Smooth noses
Smooth noses | ||||||||||||
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Townsend long-eared ( Corynorhinus townsendii ) |
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Systematics | ||||||||||||
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Scientific name | ||||||||||||
Vespertilionidae | ||||||||||||
JE Gray , 1821 |
The smooth noses (Vespertilionidae) are a family of bats . It is the most species-rich family of this group, with around 350 species in around 45 genera worldwide, around a third of all known bat species.
distribution
Smooth noses are distributed worldwide in temperate, subtropical and tropical regions, they are only absent in the Arctic , the Antarctic and on the most remote islands. In Europe, some 35 species are distributed, including about 25 in Central Europe . With the exception of several horseshoe bats , the European free-tailed bat ( Tadarida teniotis ) and the Egyptian fruit bat ( Rousettus aegyptiacus ) in Cyprus include all European bats in this family. A complete list can be found in the Systematics section .
description
Smooth-nosed bats get their name from the fact that, unlike other bats, they do not have a nosepiece; only the subfamily of the Australian long-eared bats has a rudimentary nasal blade. The eyes are small, the ears in contrast very large, they can be up to 40 millimeters long in the long-eared bats ( Plecotus ) and can be closed with an ear cover ( tragus ). The coat color is usually brown, gray or black, but there are also reddish, yellow and several patterned types. A tail is generally present, it is embedded in the tail membrane ( uropatagium ). Smooth noses reach a head body length of 32 to 105 millimeters, a tail length of 25 to 75 millimeters and a weight of 4 to 50 grams.
Way of life
These bats are found in a wide variety of habitats, from arid deserts to moist rainforests. They primarily sleep in caves, but they can also be found in mines, buildings, tree hollows or in large leaves. Some species are solitary, others can be found in large groups of hundreds of thousands of animals. The species in cooler regions migrate to warmer areas during the cold season or hibernate , for which they often seek their own winter quarters. Like most bats, they are nocturnal.
food
Most smooth noses feed on insects . Most catch their prey in flight with the help of their tail-skin, but some collect insects by creeping. Some species are known to eat fish, for this purpose they fish their prey from lakes or rivers with the help of their hind legs.
Reproduction
Most smooth-nosed females have two teats. In many species, the females form "nursery rooms", into which they retire together at birth and the following time when the young are raised. As a rule, the males do not take part in the rearing process. Species in cooler areas mate in autumn or winter, the sperm is stored in the reproductive tract of the female and is only fertilized in spring. In warmer areas, mating can occur all year round. The gestation period is on average 40 to 70 days, usually a single (rarely up to four) young animal is born. Life expectancy is relatively high for animals of their size, individual specimens can reach an age of 20 years and more.
threat
The main threat to the smooth noses is the progressive destruction of their habitat, especially endemic species on small islands are affected. But in Europe too, many species are affected by the renovation of old buildings or by poisoning with insect repellants. The IUCN lists two species as extinct, 27 others are considered critically endangered or threatened, but precise data are lacking for many species.
Systematics
External system
Smooth noses are classified in their own superfamily, Vespertilionoidea. Their closest relatives are the bulldog bats (Molossidae). Fossil ancestors have been documented since the middle Eocene .
Internal system
The internal systematics is still the subject of numerous discussions. The numerous genera are divided into six subfamilies, whose ancestral relationships remain unclear. According to recent studies, the South American species Tomopeas ravus should belong to the bulldog bats , but the Antrozoinae , which are sometimes raised to the rank of a separate family as Antrozoidae, probably belong to the smooth-nosed bats.
- Subfamily Kerivoulinae
- Woolly bats ( Kerivoula ), about 20 species, Africa, Southeast Asia, Australia
- Trumpet ears ( Phoniscus ), 4 species, Southeast Asia, Australia
- Subfamily long-winged bats (Miniopterinae)
- Long-winged bats ( Miniopterus ), 20–21 species, Eurasia, Africa, Australia, including 1 species in Europe
- Subfamily tube-nosed bats (Murininae)
- Harpiocephalus , 2 species, Southeast Asia
- Murina , 15 species, East, South and Southeast Asia
- Subfamily Antrozoinae
- Desert bat ( Antrozous pallidus ), North and Central America
- Van Gelder Bat ( Bauerus dubiaquercus ), Central America
- Subfamily Australian long-eared bats (Nyctophilinae)
- Nyctophilus , 10 species, Australia, New Guinea
- New Guinea long-eared ( Pharotis imogene ), New Guinea
- Subfamily real smooth noses (Vespertilioninae)
- Pug bats ( Barbastella ), 2 species, Eurasia, including 1 in Europe
- Cassistrellus , 2 species, Southeast Asia
- Lobed bats ( Chalinolobus ), 7 species, Australia, New Zealand
- American long-eared bats ( Corynorhinus ), 3 species, North America
- Broad-winged bats ( Eptesicus ), around 30 species, worldwide, 2 of them in Europe
- Spotted bat ( Euderma maculatum ), North America
- Discus-footed bat ( Eudiscopus denticulus ), Southeast Asia
- Butterfly bats ( Glauconycteris ), 11 species, Africa
- Large thump bats ( Glischropus ), 2 species, Southeast Asia
- Hesperoptenus , 5 species, Southeast Asia
- Histiotus , 4 species, South America
- Hypsugo , around 15 species, worldwide, including 1 in Europe
- East Asian Midnight Swift ( Ia io ), China
- Allen long-eared bat ( Idionycteris phyllotis ), North America
- African long-eared bats ( Laephotis ), 4 species, Africa
- Silver haired bat ( Lasionycteris noctivagans ), North America
- Hair-tailed bats ( Lasiurus ), 15 species, America
- Moloney's narrow-winged bat ( Mimetillus moloneyi ), Central Africa
- Mirostrellus , Myanmar
- Mouse ears ( Myotis ): around 90 species, worldwide, 11 of them in Europe
- Black and white butterfly bat ( Niumbaha superba ), Africa
- Noctule bat ( Nyctalus ), 6 species, Eurasia, North Africa, 4 of them in Europe
- American noctule bat ( Nycticeius ), 2 species, North America
- Schlieffen bat ( Nycticeinops schlieffeni ), Africa, Southwest Asia
- Desert long-eared ( Otonycteris hemprichi ), North Africa, West Asia
- Western American pipistrelle ( Parastrellus hesperus ), a species found in western North America
- Eastern American pipistrelle ( Perimyotis subflavus ), a species found in eastern North America
- Philetor brachypterus , Southeast Asia
- Pipistrelle bats ( Pipistrellus ), around 35 species, worldwide, 5 of them in Europe
- Long-eared bats ( Plecotus ), 8 species, Eurasia, 7 of them in Europe
- Rhogeessa , 10 species, Central and South America
- Great broad-nosed bat ( Scoteanax rueppellii ), Australia
- Scotoecus , 3 species, Africa, South Asia
- Harlequin bat ( Scotomanes ornatus ), Southeast Asia
- Scotophilus , 10 species, Africa and South and Southeast Asia
- Small broad-nosed bats ( Scotorepens ), 4 species, Australia
- Dormer Pipebat ( Scotozous dormeri ), South Asia.
- Bamboo bats ( Tylonycteris ), 3 species, Southeast Asia,
- Two-colored bats ( Vespertilio ), 3 species, Eurasia, including 1 in Europe
European genera and species
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Broad-winged bats ( Eptesicus )
- Broad-winged bat ( Eptesicus serotinus )
- Northern bat ( Eptesicus nilssoni )
- Isabel's bat ( Eptesicus isabellinus )
- Coastal bat ( Eptesicus anatolicus )
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Hypsugo
- Alpine bat ( Hypsugo savii )
-
Long-winged bats ( Miniopterus )
- Long-winged bat ( Miniopterus Schreibersii )
-
Mouse ears ( myotis )
- Water bat ( Myotis daubentonii )
- Long-footed bat ( Myotis capaccinii )
- Pond bat ( Myotis dasycneme )
- Great whiskered bat , also called brandtfledermaus ( Myotis brandtii )
- Lesser whiskered bat ( Myotis mystacinus )
- Nymph bat ( Myotis alcathoe )
- Steppe whiskered bat ( Myotis aurascens )
- Ciliate bat ( Myotis emarginatus )
- Fringed bat ( Myotis nattereri )
- Bechstein's bat ( Myotis bechsteinii )
- Great mouse-eared mouse ( Myotis myotis )
- Little mouse-eared mouse ( Myotis blythii )
- Punic mouse- eared mouse ( Myotis punicus )
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Noctule Swift ( Nyctalus )
- Great noctule ( Nyctalus noctula )
- Little noctule ( Nyctalus leisleri )
- Azores noctule ( Nyctalus azoreum )
- Giant Noctule ( Nyctalus lasioptreus )
-
Pipistrelle bats ( Pipistrellus )
- Pipistrelle bat ( Pipistrellus pipistrellus )
- Rough-skin bat ( Pipistrellus nathusii )
- White-rimed bat ( Pipistrellus kuhlii )
- Mosquito bat ( Pipistrellus pygmaeus )
- Madeira bat ( Pipistrellus maderensis )
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Long-eared bats ( Plecotus )
- Alpine long-eared ( Plecotus macrobullaris )
- Brown long-eared ( Plecotus auritus )
- Balkan long-eared ( Plecotus kolombatovici )
- Gray long-eared ( Plecotus austriacus )
- Canary long-eared long-eared ( Plecotus teneriffae )
- Sardinian long-eared ( Plecotus sardus )
-
Bicolor bats ( Vespertilio )
- Two-colored bat ( Vespertilio murinus )
literature
- Christian Dietz, Otto von Helversen , Dietmar Nill: Handbook of the bats of Europe and Northwest Africa. Biology, characteristics, endangerment. 1st edition. Verlag Kosmos, Stuttgart 2007, ISBN 978-3-440-09693-2 , pp. 200-368. (new standard work, scientific research)
- JE Hill, JD Smith: Bats: a natural history. University of Texas Press, Austin 1984, ISBN 0-292-70752-5 .
- JA Kirsch, JM Hutcheon, DC Byrnes, BD Lloyd: Affinites and historical zoogeography of the New Zealand Short-tailed bat, Mystacina tuberculata Gray 1843, inferred from DNA-hybridization comparisons. In: Journal of Mammalian Evolution . Volume 5, No. 1, 1998, pp. 33-64.
- KF Koopman: Order Chiroptera. In: DE Wilson, DM Reeder (Ed.): Mammal species of the world, a taxonomic and geographic reference. 2nd Edition. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC 1993, ISBN 1-56098-217-9 .
- KF Koopman: Chiroptera: systematics. (= Handbook of Zoology. Volume 8, Part 60: Mammalia ). de Gruyter, Berlin / New York 1994, ISBN 3-11-014081-0 .
- Ronald M. Nowak: Walker's Mammals of the World. Johns Hopkins University Press, 1999, ISBN 0-8018-5789-9 .
- NB Simmons: A reappraisal of interfamilial relationships of bats. In: TH Kunz, PA Racey (Ed.): Bats: Phylogeny, Morphology, Echolocation and Conservation Biology. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington 1998.
- NB Simmons, JH Geisler: Phylogenetic relationships of Icaronycteris, Archeonycteris, Hassianycteris, and Palaeochiropteryx to extant bat lineages, with comments on the evolution of echolocation and foraging strategies in microchiroptera. In: Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. 235, 1998, pp. 1-182.
- M. Volleth, K.-G. Heller .: Phylogenetic relationships of vespertilionid genera (Mammalia: Chiroptera) as revealed by karyological analysis. In: Journal for Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research. 32, 1994, pp. 11-34.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Manuel Ruedi , Judith L. Eger, Burton K. Lim and Gábor Csorba. 2017. A New Genus and Species of Vespertilionid Bat from the Indomalayan Region. Journal of Mammalogy. gyx156. DOI: 10.1093 / jmammal / gyx156
- ↑ Tamás Görföl, Sergei V. Kruskop, Vuong Tan Tu, Péter Estók, Nguyen Truong Son and Gábor Csorba. 2020. A New Genus of Vespertilionid Bat: The End of A Long Journey for Joffre's Pipistrelle (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae). Journal of Mammalogy. DOI: 10.1093 / jmammal / gyz202