Myotis diminutus
Myotis diminutus is a species of mouse-eared bat found in Ecuador and Colombia. It was recently described as a new species in 2011.
| Myotis diminutus | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Chiroptera |
| Family: | Vespertilionidae |
| Genus: | Myotis |
| Species: | M. diminutus |
| Binomial name | |
| Myotis diminutus Moratelli & Wilson, 2011 | |
Taxonomy and etymology
Myotis diminutus was described as a new species in 2011 by Moratelli and Wilson. The holotype was collected in February 1979 47 km (29 mi) south of Santo Domingo, Ecuador. The species name "diminutus" is Latin for "diminutive". Moratelli and Wilson selected this name because M. diminutus was the smallest species of mouse-eared bat yet described in South America.[2]
Description
Superficially, M. diminutus is similar to the black myotis in appearance. Very few individuals have ever been documented. Based on the measurements of one individual, a subadult male, individuals weigh approximately 3.5 g (0.12 oz) and have a forearm length of 33.3 mm (1.31 in). Its ears are short, at 11 mm (0.43 in) in length. It has silky, cinnamon-brown fur. Its skull lacks a sagittal crest.[2]
Range
The species was first documented in Ecuador. However, a review of museum specimens identified a second individual that had been collected in the Nariño Department of Colombia in 1959.[3] With only two confirmed localities, its elevation range of occurrence is 150–225 m (492–738 ft) above sea level.[1]
References
- Solari, S. (2017). "Myotis diminutus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T88151417A88151431. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T88151417A88151431.en.
- Moratelli, Ricardo; Wilson, Don E. (2011). "A new species of Myotis Kaup, 1829 (Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae) from Ecuador". Mammalian Biology. 76 (5): 608–614. doi:10.1016/j.mambio.2010.10.003.
- Moratelli, Ricardo; Wilson, Don E. (2015). "A second record of Myotis diminutus (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae): Its bearing on the taxonomy of the species and discrimination from M. Nigricans". Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington. 127 (4): 533–542. doi:10.2988/0006-324X-127.4.533.