| Sardinian long-eared bat | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Chiroptera |
| Family: | Vespertilionidae |
| Genus: | Plecotus |
| Species: | P. sardus |
| Binomial name | |
| Plecotus sardus Mucedda, Kiefer, Pidincedda and Vieth 2002 | |
TheSardinian long-eared bat (Plecotus sardus) is a critically-endangered species ofbatendemic toSardinia,Italy.
This species was discovered in 2002 in the caves of central Sardinia, thetype locality being a cave in Lanaitto's Valley in theOliena District.[2] It appears to be closely related toPlecotus auritus andPlecotus macrobullaris.[2] It was identified as a new species by a study clearly showing divergence from otherPlecotus species in its mitochondrial 16SrRNA gene.[3]
P. sardus is a small bat with a head-and-body length of about 45 mm (1.8 in), ears of about 38 mm (1.5 in) and a weight of up to 9 g (0.32 oz). The snout is cone-shaped with a fleshy knob on the chin. The ears are oval and joined above the forehead by a fine membrane. Thetragus is tapered with a blunt tip and is half as long as the ear. The wing membranes are attached to the rear part of the base of the fifth toe. The tail is long and extends a short way beyond theinterfemoral membrane. The fur is fine, long and woolly and is greyish-brown dorsally and whitish or pale brown ventrally. The wing membranes are brown. Two features which distinguish this bat from related species are the cylindricalpenis in males and the short, Y-shapedpenile bone.[3]
The Sardinian long-eared bat is only known from three caves where it roosts. Two of these are in theGennargentu National Park and one near the coast.[1] Its distribution is highly localized, mainly in central and north coastal areas of Sardinia, and includes the municipalities of Baunei, Busachi, Dorgali, Lula, Oliena, Orgosolo, Ula Tirso, Urzulei, and Gavoi.[4][5] It hunts in forests at low elevation and favors calcareous terrain.[6]
The primary threat to the Sardinian long-eared isclimate change, which has resulted in recurringwildfires around its reproductive areas and in precipitation and temperature extremes during the summer.[7][8] Secondary threats include direct human interference and competition with invasiveferal pigeons for nesting sites.[8]
Between 2003 and 2020, the total population of the long-eared bat dropped from 950 to 340 individuals, resulting in a population loss of around 63,4%.[7][8] With a small total population and a decreasing population trend, theInternational Union for Conservation of Nature lists it as being a "critically endangered species".[1] This bat is the sole surviving endemic mammal found on the Island of Sardinia, the others all having become extinct since the arrival of humans some 8,500 years ago.[9] Due to its uniqueness and restricted rangeP. sardus requires a very specific management strategy for its protection to be successful.[4]
