Fig 1
Fig 2
Fig 3
Fig 4
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Order : CHIROPTERA
Family : Vespertilionidae
Species : Myotis ridleyi
Forearm Length : up to
3.7 cm
Weight : up to 6.5 grams
Ridley's Myotis inhabits
lowland, primary forest in southern Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia and parts
of Borneo. It has
been recorded from the forest understorey, and in the vicinity of lowland
forest
streams.
This small bat naturally roosts in caves, rock crevices and hollow, fallen
logs, as well as small crevices in road culverts.
Its fur is short and dark brown to grey-brown, with
paler underparts. Its ears, face and muzzle are dark brown to blackish. The
tragus (the projecting structure at the front of the ear) curves forward.
The feet are small, and are quite hairy.
In Krau Wildlife Reserve (Peninsular Malaysia) adult specimens of this
species weigh between 4.0 and 6.5 grams.
Fig 1 : This group of four tiny bats is identified as Ridley's Myotis based
on their size, the shape of the nostrils and the domed shape of the head.
They were found clinging to a concrete stream culvert passing beneath a
forest road in Johor, Peninsular Malaysia.
Fig 2 : Close-up of the domed head, small eyes and blackish ears.
Fig 3 : Close up of a roosting pair, clinging horizontally to small fissures
and cracks in the culvert. (The orange-brown masses on the roof of the
culvert are wasp nests made from mud).
Fig 4 : Ridley's Myotis is able to u-turn inside this very narrow concrete
culvert.
References :
Kingston, T., Lim B.L., Zubaid, A., 2006. Bats of Krau Wildlife
Reserve. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.
Phillipps Q. & Phillipps K. (2016). Phillipps’ Field Guide to the
Mammals of Borneo and Their Ecology: Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei, and Kalimantan.
Second Edition. John Beaufoy Publishing. 400 pp.
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