Myotis dinellii Thomas 1902

403.

Dinelli’s Myotis

Myotis dinellii

French: Murin de Dinelli / German: Dinelli-Mausohr / Spanish: Ratonero de Dinelli

Taxonomy. Myotis dinellii Thomas, 1902,

“ Tucuman,” Tucuman, Argentina.

Subgenus Pizonyx; albescens species group. Myotis dinelliiwas considered a subspecies of M. levis, but taxonomic reviews confirmed its status as a distinct specific. Records for southern Brazil were invalidated because specimens were M. albescens. Monotypic.

Distribution. From C Bolivia S to Argentina and extreme E Chile.

Descriptive notes. Head-body c. 45-55 mm, tail 22-44 mm, ear 7-14 mm, hindfoot 4-11 mm, forearm 34-3-38- 5 mm; weight 4-8 g. Fur is long (dorsal fur 6-10 mm; ventral fur 5-8 mm) and silky. Ventral hairs are bicolored, with black bases, yellowish tips, and strong contrast between bases and tips. Dorsal hairs are bicolored, with black bases, reddish yellow or rufous tips, and strong contrast between bases and tips. Ears are comparatively short, extending forward halfway from eye to nostril. Rostrum, membranes, and ears are black in strong contrast to body color. Plagiopatagium is broadly attached to foot at base oftoes. Fringe of hairs along trailing edge of uropatagium is present but with scattered hairs; upper and lower surfaces of uropatagium are barely covered with hair. Skull is moderate in size (greatest length of skull 13- 8-15 mm) but quite robust; rostrum is elongated; and postorbital constriction narrow, generally less than 4 mm. Sagittal and lambdoidal crests are generally absent, but when present, they are poorly developed; P* is generally aligned with P* and is visible in profile view. Baculum is rather broad and stout, with average length of 0-65 mm, depth of 0-32 mm, and width of 0-40 mm. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 44 and FN = 50, with three large pairs and one small pair of metacentric and 17 pairs of acrocentric autosomes. Large X-chromosome and small Y-chromosome are submetacentric.

Habitat. Wide variety of habitats, including deciduousforests, savannas, semiarid open environments, and agricultural landscapes at elevations of 350-3890 m.

Food and Feeding. Dinelli’s Myotis is an aerial insectivore that forages in open areas and near water bodies.

Breeding. Two subadult Dinelli’s Myotis were collected in March and September in Tucuman, Argentina.

Activity patterns. Dinelli’s Myotis emerges just before sunset. Wing morphology is typical of aerial insectivore that uses cluttered spaces.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. A small group of Dinelli’s Myotis roosted with Silver-tipped Myotis (M. albescens) and Brazilian Free-tailed Bat (Tadanda brasiliensis) in an abandoned house in Argentina.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. Dinelli’s Myotisis widespread and presumably has a large population.

Bibliography. Barquez (2006), Barquez & Diaz (2016e), Barquez et al. (1999), Gamboa et al. (2017), LaVal (1973b), Miranda et al. (2013), Sandoval & Barquez (2013), Thomas (1902c), Vargas (2007), Wilson (2008b).