Perception Channels: tactile ; chemical
Miniopterus schreibersii is on the IUCN red list for low risk, near threatened species. However, it is not on the CITES or U.S. ESA lists.
This species is mainly endangered in western Europe but possibly through out the world. Colonies that had contained thousands of individuals have disappeared. Miniopterus schreibersii is especially sensitive to disturbances and may be locally eradicated if disturbed by human workers or tourists (Nowak, 1997). Destruction of habitat is a serious threat to these animals.
US Federal List: no special status
CITES: no special status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: near threatened
Bats can be extremely benefitial to humans. They eat many of the insects and pests that plague farmers and gardeners. This helps keep insects from over populating an area and it reduces the amount damage done to crops by these insects.
Positive Impacts: controls pest population
Miniopterus schreibersii feeds on small beetles and insects. Feeding usually occurs at heights of 10 to 20 meters (Norak, 1997; Grzimek, 1990). Insects are caught by using echolocation.
Primary Diet: carnivore (Insectivore )
Miniopterus schreibersii is foung in Southern Europe to Japan and the Solomon Islands, Philippines, northern Africa, Africa south of the Sahara, and northern and eastern Australia (Nowak, 1997).
Biogeographic Regions: palearctic (Native ); oriental (Native ); ethiopian (Native ); australian (Native )
M. schreibersii has been found to roost in caves, rock clefts, culverts, caverns, and galleries (Grzimek, 1990; Nowak, 1997).
Studies of this species in India showed that the population of a given area tended to be centered in one large cave but that individuals spent part of their time in secondary roosts within a 70 km radius (Nowak, 1997).
Habitat Regions: tropical ; terrestrial
Terrestrial Biomes: savanna or grassland ; mountains
Other Habitat Features: caves
Miniopterus schreibersii has a body length of 52 to 63 mm, a tail length of 50 to 60 mm, and a forearm length of 42 to 48 mm. Its color ranges from grey to yellowish brown (Grzimek, 1990).
Miniopterus schreibersii is a medium sized bat with extremely long fingers and correspondingly broad wings (Grzimek, 1990). The second bone of the longest finger is about three times as long as the first bone. When hanging by its hind feet, this lengthened terminal part of the third finger folds back on the wing (Nowak, 1997).
The body hairs of M. schreibersii stand erect. A small tragus is visible in the ears. This species has a short snout and hairs projecting form the upper surface of the head (Grzimek, 1990). The tail of M. schreibersii is completely enclosed within the interfemoral membrane and is proportionately longer than in many other bats of the same size (Nowak, 1997).
Range mass: 8 to 11 g.
Range length: 52 to 63 mm.
Other Physical Features: endothermic ; bilateral symmetry
These bats reach sexual maturity at the age of one year (Grzimek, 1990). In a study in eastern Australia by Richardson (1977) they were found to be monestrous. Mating took place in the fall (late May to early June), with fertilization and development to the blastocyst stage immediately following. Implantation was delayed until August and births occurred in December. Each female usually has one offspring (Nowak, 1997).
The young are weaned at from 7 to 9 weeks of age. After the young are weaned females are once again ready for breeding (Grzimek, 1990; Nowak, 1997).
Breeding interval: These bats apparently breed once per year.
Breeding season: Mating occurs from late May to early June.
Range number of offspring: 1 to 2.
Average gestation period: 240 days.
Range weaning age: 42 to 90 days.
Average weaning age: 52.5 days.
Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; fertilization ; viviparous ; delayed implantation
