The Nepa lese
Whiskered Myotis (Myotis muricola) is a species of vesper bat in the
Vespertilionidae family. The type locality of M.muricola is Nepal.
The greatest evolutionary success of bats is the acquisition of powered
flight (Cooper & Tabin, 2008). They have hand wings ( Chiroptera )which
is a highly modified tetrapod limb structure (Cooper & Tabin, 2008) that
consists of a membrane of skin stretched between dramatically elongated
third, fourth, and fifth forelimb digits. (Sears, Behringer, Rasweiler,
& Niswander, 2006). The first bat fossil discovered approximately 50
million years ago and it show no differ than modern bats (Richardson,
1993). However, there is at least a 14-million-year gap in the existing
fossil record (Cooper & Tabin, 2008). Thus, no intermediate stages in
the bats’ family tree have been identified (Richardson, 1993). A studies
led by Sears, Behringer, Rasweiler, & Niswander (2006), suggests that
the evolution of bat wings was due not to changes in the bone genes
themselves but to a change in the gene that regulates the expression of
these bone genes. The development of the bat embryo are compared to the
development of the mouse embryo to find gene might have been involved. A
gene that coded a certain protein (called Bmp2) responsible for bone
growth and found that the expression of this gene was indeed 30% higher
in the developing forelimbs of bats than it was in mice. This indicated
that probably happened around 50 million years ago, has caused an
abnormal growth of the forelimbs digits in bats and use their
overdeveloped fingers as wings, and eventually became some of the most
successful mammals on Earth.
Morphology
The color of upper parts of M.muricola are brown to gray with dark
bases and the under parts with dark bases ,light brown tips. The ears
are moderately long, well-developed slender tragus, bent forwards and
bluntly pointed (Francis C. M., 2008) . M.muricola have small feet with
wing membrane attached at base of toes. The tail is long, completely
enclosed in the interfemoral membrane. Its have 3 pairs of premolars
which upper canine much longer than third premolar. Second premolar is
small and slightly intruded from the tooth row. (Yasuma, Andau, Apin,
Tuh Yit Yu, & Kimsui, 2003).
Distributions
M.muricola is found in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia,
India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New
Guinea, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam(Simmons,2005.).
Ecology
M.muricola is a nocturnal and insectivorous bat. Though certain
insects are not active all night but a lot are flying in the first two
hours after sunset and before dawn (Richardson, 1993). M.muricola tends
to feed at these active times by using ultrasonic echo-location. 'M.muricola'
catch insect in flight, perched on foliage or the ground, or from a
water surface. The small insects usually caught directly in the mouth.
Larger ones be scooped out of the air by tail membrane and flip it to
the mouth, or slapped the prey to the mouth with wing tips (Bonaccooso,
1998) . They do drink by obtaining moisture from the juicy insides of
insects, swooping low over the surface of water and droplets of water
from the roof of tunnel or caves whilst roosting (Richardson, 1993).
They do emit high pitched sound that humans cannot hear called
echolocation. This ability enables M.muricola to find their way around
in the dark and foraging. Bats are social animals and like to colonize
together, sometime roosting singly (Richardson, 1993).
Habitat
They roosting different site for differ needs. M.muricola can be
found roosting in curled-up banana leaves (Francis C. M., 2008). They
even roosting in limestone forest (Abdullah,M.T, Azlan,Mohd. & J.,
NEUCHLOS,2005),hollow trees,rock shelters,artificial caves in the form
of mines and tunnels,old building such as old house and church
(Richardson, 1993).
Conservation status
According to 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species,M.muricola is
at least concern. |
