A review of the genera Myotis, Ia, Pipistrellus, Hypsugo, and Arielulus (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) from Myanmar (Burma), including three species new to the country
Author
Bates, Paul J. J.
Harrison Institute Centre for Systematics and Biodiversity Research Bowerwood House St Botolph’s Road Sevenoaks Kent TN 13 3 AQ Great Britain; E-mail: hzm @ btinternet. com
hzm@btinternet.com
Author
Nwe, Tin
Department of Zoology University of Yangon Yangon Myanmar
Author
Bu, Si Si Hla
Department of Zoology University of Yangon Yangon Myanmar
Author
Mie, Khin Mie
Department of Zoology University of Yangon Yangon Myanmar
Author
Swe, Khin Maung
Department of Zoology University of Yangon Yangon Myanmar
Author
Nyo, Nyo
Zoology Department University of Veterinary Science Yezin Myanmar
Author
Khaing, Aye Aye
Department of Zoology University of Yangon Yangon Myanmar
Author
Aye, Nu Nu
Department of Zoology University of Yangon Yangon Myanmar
Author
Toke, Yin Yin
Department of Zoology Dawei University Tanintharyi Division Myanmar
Author
Aung, Naing Naing
Department of Zoology Hinthida University Ayeyarwady Division Myanmar
Author
Thi, Mar Mar
Zoology Department, University of Distance Education, Yangon, Myanmar
Author
Mackie, Iain
Harrison Institute, Centre for Systematics and Biodiversity Research, Bowerwood House, St Botolph’s Road, Sevenoaks, Kent TN 13 3 AQ, Great Britain
text
Acta Chiropterologica
2005
2005-09-01
7
2
205
236
journal article
10.3161/1733-5329(2005)7[205:AROTGM]2.0.CO;2
1733-5329
3942897
Pipistrellus pulveratus
Chinese Pipistrelle
Vesperugo pulveratus
Peters, 1871: 618
; Amoy,
Fujian
,
China
New material from
Myanmar
Mon State
: Saddan Sin Cave,
2.11.2002
, 2 ♂♂ (H5, H17) and
12.11.2002
, 1 ♂ (H17);
Kayin State
: Yathay Pyan Cave,
5.11.2002
, 1 ♂ (H8); Weibyan Cave, 6.10.
2002, 1 ♂
(H11);
Shan State
: Pyin Oo Lwin (BMNH collection; previously referred to
H.
(=
Pipistrellus
)
savii
by
Corbet and Hill (1992)
; Badalin cave,
23.8.2003
, 2 ♂♂ (I- BD3/4).
There are no previous records.
Descriptive characters
This is a medium-sized species with a forearm length of 32.0–
35.2 mm
based on nine specimens from
Myanmar
(
Table 4
; FA = 34.8–37.0 mm in
Hendrichsen
et al.
, 2001
). The dorsal pelage is long, thick and silky with dark brown, almost black hairs on the back that are tipped with gold- en-brown. On the belly the hair roots are very dark with paler buff-brown tips. The fifth metacarpal is about equal in length to the third and fourth. The baculum, with a length of
2.6–3.1 mm
, has straight shaft, hollowed out below and a simple, not bi- lobate base; the tip is bluntly pointed (Fig. 1D). In the skull, the zygomata are robust with a small dorsal process on each jugal bone. The basioccipital area has a well defined central ridge running between the two cochlea but the basioccipital pits are virtually absent. The second incisor (I3) attains the height of the secondary cusp of the first (I2) and is about equal in crown area. The upper canine (C1) is without a secondary cusp. The crown area of the first upper premolar (P2) varies between
about two-thirds to equal that of I2. The first lower premolar (P2) is two-thirds the crown area and between half and two-thirds the height of the second (P4).
Similar species
The distinctive dorsal pelage and bacu- lar morphology distinguish this species from all other similar sized pipistrelle spe- cies in the region.
Ecology
All the voucher specimens were collect- ed in mist nets set in large limestone caves, each of which has a series of large complex chambers. In Mon and
Kayin
States, the caves are primarily surrounded by paddy fields. Vegetation on the limestone outcrops includes climbers, ferns and a limited number of stunted trees. The original lowland evergreen and semi-evergreen rain forests have for the most part been cleared, with only scattered, highly disturbed remnants remaining. At Badalin, which is situated on the eastern margin of the central Dry Zone of
Myanmar
, the cave is surrounded by seasonally very dry, deciduous forest. Previously, specimen BMNH.14.7.8.6.3 (subsequently incorrectly referred to
H.
savii
austenianus
, see below) was collected from Pyin Oo Lwin (= Maymyo), which is situated on the western margin of the undu- lating Shan plateau at an altitude of
1080 m
(
3500 feet
). Once surrounded by hills covered with deciduous forest, many years of intensive deforestation have meant that even by the start of 20th century much of the land had been converted to scrub, agricultural land and pockets of disturbed woodland