Myotis crypticus

Myotis crypticus

The cryptic myotis (Myotis crypticus Ruedi, Ibáñez, Salicini, Juste & Puechmaille, 2018) is a bat belonging to the Vespertilionidae family.

Systematic –
From a systematic point of view it belongs to:
Eukaryota domain,
Kingdom Animalia,
Phylum Chordata,
Mammalia class,
Superorder Laurasiatheria,
Order Chiroptera,
Suborder Microchiroptera,
Family Vespertilionidae,
Subfamily Vespertilioninae,
Genus Myotis,
Species M. crypticus.

Geographic Distribution and Habitat –
Myotis crypticus is a bat widespread in central-southern Europe in a range that goes from the mountainous areas of central and northern Spain, southern France, throughout Italy and Sicily, western Switzerland and probably also in south-western Austria.
Its habitat develops in a wide range of altitudes, from sea level up to 2000 meters above sea level. It lives in forest and prairie environments and perches in tree cavities and artificial structures.

Description –
The Myotis crypticus is a small bat, with the length of the forearm between 36 and 40 mm, with a weight of up to 12 g.
It has long and dense, but not woolly fur.
The dorsal parts are greyish-brown in color while the ventral parts are whitish with the base of the individual hairs darker, with a distinct line of demarcation extending from the base of the ears along the sides.
The muzzle is pointed and the area around the eyes is hairless.
The ears are relatively long, the tragus is long, thin and straight.
The alar membranes attach posteriorly to the base of the outermost toe, which is small.
The tail is long and completely included in the large uropatagium, which has two rows of bristles on the free edge.
The calcar is long and slightly S-shaped.

Biology –
Myotis crypticus is a bat that swarms with other Myotis in large numbers in autumn and overwinters with them in underground sites such as crevices.
It generally takes refuge in tree cavities and in any type of artificial structure, including abandoned buildings.

Ecological Role –
Myotis crypticus is a recently discovered species and is a member of the species complex to which Myotis nattereri also belong, being also the closest living relative of M. nattereri.
Similar bat populations in southern Italy and Sicily show significant genetic divergence from M. crypticus and therefore may represent a unique taxonomic entity requiring further study.
This bat feeds on insects.
This species, having only recently been discovered, has not yet been subjected to any conservation criteria.

Guido Bissanti

Sources
– Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
– GBIF, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility.
– Gordon Corbet, Denys Ovenden, 2012. Guide to the mammals of Europe. Franco Muzzio Editore.
– John Woodward, Kim Dennis-Bryan, 2018. The great encyclopedia of animals. Gribaudo Publisher.

Photo source:
– https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myotis_crypticus#/media/File:Myotis_crypticus_-_Manuel_Ruedi.jpg