New Zealand ragged bat
| New Zealand ragged bat | ||||||||||||
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New Zealand lobed bat ( Chalinolobus tuberculatus ) |
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Chalinolobus tuberculatus | ||||||||||||
| ( Forster , 1844) |
The New Zealand lobed bat ( Chalinolobus tuberculatus ) is a species of the genus Chalinolobus that is endemic to New Zealand and one of three bat species that live here . They were the only mammals on this group of islands until the arrival of the Europeans. The other indigenous to New Zealand bat species, the New Zealand lesser short-tailed bat ( Mystacina tuberculata ) and the now extinct New Zealand greater short-tailed bat ( Mystacina robusta ) belong to the endemic genus of New Zealand bats ( Mystacina on).
anatomy
The New Zealand lobed bat is a relatively small member of the genus Chalinolobus . The adult animals reach a body weight of 7 to 10 grams and a wingspan of approx. 26 cm. The back is covered with fine, silky hair that can range in color from black to a dark reddish-brown. The belly is covered with a gray-black coat, while the flight membrane of the wings and the V-shaped tail membrane are completely hairless. The bone structure of Chalinolobus tuberculatus is slender and long. The small thumb , which arises from the wrist and is not connected to the other fingers by a membrane, ends in a sharp, curved claw that protrudes. The differentiation between the sexes is obvious, as one can see the small member (penis) in the males .
behavior
The flight style of the New Zealand lobed bat is similar to the flight behavior of the New Zealand fan tail ( Rhipidura fuliginosa ). The flight pattern consists of rapid flight maneuvers with frequent changes of direction. The bats hibernate for four to five months over the winter months . Populations on the North Island do not hibernate during warm winters. O'Donnell conducted a study over a period of seven years. It was found that C. tuberculatus in early autumn mates . O'Donnell's scientists assume that the sperm are stored in the fallopian tubes of female bats throughout the winter . With ovulation after hibernation in spring, fertilization takes place. This is the case with both C. morio and C. gouldii . The females reach sexual maturity at an age of two to three years. They give birth to their only young in mid-December. The scientists found that on average the same number of males and females were born. The young animals try their first flight attempts after four to five weeks . O'Donnell observed in 2002 that females' lactation ends later when there are lots of insects flying in the summer months and when there is a high annual air temperature .
The species lives mainly in group roosts, but occasionally also in individual roosts. The communal roosts are often located in hollow trees with a large trunk diameter , especially willows ( Salix spp.) Were found that were large enough for common sleeping caves. Individual animals hide in crevices and hollow trees with a smaller trunk diameter, such as Cordyline australis or Kunzea ericoides . For mating, the females gather in groups where they are huddled together and wait for the males in a warm environment.
nutrition
When dusk falls, the animals leave their day quarters and go in search of food . They cover distances of up to four kilometers per night. When hunting flying insects , they prefer forest edges and small clearings , in the forest or in open fields they hunt less often. As insectivores , they feed on flying insects such as mosquitoes , moths, and mayflies . Shortly after sunrise, they crawl back into their sleeping places. You can be flexible in your diet as captive animals also include mealworms and larger insects such as fish. B. a praying mantis , eat.
distribution
The New Zealand lobed bat is endemic to New Zealand, although the genus Chalinolobus is mostly native to Australia . It is believed that C. tuberculatus is descended from C. picatus or C. gouldii and has evolved into its own species for over a million years through isolation . C. tuberculatus is native to most of New Zealand today.
habitat
Habitats of the species are predominantly temperate rainforests , especially Nothofagus forests; more rarely, quarters in plantations of exotic tree species, natural caves and buildings are settled. The species lives on the North and South Island of New Zealand, but is now considered rare on the South Island. C. tuberculatus is also found on the Great Barrier Island and Kapiti Island . They can also be found at altitudes up to about 1000 m above sea level . They also live in the lowlands and mountains in native forests, in the rainforest , on farmland and also in limestone caves . But they are most often found in pristine forests.
Danger
Like the New Zealand lesser bat, the New Zealand lobed bat is also endangered, as the introduced predators penetrate further and further into the range and disturb the bats in their life cycle . The still flightless young animals have no chance against rats and martens . The decimation of the species by martens is considered to be one of the most important causes of the general decline . A significant decline in Fiordland in 1996 was caused by an influx of ermines ( Mustela erminea ) into the area. Other introduced mammals such as rats ( Rattus exulans , Rattus rattus, and Rattus norvegicus ) and domestic and feral cats ( Felis catus ) also hunt these endemic mammals. The natural predators like Haliaetus australis also hunt Chalinolobus tuberculatus , which is evidenced by bones and severed wings in the nests . The caves they inhabit are contested by the introduced starling ( Sturnus vulgaris ) and by the also introduced house rats .
Parasites
The New Zealand lobed bat is the host of a number of parasites , such as the flea hard Porribius pacificus , which prefers to attack this species of bat. Due to the group roosts, this flea is very common, as it can lay its eggs on animals that have not yet been infected without any problems . Two species of mites , Ornithonyssus spinosa (Manson, 1972) and an indeterminate Spinturnix species, and a species of tapeworm , Hymenolepis chalinolobus , also infest C. tuberculatus .
protection
A number of protective measures are currently underway , such as the protection and improvement of the existing roosts , the construction of artificial roosts, extermination attempts for the introduced predators, the provision of information about this bat species and the reforestation of the native vegetation.
Importance to the Maori
The traditional Maori name for the species is Pekapeka. It has a superstitious meaning. An old Maori proverb links the pekapeka with the mythical night bird "Hokioi" , which can predict death and catastrophes . The name Pekapeka is also used as a place name in an area of New Zealand. A bay in north Auckland was named " Pekapeka Bay ", and a sea current was called " Pekapeka Current ".
- designation
| English language | Maori language |
|---|---|
| New Zealand long-tailed bat | pekapeka-tou-roa |
| long-tailed wattled bat | Pekapeka |
| Long-tailed bat |
Web links
- Description of Chalinolobus tuberculatus on iucnredlist.org
- Info written by Amelia Woods (Lincoln University) on canterburynature.org
- Description of pekapeka on doc.govt.nz
- Rescue plan for Chalinolobus tuberculata
- C. tuberculata described on visitzealandia.com
- Facts about C. tuberculata on terranature.org
- The Chalinolobus species summarized on arkive.org
- The New Zealand bat species described on batcon.org
Individual evidence
- ↑ Stuart Parsons: Search-phase echolocation calls of the New Zealand lesser short-tailed bat (Mystacina tuberculata) and long-tailed bat (Chalinolobus tuberculatus). In: Canadian Journal of Zoology. 75, 1997, pp. 1487-1494, doi : 10.1139 / z97-772 .
- ^ Richard W. Griffiths (2007): Activity patterns of long-tailed bats (Chalinolobus tuberculatus) in a rural landscape, South Canterbury, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Zoology Volume 34, Issue 3: 247-258. doi : 10.1080 / 03014220709510083 (free access)
- ↑ Alison Beath, Jo Thorne and Alastair W. Robertson: Evaluating the attractiveness of pest-control baits and lures to captive short-tailed bats, Mystacina tuberculata
- ↑ Colin FJ O'Donnell (2000): Conservation status and causes of decline of the threatened New Zealand Long-tailed Bat Chalinolobus tuberculatus (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae). Mammal Review Volume 30, Issue 2: 89-106. doi : 10.1046 / j.1365-2907.2000.00059.x
- ^ Colin FJ O'Donnell and Jane A. Sedgeley, Use of Roosts by the Long-Tailed Bat, Chalinolobus tuberculatus, in Temperate Rainforest in New Zealand . In: Journal of Mammalogy, Vol. 80, No. 3 (Aug., 1999), pp. 913-923.
- ^ PE Cowan: Environmental pests: How can we identify the values at risk ?. In: New Zealand Journal of Zoology. 20, 1993, pp. 279-283, doi : 10.1080 / 03014223.1993.10420345
- ^ Molloy, J. (1995) Bat (Peka Peka) Recovery Plan (Mystacina, Chalinolobus). Department of Conservation, New Zealand
- ↑ Sedgeley, JA & CFJ O'Donnell (2004) Roost selection by the long-tailed bat, Chalinolobus tuberculatus, in temperate New Zealand rainforest and its implications for the conservation of bats in managed forests. New Zealand Journal of Ecology, 28 (1): 1-18. doi : 10.1016 / S0006-3207 (98) 00069-X
- ↑ a b J.D. Tenquist & WAG Charleston (2001) A revision of the annotated checklist of ectoparasites of terrestrial mammals in New Zealand, Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand, 31 (3): 481-542, doi : 10.1080 / 03014223.2001.9517666
- ↑ JRH Andrews & MJ Daniel (1974): A new species of Hymenolepis (Cestoda: Hymenolepididae) from the New Zealand long-tailed bat, Chalinolobus tuberculatus. New Zealand Journal of Zoology, Vol. 1 No. 3: 333-336.