| Yanbaru whiskered bat | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
 Critically Endangered (IUCN 3.1) | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Chiroptera |
| Family: | Vespertilionidae |
| Genus: | Myotis |
| Species: | M. yanbarensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Myotis yanbarensis Maeda & Matsumura, 1998 | |
| |
The Yanbaru whiskered bat (Myotis yanbarensis) is a species of vesper bat in the genus Myotis.
It is known only from three islands of the Ryukyu Archipelago, south of Japan, Okinawa (where the Yanbaru forest is situated), Amami Ōshima, and Tokunoshima. The species has been classified as Critically Endangered by the IUCN.
Etymology and taxonomy
When described, it was placed into the subgenus Selysius, although some have argued that it is not a valid subgenus. It is closely related to the frosted myotis, which is found on mainland Japan. Its species name, yanbarensis, is a reference to Yanbaru, the forested part of northern Okinawa Island where this species is found.
Description
Its dorsal hair, ears, and flight membranes are black. Its guard hairs are metallic silver at the tips. Its fur is overall soft and silky. Its snouts are long and horizontal. The uropatagium attaches to the first toe. The forearm is 36.5–37.5 mm (1.44–1.48 in) long. Its ears are 14 mm (0.55 in). Its tragi are 7 mm (0.28 in), and tapers gradually at the tip. The braincase is small relative to its skull.
Range and habitat
It is only found in the fragments of mature forest remaining on Okinawa Island, Tokunoshima, and Amami Ōshima. On Okinawa Island, it is found on United States military property. On Amami Ōshima, its habitat occurs within Amami Guntō Quasi-National Park. During the day, it roosts in hollow trees.
Conservation
This species was evaluated for the first time by the IUCN in 2000, when it was described as data deficient. It was listed as critically endangered in 2008, which was maintained in the 2019 evaluation. It is listed as critically endangered because it only occurs on three islands, its extent of occurrence is less than 100 km (39 sq mi), and its habitat size and quality is being lost. Deforestation is a major threat to its continued existence.
See also
References
- ^ Fukui, D.; Sano, A. (2019). "Myotis yanbarensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T29484A22067327. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T29484A22067327.en. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
- ^ Maeda, K.; Matsumura, S. (1998). "Two new species of vespertilionid bats, Myotis and Murina (Vespertilionidae: Chiroptera) from Yanbaru, Okinawa Island, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan". Zoological Science. 15 (2): 301–307. doi:10.2108/zsj.15.301.
- Simmons, N.B. 2005. Order Chiroptera. Pp. 312–529 in Wilson, D.E. and Reeder, D.M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. 3rd ed. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2 vols., 2142 pp. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0
- Kawai, K., Nikaido, M., Harada, M., Matsumura, S., Lin, L. K., Wu, Y., Hasegawa, M. and Okada, N. 2003. The status of the Japanese and East Asian bats of the genus Myotis (Vespertilionidae) based on mitochondrial sequences. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 28: 297-307.
- Abe, H., Ishii, N., Ito, T., Kaneko, Y., Maeda, K., Miura, S. and Yoneda, M. 2005. A Guide to the Mammals of Japan. Tokai University Press, Kanagawa, Japan.
| Taxon identifiers | |
|---|---|
| Myotis yanbarensis | |