Loyalty bent-winged bat
| Loyalty bent-winged bat | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Chiroptera |
| Family: | Miniopteridae |
| Genus: | Miniopterus |
| Species: | M. robustior
|
| Binomial name | |
| Miniopterus robustior (Revilliod, 1914)
| |
The Loyalty bent-winged bat (Miniopterus robustior) is a species of vesper bat in the family Miniopteridae. It is found only in New Caledonia.
Taxonomy
The Loyalty bent-winged bat was described as a new taxon in 1914 by Swiss naturalist Pierre Revilliod. He believed it a subspecies of the little bent-wing bat, Miniopterus australis, and gave it the name M. australis robustior. The holotype had been collected by Swiss scientists Paul Sarasin and Jean Roux on the island of Lifou of the Loyalty Islands.[2]
In 1980, Corbet and Hill published that they considered it a full species, M. robustior, which has largely been followed.[3]
Description
Males have forearm lengths of 39.5–40.5 mm (1.56–1.59 in) while females' are 39–42.2 mm (1.54–1.66 in).[1]
Biology and ecology
It is infrequently encountered. It is a colonial species, roosting in groups in caves.
Range and habitat
The Loyalty bent-winged bat is endemic to New Caledonia. It has a restricted range, and has only been found on Lifou Island and nearby Maré Island. There are only seven known caves that they use as roosts, which makes them highly susceptible to disturbance.[1]
References
- ^ a b c Waldien, D.L.; Brescia, F. (2020). "Miniopterus robustior". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020 e.T13570A22103451. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T13570A22103451.en.
- ^ Revilliod, Pierre (1914). "Les mammifères de la Nouvelle-Caledonie et des Îles Loyalty". Nova Caledonia. Forschungen in Neu-Caledonien und auf den Loyalty-Inseln. Recherches scientifiques en Nouvelle-Calédonie et aux iles Loyalty. A. Zoologie. 1: 359–360.
- ^ "Miniopterus robustior". ASM Mammal Diversity Database. American Society of Mammalogists. Retrieved 18 December 2025.