sudostlichen Gebirge des Bannats: in der Columbézer Héhle [= southeastern mountains of Banat in the Columbazer Cave],” Banat, near Coronini, Romania. Recent phylogenetic studies using DNA sequencing have restricted M. schreibersii to Europe, North Africa, and part of the Near East. Populations of Miniopterus of medium size from sub-Saharan Africa, East Asia, and Australia, which were until recently all included within this species, are now considered distinct species, not even closely related to M. schreibersii. The genetically closest species to M. schreibersii are M. pallidus from the Middle East and M. maghrebensis from north-western Africa. Monotypic. Distribution. S Europe from Iberian Peninsula E to N & W Anatolia (Turkey) and W Georgia, N to C France, Slovakia, and Romania, and S to Morocco, N Algeria, Tunisia, NW & NE Libya (Tripolitania and Cyrenaica), Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and possiblyJordan, also on most Mediterranean Is; historical records or occasionally in SW Germany, Switzerland, and Czech Republic. In the Maghreb,it shares habitat with the Maghrebian Long-fingered Bat (M. maghrebensis) and in Levant with the Pallid Long-fingered Bat (M. pallidus), but distributional limits in these areas are not well defined. Descriptive notes. Head-body 51-59 mm, tail 52-63 mm, ear 10-12 mm, hindfoot 9-8-10-9 mm, forearm 43—-47-1 mm; weight 10-14 g. Pelage of Schreibers’s Long-fingered Bat is short, very dense, and silky. Dorsum is uniformly grayish, ashen, or more rarely grayish brown, with somewhat paler venter. Hairs are bicolored, with darker bases. Wing membranes and uropatagium are dark. Ears are small, and tragus (5-5-7 mm) is slender and slightly curved forward. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 46 and FN = 52-56 (Italy, Switzerland, Greece, and Turkey). X-chromosomeis metacentric, and Y-chromosome is dot-like acrocentric. Habitat. Wide variety of habitats including semi-desert steppes (Maghreb, Levant, or south-eastern Iberia), humid areas of deciduous forest in the north of the distribution, and Mediterranean scrub and forests, generally at elevations of 1000-1400 m. Breeding colonies of Schreibers’s Long-fingered Bat generally occur below 1000 m, although they can occur up to 1200 m. Non-breeding and hibernating colonies can occupy shelters up to ¢. 1400 m. Food and Feeding. Schreibers’s Long-fingered Batis an aerial hawker, mostly hunting moths in open spaces, but it has sufficiently maneuverable flight to forage in forest edge, clearings, below forest canopies, and close to vegetation. In France near the northern limit of the distribution, they frequently use well-lit urban areas to forage, preferring areas lit by white streetlights. They also forage in orchards and parks. In contrast, dense pine forests and closed and homogeneous deciduous or mixed woodlands are avoided. For commuting, they mainly use woodland borders, hedgerows, and riverine forests. In Italy, they were most active over rivers and to a lesser extent in olives and chestnuts groves and Mediterranean and beech woodlands, and they were never recorded in Mediterranean maquis (shrubland) and agricultural lands. In Portugal, Schreibers’s Long-fingered Bat more actively forages activity near water, urban areas, and native forests. Diet mostly contains Lepidoptera, which generally accounts for more than 70% by volume of ingested prey. In a study conducted in Slovenia, Lepidoptera was the main prey: 79% of the annual diet by volume, maximum of more than 90% in summer, and minimum of 50% in autumn. With decreasing importance, other insects in the diet were Neuroptera (mostly Chrysopidae) with average volume of 9-2% and maximum of 26% in late autumn, Diptera with average volume of 7:4% and maximum of 15-7% in spring and 21:6% in autumn, Trichoptera with average volume of 2:2% and 12:3% in autumn, and Coleoptera with average volume of 1:4% and maximum of ¢.10% at the end of spring. Diet was most diverse in late October. Schreibers’s Long-fingered Bat hunts small to medium-sized winged prey (wing length: 2-18 mm, average 13-2 mm). It can switch to other seasonally abundant prey. A recent study in which prey species were identified with DNA sequencing of remains of prey in feces and using metabarcoding techniques allowed more detailed understanding of dietary composition. Samples of 79 individuals from 16 different locations in seven European countries were analyzed. There were twelve arthropod orders, among which lepidopterans were predominant (they were present in more than 97% of the samples analyzed and accounted for 75% of the total operational taxonomy-assigned units (OTUs). Diptera (20 families) was the second most common order, appearing in more than 50% of the samples, and Neuroptera and Coleoptera occurred in 25% of the samples. Thirty-five families of Lepidoptera were represented in the samples, with Noctuidae the most frequent, occurring in 85% of samples and with more than 300 different OTUs, followed by Geometridae at 50%. As many as 44 insects consumed are considered agricultural pests, mostly moths that occurred in 92% of the samples; 22 of these pests are considered major pests and appeared in 73% of the samples. Dipterous families also occurred in samples; these families (e.g. Culicidae and Simuliidae) can cause discomfort and transmit diseases to humans and domestic animals. Many prey species consumed by Schreibers’s Long-fingered Bats are tympanate insects (mainly moths in families Noctuidae and Geometridae and lacewings of the family Chrysopidae), capable of hearing ultrasound calls of bats. Echolocation calls of Schreibers’s Long-fingered Bat have peak frequency of 54 kHz, whichis at the limit of the hearing capacity of tympanate moths. Breeding. Schreibers’s Long-fingered Bat is seasonally monoestrous, with one young per pregnancy and delayed implantation in winter. Mating occurs in September and early October. Egg is fertilized immediately, but blastocyst does not implant in the uterus until end of hibernation, which in the French Pyrenees is in March or early April. Births occur in late June or earlyJuly in France and Spain and at the beginning ofJune in the more temperate areas of Portugal. Complete duration of the reproductive cycle from mating to birth is 8-9 months. Young begin to fly at ¢.40 days old and are fully developed at 60-70 days old. Females reach sexual maturity at c.1 year old and have their first young at c.2 years old. Activity patterns. In France, pregnant Schreibers’s Long-fingered Bats emerged from roosts to feed c.1 hour after sunset in May and returned 2-5 hours before sunrise with a period of activity of 5-5 hours. Lactating females emerged c.42 minutes after sunset in June and returned c.2 hours before sunrise, with c.6 hours oftotal activity. During all nights, no female returned to the roost temporarily, even during lactation. In Slovenia, the first bat emerged ¢.20 minutes after sunset in a small colony of 100 individuals. Like most temperate species, Schreibers’s Long-fingered Bats enter daily torpor to save energy during short unfavorable periods and hibernate during the coldest months of winter. Duration of hibernation is variable depending on local weather, ranging from five months at most in northern France to two months in areas with milder winters in Portugal and Spain. Shelters selected for hibernation have temperatures of 5-10°C in Spain and 3-7-4-5°C in Croatia. Hibernation is not continuous but characterized by interruptions of activity with movement within and among roosts. In north-eastern Spain (Catalonia) and Croatia, hibernation occurs from the end of December to mid-February. Before hibernation in October to mid-November, body mass increases up to 31-5% in just 29 days. Schreibers’s Long-fingered Bats roost in caves and cave-like structures such as mines and tunnels. Some individuals or small groups occasionally occur in fissures of rocks or human structures. Echolocation calls have downward FM signals, with start frequencies of 59-3-113-5 kHz, end frequencies of 47-5-55-7 kHz, peak frequencies of 49-4-62-5 kHz, durations of 2—13-8 milliseconds, and intervals of 40-209-3 millisecondsin Italy and start frequencies of 104-8-118-3 kHz, end frequencies of 46-3-52 kHz, peak frequencies of 56-4—61-7 kHz, and durations of 2-8—4-6 milliseconds in Turkey. Movements, Home range and Social organization. In France, radio-tracked female Schreibers’s Long-fingered Bats during periods shorter than a week had home ranges that corresponded to their foraging strategy of an open-air hunter with good flight abilities. Home ranges were significantly larger for lactating females (average 22,318 ha) than for pregnant females (10,837 ha). The entire colony’s home range, from all radio-tracking records, was smaller for pregnant females (89,359 ha) than for lactating females (162,997 ha). Each bat foraged every night in 1-9 small feeding areas. The longest distance recorded with precision from the roost to a foraging area was 29-7 km for a lactating female and 24-7 km for a pregnant female. In Portugal, females during reproduction do not move more than 15-5 km from their day roost, and 82% of feeding areas were found within a 10km radius of the day roost. Selection of feeding areas wasrelated to distance to the day roost and proximity of water. Populations of Schreibers’s Long-fingered Bat have a typical metapopulation structure. Each population occupies a large territory of several thousand square kilometers where it has a network of underground roosts with different environmental characteristics. Different subpopulations occupy different roosts within their territory throughout the annual cycle, depending on energy requirements of each period for each sex and age class. Throughout the year, each individual will have used a good number of these shelters. It was found that the main cause of seasonal movements in Portugal was to occupy caves with temperatures suitable for needs of each group at a particular time of the year. Nursery colonies are located in caves with temperatures of ¢.19°C, those used for hibernation have temperatures of ¢.11-5°C, and those used during transitions have intermediate temperatures that allow beneficial daytime torpor. A second cause of movement can be access to foraging areas with better ambient temperatures and better insect availability. After hibernation, female Schreibers’s Long-fingered Bats migrated to spring or equinoctial roosts and again to maternity roosts just before parturition. Soon after young were weaned, females migrated to equinoctial roosts where they spent autumn and sometimes winter. Pattern of migration of males was similar to that of females, but they left and arrived at hibernacula later and remained more mobile during the maternity season. Young remained in warm nurseries longer than their mothers, presumably because high temperatures of nurseries help increase growth. Maternity colonies spent the yearly cycle in well-defined home ranges (mean 19 km?) that overlapped greatly. Individuals were furthest from maternity sites during hibernation, but even then, 80% remained within 90 km of them. Each hibernaculum attracted individuals from multiple nurseries within 10-8 km? Females in Portugal were highly philopatric. This has an important impact on genetic structure of the populations such that nursery colonies have strong geographic structure. Females do not affect gene flow among colonies, but males do because during the mating season, individuals of both sexes from different colonies meet in certain refuges. Greater genetic diversity is found in these mating shelters and hibernacula. Displacement among roosts can exceed 300 km, but most are less than 100 km. Because of the seasonal nature of these movements and distances involved, Schreibers’s Long-fingered Bat is considered a regional migrant. In these migratory and commuting flights, individuals use rivers as landmarks for orientation and navigation. During these movements, individuals travel more than 50 km /h. Schreibers’s Long-fingered Batis very gregarious, and it, without a doubt, forms the largest colonies in Europe, although they are modest in size compared with other species of Miniopterus. In Bezanovo Parnicite Cave in northern Bulgaria, 65,000 individuals have been counted, and in Dyavolskoto Garlo Cave in the Rhodopes Mountains of southern Bulgaria, as many as 40,800 individuals were counted during hibernation. This cave supposedly hosts Schreibers’s Longfingered Bats from Bulgaria, Greece, and the Republic of North Macedonia. As many as 60,000 females and their young were counted in a nursery colony in Devetaskata Pestera Cave in Bulgaria. In Croatia, 35,000 individuals were found in a nursery colony, and more than 30,000 individuals in KusStrovka Cave and 27,000 in a hut of Visti¢ina were hibernating in Trbusnjak. These bats are probably part of the Pannonian—Dinaric metapopulation that includes populations from Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, and Croatia whose existence has been revealed through marking studies. In Portugal, the Cave of Marvao Island has a colony of¢.20,000 breeding and hibernating individuals. In Spain, the largest hibernation colony is 33,000 individuals and is located in an abandoned train tunnel. Longest longevity record for Schreibers’s Long-fingered Bat 1s 16 years. Status and Conservation. Classified as Near Threatened on The IUCN Red List. Schreibers’s Long-fingered Bat has been extirpated in Germany and Ukraine and has declined to near extirpation in Switzerland since the 1960s. Similarly, a hibernating population in Austria has declined from 2500 to only 1-2 individuals, and all maternity colonies have been lost. It is included in Annex II (and IV) of the EU Habitats and Species Directive and hence requires special measures for conservation including designation of Special Areas for Conservation. Bibliography. Aizpurua et al. (2018), Bashta (2009), Benda & Paunovi¢ (2019), Benda, Abi-Said et al. (2016), Benda, Andreas et al. (2006), Benda, Hanak & Cerveny (2011), Benda, Hanak, Horaéek et al. (2007), Benda, Ivanova et al. (2003), Benda, Lu¢an et al. (2010), Benda, Spitzenberger et al. (2014), Bilgin, Girin, Maraci et al. (2012), Bilgin, Gurun, Rebelo et al. (2016), Bilgin, Karatas et al. (2006), Boye (2004), Brosset (1962b), Brosset & Caubeére (1959), De Lucas (2008), Dietz et al. (2009), Duli¢ (1963), Furman, Coraman et al. (2009), Furman, Oztung & Coraman (2010), Furman, Postawa et al. (2010), Garin et al. (2008), Hanék etal. (2001), Hu Gao etal. (2016), Karatag & Sozen (2004), Karatas et al. (2008), Krystufek (2008), Krystufek & Rezek Donev (2005), Kuhl (1817), Nagy & Postawa (2011), Palmeirim & Rodrigues (1992), Pavlini¢ et al. (2010), de Paz (1985), Pereira et al. (2009), Petrov & von Helversen (2011), Peyre & Herlant (1963), Presetnik & Aulagnier (2013), Rainho (2007), Rainho & Palmeirim (2011), Rodrigues (2013), Rodrigues & Palmeirim (2008), Rodrigues et al. (2010), Russo & Jones (2002, 2003), Serra-Cobo (1989), Serra-Cobo, Lépez-Roig, Marqués-Bonet & Lahuerta (2000), Serra-Cobo, Lépez-Roig, Marques-Bonet & Martinez-Rica (2000), Serra-Cobo, Sanz-Trullén & Martinez-Rica (1998), Sramek etal. (2013), Vincentet al. (2011), Volleth & Heller (1994a)., Published as part of Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Miniopteridae, pp. 674-709 in Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona :Lynx Edicions on pages 699-700, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5735202

WOS: 000495863700011 This research was based on some characteristics of the erythrocyte and leukocyte cells of 9 Miniopterus schreibersii (female female) samples collected from Balikesir Province in Turkey between July 2015 and September 2016. Bats were caught from an artificial cave using special nets. Blood was taken in heparinized hematocrit tubes from the forearm or tail membrane in the laboratory and the blood smears were prepared. The erythrocyte and leukocyte counts, hemoglobin concentration, and hematocrit values in the blood were determined. In M. schreibersii, the number of erythrocytes in 1 mm(3) of blood was between 7.5 and 10 million, and the mean value was 8.8 million. The diameter values of the erythrocyte, monocyte, lymphocyte, eosinophil, neutrophil, and basophil cells were measured as 5.65, 9.66, 8.4, 8.66,10, and 8.5 mu m, respectively. Blood values of M. schreibersii were recorded for the first time in this study in Anatolia.

Members of the virus family Filoviridae, such as ebola viruses and marburgviruses, cause hemorrhagic fevers associated with high mortality and are, therefore, of major public health importance worl...

Bats are particularly suited as bioindicators of trace element pollution due to their longevity and their position in the trophic chain. In this study, the concentrations of ten non-essential trace elements (Al, As, Ba, Cd, Hg, Pb, Sb, Sr, Th, Tl) were determined in the tissues (whole body, skin-fur, skinned body, liver, kidney and bone) of lactant Tadarida teniotis from a nursery colony in Rome. A large number of bats from this nursery died before fledging and had bone deformities and fractures. The concentrations of non-essential trace elements in bone and whole body were also analysed in adult specimens of Miniopterus schreibersii from a colony located in a natural park in Northern Italy. In lactant T.teniotis, the Pb concentration decreased in the following order: bone>liver>skinned body>whole body>skin-fur>kidney, and exceeded the toxic threshold associated with negative effects reported for different mammalian species. The levels of the other non-essential trace elements were within a range indicative of low environmental contamination in both species. Significant interspecies differences (P

Zguraști–Poarta lui Ionele (Gate of Ionele) cave system totals 5809 m (5424 + 385 m) of passages and is located in the Bihor Mountains in NW Romania. It includes the Zguraști Cave, renown for a series of lakes perched at ~118 m above Ordâncușa River and Poarta lui Ionele Cave, a part of which is open for tourists. The cave system has been formed by an underground river that was once recharged by waters of the Mununa limestone plateau under which it is formed. The final part of the Zguraști Cave is clogged by rock debris and clay, generating the largest underground lake in Romania. Presently, the water appears in Poarta lui Ionele Cave and flows into Ordâncușa River. Poarta lui Ionele Cave houses a bat nursery of Miniopterus schreibersii.

Highlights • Novel bufavirus was detected in Miniopterus schreibersii bats in Hungary. • This is the first time any parvovirus was detected in European bats. • Novel bat bufaviruses were closely related to human bufaviruses. • A possible intragenic recombination event was detected within bufaviruses., Bats are important hosts of many viruses and in several cases they may serve as natural reservoirs even for viruses with zoonotic potential worldwide, including Europe. However, they also serve as natural reservoir for other virus groups with important evolutionary relevance and yet unknown zoonotic potential. We performed viral metagenomic analyses on Miniopterus schreibersii bat fecal samples. As a result, a novel parvovirus was detected for the first time in European bats. Although, bufavirus was recently discovered as a novel human infecting parvovirus, here we report sequence data of the first bufavirus from European bats related to human bufaviruses. Based on our sequence data a possible intragenic recombination event was detected within bufaviruses which may serves as an important milestone in their evolution.

Ixodes simplex is a tick species of bats, mainly reported from Schreibers’ Bent-winged bat, Miniopterus schreibersii, all over its host’s range. While being a common parasite of cave-dwelling bat species, the initial description of males is poor (based on a sole damaged specimen), lacking distinctive features. This study describes the male of I. simplex also providing measurements for a number of characters, using a series 10 of specimens. Males of I. simplex show the following characteristics distinct from males of I. ariadnae and I. vespertilionis: idiosoma is shorter (2.6 mm vs. 3.4–4.7 mm); the palps of I. simplex males are laterally curved (bent) (while straight in I. ariadnae and gradually curving in I. vespertilionis), the genital opening is anterior in position between coxae II (whereas posterior to second intercoxal space in I. vespertilionis); coxae II are to some extent rectangular (vs. rounded in I. ariadnae); coxae IV have a prominent tuft of long hairs (missing in the other two species). Most importantly, the legs of I. simplex males are considerably shorter than in males of the other two species (2.7–3.3 mm vs. 7–10 mm). The description is completed with high-quality pictures highlighting all the mentioned features.

The interaction between agricultural production and wildlife can shape, and even condition, the functioning of both systems. In this study, we i) explored the degree to which a widespread European bat, namely the common bent-wing bat Miniopterus schreibersii, consumes crop-damaging insects at a continental scale, and ii) tested whether its dietary niche is shaped by the extension and type of agricultural fields. We employed a dual-primer DNA metabarcoding approach to characterize arthropod 16S and COI DNA sequences within bat faecal pellets collected across 16 Southern European localities, to first characterize the bat species’ dietary niche, second measure the incidence of agricultural pests across their ranges and third assess whether geographical dietary variation responds to climatic, landscape diversity, agriculture type and vegetation productivity factors. We detected 12 arthropod orders, among which lepidopterans were predominant. We identified >200 species, 44 of which are known to cause agricultural damage. Pest species were detected at all but one sampling site and in 94% of the analysed samples. Furthermore, the dietary diversity of M. schreibersii exhibited a negative linear relation with the area of intensive agricultural fields, thus suggesting crops restrict the dietary niche of bats to prey taxa associated with agricultural production within their foraging range. Overall, our results imply that M. schreibersii might be a valuable asset for biological pest suppression in a variety of agricultural productions and highlight the dynamic interplay between wildlife and agricultural systems., We thank the staff at the Danish National High-Throughput DNASequencing Centre for generating the sequencing data. Furthermore,we thank Kristine Bohmann and the three anonymous reviewers foredits and comments on the manuscript. AA was supported by The Danish Council for Independent Research (5051-00033), and OAwas supported by the Carlsberg Foundation’s Distinguished Postdoc-toral Fellowship (CF15-0619). SG was supported by a Marie Skło-dowska-Curie Individual Fellowship (655732)

Miniopterus schreibersii [Kuhl, 1817] Vespertilio schreibersii Kuhl, 1817: 185; ‘Columbäzar Höhle’, R Danube, ROMANIA (Collector unknown; Type unknown) [187] Miniopterus schreibersii blepotis [9, 23]. Miniopterus fuliginosus [33]. Common English name: Common Bent-winged Bat Barcode Index Number: DNA barcodes recorded as M. schreibersii are associated with four BINs, BOLD: AAC 3658, BOLD: ACE 8769, BOLD:AAX4032 and BOLD: AAA 995, but there are no DNA barcodes from Peninsular Malaysia. Remarks: Tian et al. [188] discovered a large divergence in cytochrome b mtDNA among specimens of M. schreibersii from Europe, Asia and Australia, congruent with previous studies [189, 190]. The taxonomy of M. schreibersii was then revised based on molecular and geographic characters resulting in M. schreibersii sensu stricto in Europe, M. oceanensis in Australia and M. fuliginosus in Asia [188]. However, Tian et al. [188] only included specimens from Japan and China to represent “Asia”. Consequently, we retained the name M. schreibersii in our checklist following Kingston et al. [11] and Francis [14] pending further research. IUCN status: Near Threatened Recorded at: Pahang: Krau Wildlife Reserve [11], Fraser Hill [23]; Perlis: Kaki Bukit [23]; Perak: Maxwell Hill [23], Temengor Forest Reserve [46, 47]; Selangor: Bukit Kutu Wildlife Reserve [51], Ulu Gombak [54]; Kedah: Ulu Muda Forest Reserve [57]; Melaka: Sungai Udang Forest Reserve [68]. M. schreibersii has been recorded in primary hill and montane forests [11], and roosts in caves in large colonies, sometimes with other Miniopterus bats [14, 23]., Published as part of Voon-Ching Lim, Rosli Ramli, Subha Bhassu & John-James Wilson, 2017, A checklist of the bats of Peninsular Malaysia and progress towards a DNA barcode reference library, pp. 1-65 in PLoS ONE 12 (7) on pages 42-43, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0179555, http://zenodo.org/record/4251352, {"references":["187. Kuhl H. Die Deutschen Fledermause. Annalen der Wetter auischen Gesellschaft fur die Gesammte Naturkunde. Frankfurt am Main. 1819; 4: 11 - 49 and 185 - 215.","9. Corbet GB, Hill JE. The mammals of the Indomalayan region: a systematic review. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 1992.","23. Medway L. The wild mammals of Malaya. London: Oxford University Press. 1969.","33. Francis CM, Eger JL. A review of tube-nosed bats (Murina) from Laos with a description of two new species. Acta Chiropt. 2012; 14 (1): 15 - 38.","188. Tian L, Liang B, Maeda K, Metzner W, Zhang S. Molecular studies on the classification of Miniopterus schreibersii (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) inferred from mitochondrial cytochrome b sequences. Folia Zool Brno. 2004; 53 (3): 303 - 311.","189. Maeda K. Studies on the classification of Miniopterus in Eurasia, Australia and Melanesia. Honyuruikagaku (Mammalian Science) Suppl. 1. Mammal Research Association, Japan; 1982.","190. Appleton BR, Mckenzie JA,. Chirstidis L. Molecular Systematics and Biogeography of the Bentwing Bat Complex Miniopterus schreibersii (Kuhl, 1817) (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae). Mol Phylogenet Evol. 2004; 31: 431 - 439. https: // doi. org / 10.1016 / j. ympev. 2003.08. 017 PMID: 15062785","11. Kingston T, Lim BL, Akbar Z. Bats of Krau wildlife reserve. Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia; 2006.","14. Francis CM. A field guide to the mammals of South-East Asia. New Holland Publishers; 2008.","46. Francis CM. The diversity of bats in Temengor Forest Reserve, Hulu Perak, Malaysia. Mal Nat J. 1995; 48: 403 - 408.","47. Shahfiz MA, Shahrul-Anuar MA, Kaviarasu M, Fauzi MZ, Rizal MR. Preliminary checklist of mammals at Sungai Enam in Temengor Forest Reserve, Perak, Peninsular Malaysia In: Mohamed AL, Krishnapillay DB, Kasim Z, Khushairi ZA, Ismail NI, Rezan EFN, Sadali A, Mohammad MS, Hassan MN, Aznan ARY, editors. Proceedings of the 2 nd Temengor Scientific Expedition 2012, 22 - 25 August 2013. Pulau Banding Foundation, Malaysia; 2013.","51. Lim BL, Majid RA, Norsham Y. Studies on the mammal fauna of Bukit Kutu Wildlife reserve, Hulu Selangor. Journal of Wildlife and Parks. 1999; 17: 1 - 6.","54. Heller KG, Volleth MA. Fledermause aus Malaysia. 1. Beobachtungen zur Biologie, Morphologie und Taxonomie. Senckenb Biol. 1989; 69 (4 - 6): 243 - 76.","57. Norsham Y, Shariff F, Norhayati A, Nordin M, Lim BL. Pre-logging survey of mammal fauna at Sungai Weng sub-catchment, Ulu Muda Forest Reserve Forest Reserve, Kedah. Journal of Wildlife and Parks. 1999; 17: 28 - 43.","68. Shahfiz MA, Shahrul-Anuar MA, Nor-Zalipah M, Kaviarasu M, Pan KA, Yusof MO, et al. Surveys of bats at selected sites in Melaka Forest Reserves, Peninsular Malaysia. In: Rahman A, Koh HL, Muhamad A, Yusof WKW, Latiff A, editors. Proceedings for Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia, 1 - 2 April 2009 2008. Department of Wildlife and National Parks, Malaysia; 2009. pp. 265 - 270."]}

Measures of relative brain size and brain macromorphology are described for four species of Microchiroptera, two from the Vespertilionidae and two from the Rhinolophidae, and two species from the Pteropodidae (Megachiroptera). Four brain parameters (brain length, hemisphere length, brain width and brain height) were measured, and converted to indices of proportion to allow interspecific comparison. The megachiropteran species have relatively larger brains than the microchiropteran species, this being primarily a result of the greater development of the cerebral hemispheres in the former group. Of the microchiropteran species, Miniopterus schreibersii has the highest value for comparative brain size and its brain shows several characteristics of the more encephalized Megachiroptera such as reduced exposure of the mesencephalic tectum, and the presence of prominent cerebral sulci. The possibility that the differences in brain size and development between the Megachiroptera and the Microchiroptera, may be related to diet, or that they may be of phylogenetic origin, is discussed.

In 2009, an outbreak of white nodular cutaneous lesions was detected in one of only two known breeding colonies of the critically endangered southern bentwing bat (Miniopterus schreibersii bassanii), at Naracoorte, South Australia. Necropsies were conducted on 10 euthanized bats in September 2009. In October 2009, 123 bats were examined under anesthesia, with skin biopsies collected from 18 affected bats. Prevalence of skin lesions was 45.2%. The prevalence among males was three times greater than among females. The majority of lesions examined histologically were granulomas, typically centered on a nematode. A single lesion had epidermal hyperplasia with intracytoplasmic inclusions consistent with a pox virus; pox virions were identified on electron microscopy. Nematodes dissected from frozen lesions were identified morphologically as Riouxgolvania beveridgei, previously described in the eastern bentwing bat (Miniopterus schreibersii oceanensis). The factors contributing to this apparent disease emergence and outbreak remain undetermined. Lesions consistent with white nose syndrome were not identified.

Sawadalepis n. g. is erected for Sawadalepis prima n. sp. in Schreiber's bent-winged bat Miniopterus schreibersii Kuhl (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) from southern China. Diagnostic features of the currently monotypic genus include attributes of the osmoregulatory system and female genital organs. The dorsal osmoregulatory canals are shifted bilaterally towards the margins of proglottides in relation to the ventral canals. The genital pores are unilateral and sinistral. Among female attributes, the copulatory part of the vagina is covered externally by a dense layer of intensely stained cells; the conductive part of the vagina is clearly distinguishable from the seminal receptacle; the uterus has ventral and dorsal diverticula, extending bilaterally beyond the longitudinal osmoregulatory canals; and the eggs are spherical with thick outer coat.

This study describes the postnatal development of body mass, forearm length and epiphyseal phalangeal gap in a free ranging population of the Long-fingered Bat, Miniopterus schreibersii pallidus Thomas, 1907, in a maternity roost in the Mahidasht cave in western Iran. The pups at birth had a mean body mass of 3.74 ± 0.09 g and forearm length of 24.3 ± 0.31mm. The length of forearm and body mass increased linearly during first two weeks, and thereafter maintained an apparent stability. The epiphyseal gap of the fourth metacarpal phalangeal joint increased until the thirteenth day, then decreased linearly until the 70th day and thereafter fused. The rate of body mass gain and forearm growth during the first 13 days was 0.54 g/day and 1.39 mm/day, respectively. Initiation of flight occurred three weeks after birth. A method of estimating age was derived from the values of the forearm length and the total gap of the fourth metacarpal-phalangeal joint during the pre-flight and post-flight periods.

The Natura 2000 Network represents the greatest step forward yet in conservation in Europe, although its effectiveness is sometimes questioned, especially in Mediterranean regions. Bats are protected by the Habitat Directive and the presence of certain species is a prerequisite before Special Areas Conservation (SAC sites) can be included as such in the Natura 2000 Network. However, the effectiveness of SAC sites as regards the protection they offer to bats, especially cave-dwelling species, remains to be evaluated. We assess the effectiveness of the SAC system for protecting the roosts of six species of cave-dwelling bats and for protecting suitable and optimal habitats, using ecological niche models. Gap analyses indicate that c. 60% of roosts are protected by SAC sites, with values ranging from 45.8% for Miniopterus schreibersii to 72.2% for Rhinolophus hipposideros. The protection offered to suitable and optimal habitats was found to be much lower in general, with values of below 40% in all cases. Our results emphasize the potential value of non-natural caves (e.g. mines and buildings) for the conservation of bat populations, and the importance of assessing the efficiency of protected areas by considering distribution models that incorporate different types of information (e.g. roosts and use habitat) concerning species occurrence.

The genus Rotavirus comprises eight species designated A to H and one tentative species, Rotavirus I. In a virus metagenomic analysis of Schreiber's bats sampled in Serbia in 2014 we obtained sequences likely representing novel rotavirus species. Whole genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis classified the representative strain into a tentative tenth rotavirus species, we provisionally called Rotavirus J. The novel virus shared a maximum of 50% amino acid sequence identity within the VP6 gene to currently known members of the genus. This study extends our understanding of the genetic diversity of rotaviruses in bats., Highlights • Viral metagenomic analysis identified numerous eukaryotic viruses in bat guano. • Whole genome sequencing was performed to characterize a novel rotavirus strain. • This novel rotavirus strain likely represents a new rotavirus species, provisionally named Rotavirus J.

Many studies indicated that small mammals are important reservoirs for Bartonella species. Using molecular methods, several studies have documented that bats could harbor Bartonella. This study was conducted to investigate the relationship of Bartonella spp. identified in bats and small mammals living in the same ecological environment. During May 2009 and March 2010, a total of 102 blood specimens were collected. By whole blood culture and molecular identification, a total of 6 bats, 1 rodent and 9 shrews were shown to be infected by Bartonella species. After sequencing and phylogenetic analyses of the sequences of gltA, ftsZ, rpoB and ribC genes, these specific isolates from bats were not similar to the known Bartonella species (the similarity values were less than 91.2%, 90.5%, 88.8%, and 82.2%, respectively); these isolates formed an independent clade away from other known Bartonella type strains. The Bartonella spp. isolated from small mammals, which were closely related to Bartonella tribocorum, Bartonella elizabethae, Bartonella grahamii, Bartonella rattimassiliensis and Bartonella queenslandensis, were similar to the findings in previous studies worldwide. Therefore, the results implied that the species of Bartonella strains isolated from small mammals were different from those identified in bats. Our results strongly suggested that the bat isolate could be a new Bartonella species. This study is also the first one to isolate Bartonella organisms from Asian gray shrews, Crocidura attenuata tanakae.

Management of derelict mines to improve subterranean bat habitat and minimise safety risks to the unsuspecting public is occurring more frequently. Many caves and mines around the world have had gates placed at mine and cave entrances as a means of maintaining bat habitat and preventing human access, but there have been few replicated experiments to test their effectiveness. We experimentally tested a staged installation of a template gate at two mines while monitoring another two un-gated derelict mines in southeastern Australia. We recorded changes in numbers, behaviour and the relative species abundance of two bat species (Rhinolophus megaphyllus and Miniopterus schreibersii) before and after the gates were installed. The template gate (20 mm diameter plastic tubing) was installed in three stages, with the initial horizontal bar spacing at 450 mm, followed by a spacing of 300 mm and a final spacing of 125 mm. Bat numbers and behaviour were largely unaffected by bar spacings of 450 mm and 300 mm. The major findings were that immediately after the installation of bars at the final spacing (125 mm gap), numbers of bats declined significantly and a significant increase in the number of aborted exit and entry flights was observed. Detectors proved to be inadequate at quantifying changes in the relative abundance of species. Eleven days after the final installation there were no significant differences between the numbers of bats leaving gated and control mines, suggesting bats had learnt to negotiate the bars after a short period of time. However, flight behaviour was still affected after habituation, especially baulking at the structure when bats attempted to re-enter before dawn. The low replication of mines in the experiment warrants caution in extrapolating this result. Until further gating experiments are carried-out, we recommend site specific monitoring whenever mines are gated.

Visual flyout count data for the common bent-wing bat Miniopterus schreibersii, collected by a team of observers over two seasons at a disused mine in the Kinglake National Park, south-eastern Australia, was compared with infra-red video footage, collected simultaneously, in order to quantify the precision and accuracy of the observer counts. Bayesian statistical models were used to evaluate the relationship between observer counts and the actual number of bats emerging from the cave, as determined by analysis of the infra-red video footage of the flyout. The accuracy of flyout counts was found to decline with increasing flyout rates, with observers' counts becoming increasingly negatively biased as the rate of bat emergence from the mine increased. In addition, there was evidence of inter-observer variation in the accuracy of the counts. Although the bias in observer counts was relatively small, caution needs to be exercised in interpreting the results of visual flyout counts. We conclude that the use of infra-red video footage for determining numbers is preferable to visual observer counts. The major difficulty in using flyout counts for monitoring is the considerable night-to-night variation in numbers of bats emerging, which could be attributed to variation in the proportion of bats emerging to forage, or to the use of alternative roosting sites by individual bats on successive nights. Both observer error and short-term temporal variation in numbers of emerging bats have the potential to bias population estimates of bats, and need to be properly accounted for if flyout counts are to be used as a tool for population assessment and monitoring.

Background and Purpose: Artificial structures and shelters are in some cases important for bats. In Romania there are many data about the natural roosts used by bats, which are generally related with mountains, where caves shelter large colonies. The information about artificial roosts is brief. Materials and Methods: Field observations were made in the winter of the years 2015 / 2016, in an abandoned wine cellar, near Mocrea locality, western Romania. The bats were directly observed and numbered. The cellar was identified accidentally. Results: Miniopterus schreibersii, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum and Myotis myotis were found in 2015 / 2016 winter in an abandoned wine cellar from Mocrea. M. schreibersii has the largest colony. The number and location of bat species and individuals in the cellar changed during the winter. Conclusions: The three cave dwelling bat species identified in the cellar use this artificial roost because in the region there are no natural caves. Even in a country with many natural roosts, artificial underground habitats can be important for cave dwelling bats.

In the frame of monitoring the bat population in the Albanian National Park of Prespa Lakes, a

Mumbulla mine is an abandoned mine on the far south coast of NSW. It is notable for its significant population of Eastern Horseshoe Bats Rhinolophus megaphyllus. Bat species and numbers inhabiting the mine were monitored during May, July, October and November 2002 and January, March, April and October 2003. Bat numbers were recorded through the use of an infrared gate and data logger with a maximum number of 999 bats recorded in October 2002 prior to the maternity season, and a minimum of 54 bats recorded in January 2003, during the maternity season. Eastern Horseshoe Bats were identified using an Anabat detector during all monitoring sessions while the Eastern Bent-wing Bat Miniopterus schreibersii was absent during November and January. Sustained activity through the night at the mine entrance in April/May coincides with the mating season, and this observation is consistent with bat swarming behaviour, not previously reported in Australia. Both bat species were recorded flying at the mine entrance throu...

Miniopterus schreibersii villiersi Aellen, 1956 New material ZFMK 2008.0304, ♀, TO, 15 March 2008; ZFMK 2008.0305, ♀, FR, 18 March 2008; ZFMK 2009.0024, ♂, W1, 4 December 2008; ZFMK 2009.0025, ♀, WSV, 12 December 2008; ZFMK 2009.0029, ♂, WSV, 14 December 2008. Twenty-two individuals of this velvety-furred species were captured making it the third most common bat in 2008. One individual was obtained over the creek at W1, two in the canopy net over the creek at TO, three females in three different nets on the ridge at PF, and 16 individuals in the canopy net over the stream in the WSV. This taxon was described by Aellen (1956) as Miniopterus inflatus villiersi from the Grotte du Marché, Dalaba, Guinea. Miniopterus schreibersii villiersi was recorded on the 2002 RAP by Fahr and Ebigbo (2003), on the 2003 RAP from Mount Béro (Fahr et al., 2006), and recently from two localities in the Fouta Djallon (Weber and Fahr, 2007 b), who have argued for its elevation as a separate species, M. villiersi, which in turn would limit M. schreibersii to a circum-Mediterranean and southern Palaearctic distribution. Konstantinov et al. (2000) reported a large colony from the ‘Mangamoria’ cave near Kindia, Guinea. This species uses caves as day roosts and in West Africa appears to prefer montane areas reaching 2,500 m on Mount Cameroon (Rosevear, 1965; Hutterer et al., 1992). Females caught on 15 March 2008 at TO and 18 March 2008 at PF (ZFMK 2008.0304 + 2008.0305) carried single embryos of 12 and 14 mm crown-rump length, respectively. It most likely also uses caves and rock crevices on the slopes and ridges of the submontane forest at Simandou and travels along the creeks to forage at lower elevations. Conservation status Not yet evaluated as a species separate from M. schreibersii. Near Threatened, as subspecies of M. schreibersii with a decreasing population trend (IUCN, 2015)., Published as part of Decher, Jan, Hoffmann, Anke, Schaer, Juliane, N Orris, Ryan W., Kadjo, Blaise, Astrin, Jonas, Monadjem, Ara & Hutterer, Rainer, 2015, Bat diversity in the Simandou Mountain Range of Guinea, with the description of a new white-winged vespertilionid, pp. 255-282 in Acta Chiropterologica 17 (2) on pages 274-275, DOI: 10.3161/15081109ACC2015.17.2.003, http://zenodo.org/record/3943621, {"references":["AELLEN, V. 1956. Speleologica africana. Chiropteres des grottes de Guinee. Bulletin de l'Institut Francais d'Afrique Noire, 18 A: 884 - 894.","FAHR, J., B. A. DJOSSA, and H. VIERHAUS. 2006. Rapid assessment of bats (Chiroptera) in the Dere, Diecke and Mt. Bero classified forests, Southeastern Guinea; including a review of the distribution of bats in Guinee Forestiere. Pp. 168 - 180, in A rapid biological assessment of three classified forests in southeastern Guinea (H. E. WRIGHT, J. MC- CULLOUGH, L. E. ALONSO, and M. S. DIALLO, eds.). RAP Bulletin of Biological Assessment 40. Conservation International, Washington, D. C., 248 pp.","KONSTANTINOV, O. K., A. I. PEMA, V. V. L ABZIN, and G. V. FARA- FONOVA. 2000. Records of bats from Middle Guinea, with remarks on their natural history. Plecotus et al., 3: 129 - 148.","ROSEVEAR, D. R. 1965. The bats of West Africa. Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History), London.","HUTTERER, R., F. DIETERLEN, and G. NIKOLAUS. 1992. Small mammals from forest islands of eastern Nigeria and adjacent Cameroon, with systematical and biogeographical notes. Bonner zoologische Beitrage, 43: 393 - 414.","IUCN 2015. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.1. Available at http: // www. iucnredlist. org. Downloaded on 12 June 2015."]}

In recent times, the apparent population decline of the southern bent-wing bat (Miniopterus schreibersii bassanii) at Bat Cave, Naracoorte has been ascribed to pesticide use in the region, following the finding of organochlorine and orgaonophosphate insecticide residues in bat guano. Adult southern bent-wing bats were collected from Bat Cave and Starlight Cave in 2003. Organochlorine contaminants were detected in all carcass samples: p,p'-DDE was by far the most dominant contaminant with concentrations ranging from 11,000 to 59,000ngg(-1), followed by p,p'-DDT (110-1600ngg(-1)), p,p'-DDD (35-620ngg(-1)), summation operatorPCBs (33-490ngg(-1)), summation operatorchlordane and related compounds (7.9-270ngg(-1)), HCB (1.6-120ngg(-1)), HP epox. (3.1-230ngg(-1)), TCPMOH (3.8-38ngg(-1)), summation operatorHCHs (1.4-9.6ngg(-1)), and TCPMe (0.1-4.2ngg(-1)) (all values on lipid-weight basis). No significant difference in DDE, DDD, DDT, summation operatorDDT, summation operatorPCB, trans-chlordane, heptachlor epoxide, trans-nonachlor, alpha-HCH, beta-HCH, gamma-HCH, TCPMOH or TCPMe concentrations were observed either between sexes within sites, or between sites (p0.05). However, there were significant differences in HCB and oxychlordane concentrations between sexes and between sites (p0.05), between site differences in cis-nonachlor concentrations in male bats (p0.05), and cis-chlordane concentrations between sexes at Starlight Cave, and between males of each site (p0.05). There were also significant differences in the liver concentrations of some metals between sexes within sites (Ag, Cd, Co, Cu, Pb, Se, Zn), and between sites (Ag, Cd, Co, Cu, Hg, Pb, Se, V, Zn). Clustering or grouping of sites was observed when the OC data was expressed on a lipid-weight basis. These inter-site differences in OC concentrations reflect local exposure over a period of time, and do not unambiguously support any suggestion that we are witnessing incipient speciation. However, for conservation purposes, it may be prudent to assume that there are two sub-populations of M. s. bassani feeding in different locations in this region of southern Australia, rather than the single homogeneous population suggested by genetic studies.

Miniopterus schreibersii natalensis and Miniopterus fraterculus are two morphologically similar, but genetically distinct, species of insectivorous bat that, more often than not, share roosts. Identifying these two species in the field is difficult because of an overlap in the ranges of both forearm and mass. We thus attempted to find morphological features that could be used to distinguish between these two species in the field. We compared cranial and external morphological measurements from museum specimens of the two species, using principal component analysis and discriminant function analysis, to determine which variables could be used to discriminate between them. Length of the hind foot and total body length were identified as the variables responsible for most of the variation between these two species. Miniopterus s. natalensis has a longer total body length (113.6 ± 3.5 mm) than M. fraterculus (102.2 ± 4.8mm) but a relatively shorter hind foot (9.1 ± 0.6 mm, 9.8 ± 0.8 mm, respectively). A function generated from standardized canonical variables, (HF × 0.279417) – (TL × 0.989306) + 100, and based on length of hind foot (HF) and total body length (TL) generated function scores 0 for M. fraterculus. On the basis that positive values (above zero) indicated M. fraterculus, and negative values (below zero) indicated M. s. natalensis, we were able to correctly assign 20 individuals to their respective species using the above function. These individuals were previously identified as M. fraterculus or M. s. natalensis from their mtDNA sequences. The function thus provides a useful tool for discriminating between the two species in the field.Keywords: cryptic species, field identification, morphology

Delayed implantation in bats is an interrupted reproductive cycle which provides a unique adaptation to seasonal changes in climate and food availability. In bats with a vast geographic distribution this can give the ability to perform different reproductive patterns throughout their geographic range. Delayed implantation has been observed in several species of bats of which one, the Schreiber’s Long-Fingered Bat Miniopterus schreibersii, occurs in Iran. Information obtained from two females provided evidence on delayed implantation in Miniopterus schreibersii through microscopic observation of the corpus luteum in late October. Assuming that fertilization takes place immediately after follicogenesis, evidence on approximate parturition time provided sufficient information to construct the annual reproductive cycle for this bat in western Iran. The total gestation length of Miniopterus schreibersii in western Iran is 7.5 to 8 months.

Variations in Large Bentwing-bat Miniopterus schreibersii echolocation call frequency throughout its range in Australia were investigated for patterns. Statistically significant differences were identified between the three main populations. Bats from Byaduk Caves and Warrnambool in Southwestern Victoria together with those from Naracoorte in South Australia form a southern phonotype (M. s. bassanii). Bats from East Gippsland in Victoria through to Torres Strait form the eastern phonotype (M. s. oceanensis). Bats from the Northern Territory form the third phonotype (M. s. orianae).

This study examines the initial orientation of Miniopterus schreibersii (Kuhl, 1817) when released from their roosts and analysess the significance of rivers as landmarks in bat navigation.

Oxygen consumption of individual long-fingered bats, Miniopterus schreibersii, was measured at air temperatures (Tr) between 2 and 42°C and that of clusters of four and six bats between 5 and 30°C. BMR of individuals was estimated to be 2.29 ml O2 g 1 h-1 between 34 and about 38°C. M. schreibersii showed two different responses to Ta, either maintaining body temperature (Tb) by increasing metabolic rate, or allowing Tb to fall close to ambient temperature and conserving energy (torpor). Euthermic clusters of four and six bats had lower rates of mass-specific oxygen consumption and lower thermal conductances than individuals at equivalent temperatures and torpid clusters maintained a greater temperature differential between Tb and Ta. Lowest rates of metabolism were measured for euthermic bats at air temperatures higher than those available to them in their natural roost in summer, so typical roost temperatures result in metabolic rates that are about 2 4–3.1 times estimated BMR. Roost temperatures of M. s...

Serra-Cobo J., Sanz-Trullen V. and Martinez-Rica J. P. 1998. Migratory movements of Miniopterus schreibersii in the north-east of Spain. Acta Theriologica 43: 271-283. This article analyses information gathered between 1984 and 1995 relating to the seasonal movements of Miniopterus schreibersii (Kuhl, 1819) in the north-east of Spain. The recapture rate of banded different individuals is 32.5% and the total recapture rate is 53.4%. Ninety five different trajectories have been reported. The bats cover an average distance of 120 km between their hibernation sites and summer roosts. The longest longevity recorded here is almost 10 years. Localities where M. schreibersii was observed were grouped by seasonal use pattern and according the species biological cycle. Two new hibernation sites, seven new breeding sites and sixteen new equinoctial sites have been discovered in this study. From the verified flight trajectories, the distribution of shelters and the ethological characteristics of the species, the most probable migration path have been established.

The mining of bat guano for agricultural purposes has occurred throughout Australia, and as a small localized industry has often been subject to considerable conflict. The history of this mining at Naracoorte, South Australia is outlined and demonstrates continuing conflict both within the local community and with the more distant state government. There are insufficient data to understand the impact of mining upon the bat population.

Miniopterus schreibersii is a cave-dwelling species, which is well suited for phylogeographic investigations at a large geographic scale, because of its subcos- mopolitan distribution and it consisting of lower taxa, many of which have been elevated to species level recently. In this study, 496 samples that were collected from the entire range of M. schreibersii were analyzed using nuclear microsatellite markers to investigate the taxonomy, evolutionary history and conservation of the species. In this way, the phylogeography of the species was examined in detail, across its whole global distribution area, in order to expand the existing knowledge of its phylogeographic history significantly and to provide the necessary validation of the studies that only made use of the mitochondrial markers. The examination of these nuclear loci confirmed the findings of previous studies and provided a more complete picture of the species‟ genetic distribution. Significant differentiations of the nuclear DNA were detected between 10 regions, North Africa, Lebanon, Cyprus, Anatolia, Russia, Thrace- Balkans, Slovakia, Italy, France, and Iberia, where the sample populations were located. This study also confirms the pattern of local differentiation previously detected in mitochondrial DNA.

Miniopterus schreibersii is a cave-dwelling species, which is well suited for phylogeographic investigations at a large geographic scale, because of its subcosmopolitan distribution and it consisting of lower taxa, many of which have been elevated to species level recently. In this study, 496 samples that were collected from the entire range of M. schreibersii were analyzed using nuclear microsatellite markers to investigate the taxonomy, evolutionary history and conservation of the species. In this way, the phylogeography of the species was examined in detail, across its whole global distribution area, in order to expand the existing knowledge of its phylogeographic history significantly and to provide the necessary validation of the studies that only made use of the mitochondrial markers. The examination of these nuclear loci confirmed the findings of previous studies and provided a more complete picture of the species‟ genetic distribution. Significant differentiations of the nuclear DNA were detected between 10 regions, North Africa, Lebanon, Cyprus, Anatolia, Russia, Thrace- Balkans, Slovakia, Italy, France, and Iberia, where the sample populations were located. This study also confirms the pattern of local differentiation previously detected in mitochondrial DNA.

Mating in Schreibers' long-fingered bat (Miniopterus schreibersii) from central Zimbabwe (18"s) occurred between mid-April and mid-May, after a five-month period of spermatogenesis. Implantation was delayed until early July and parturition occurred between late October and mid-November, about four months after implantation and six to seven months after fertilization. The timing and length of gestation at 18"s are similar to that described for M. schreibersii from Zaire (11"s) and when these data are compared with those for the same species from higher latitudes in Africa, it is apparent that there is a small, but distinct, increase in the total length of pregnancy and the length of delayed implantation with increasing latitude. The reproductive biology of Miniopterus schreibersii from Africa and France differs fundamentally from that of the same species from Australia and Japan, and it is suggested that studies of the relationship between latitude and duration of delayed implantation should be based on comparisons within single species from different latitudes on the same continent, and that comparisons between species and between continents should be avoided.