Meridional serotine

The meridional serotine (Eptesicus isabellinus) is a species of bat found in the Iberian Peninsula, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya.

Meridional serotine
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Chiroptera
Family: Vespertilionidae
Genus: Eptesicus
Species:
E. isabellinus
Binomial name
Eptesicus isabellinus
Temminck, 1840
Range of the meridional serotine
Synonyms

Taxonomy and etymology

The taxonomic status of Eptesicus isabellinus has been revised several times since its initial description. This species was initially described in 1840 by Dutch zoologist Coenraad Jacob Temminck. He placed it in the genus Vespertilio, naming it Vespertilio isabellinus.[2] In 1887, French zoologist Fernand Lataste intimated that he believed that the meridional serotine was a subspecies of the serotine bat, Eptesicus serotinus, per Harrison 1963.[3][4] In 1963, David Harrison determined that morphologically, Eptesicus isabellinus was indistinguishable from Eptesicus serotinus, and suggested that its name should be Eptesicus serotinus isabellinus to recognize it as a subspecies of the latter.[3] In 2006, Ibáñez and others examined the mitochondrial DNA of several members of the European Eptesicus species, finding considerable genetic diversity. They concluded that Eptesicus serotinus was a species complex of morphologically similar but genetically distinct species.[5] They recommended that Eptesicus serotinus isabellinus should be elevated to a species, suggesting a reversion to the name Eptesicus isabellinus if the population of southern Iberia represented the same species as the population of northern Africa (formerly Eptesicus serotinus boscai), which it did.[5] In 2013, another study was published on the genetics of Eptesicus isabellinus, which further supported its elevation to species rank.[6]

Its species name isabellinus is a New Latin rendering of isabelline, which means pale yellow in color. In his initial description of the species, Temmick described its fur color as "a beautiful shade of isabella."[2]

Description

The forearm is 51 mm (2.0 in) long, and the hind foot is 11.6–11.8 mm (0.46–0.46 in) long. It has long, silky hair on its back, with individual hairs 8 mm (0.31 in) long.[3] Hairs on its belly are shorter, at 6 mm (0.24 in) long. It can be distinguished from the closely related serotine bat by its yellowish brown fur, which is much lighter than that of the serotine bat.[5] The internal margin of the ear is convex; ears are rounded at the tip. The tragus is blunt at the tip. The feet are large with brown claws and hairy toes.[3]

Biology

It is insectivorous, feeding on beetles, moths, and flies.[1] In particular, important prey items include scarab beetles and various flies.[7] Females will form maternity colonies, consisting of 20-100 individuals.[1]

Habitat and range

It has been documented in Spain, Portugal, Gibraltar, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya. It has not been documented at elevations over 1,800 m (5,900 ft). During the day, it will roost in rock crevices, bridges, and buildings. It is tolerant of a wide range of climates and habitats, including semi-desert, temperate forest, shrubland, suburbs, and subtropical dry forest. It prefers to forage over open habitats such as pastures and gardens.[1]

Conservation

It is currently evaluated as least concern by the IUCN. It meets the criteria for this listing because it is abundant in population and widespread geographically. There is no reason to believe that its population is declining drastically. In some areas of southern Spain, it is considered one of the most common species of bat.[1]

References
  1. Juste, J. (2016). "Eptesicus isabellinus". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T85200107A85200275. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T85200107A85200275.en.
  2. Temminck, C. J. (1840). Monographies de mammalogie, ou Description de quelques genres de mammifères, dont les espèces ont été observées dans les différens musées de l'Europe. 2. pp. 205–206. Retrieved October 12, 2017.
  3. Harrison, D. L. (1963). "Observations on the North African serotine bat, Eptesicus serotinus isabellinus (Temminck, 1840)(Mammalia: Chiroptera)". Rijksmuseum van Natuurlijke Historie. 38 (12). Retrieved October 12, 2017.
  4. Lataste, F. (1887). "Description d'une nouvelle espece de Chiroptere d'Egypte". Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Genova. 24: 625–630.
  5. Ibáñez, C.; García-Mudarra, J. L.; Ruedi, M.; Stadelmann, B.; Juste, J. (2006). "The Iberian contribution to cryptic diversity in European bats". Acta Chiropterologica. 8 (2): 277–297. doi:10.3161/1733-5329(2006)8[277:TICTCD]2.0.CO;2. hdl:10261/48653. Retrieved October 12, 2017.
  6. Juste, J.; Benda, P.; Garcia‐Mudarra, J. L.; Ibanez, C. (2013). "Phylogeny and systematics of Old World serotine bats (genus Eptesicus, Vespertilionidae, Chiroptera): an integrative approach". Zoologica Scripta. 42 (5): 441–457. doi:10.1111/zsc.12020. hdl:10261/80441.
  7. Lisón, F.; López-Espinosa, J. A.; Calvo, J. F.; Jones, G. (2015). "Diet of the meridional serotine Eptesicus isabellinus in an urban semiarid Mediterranean landscape". Acta Chiropterologica. 2 (17): 371–378.
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