Plecotus ariel

Plecotus ariel
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Chiroptera
Family:	Vespertilionidae
Genus:	Plecotus
Species:	P. ariel
Binomial name
	Plecotus ariel; Thomas, 1911

Plecotus ariel is a species of vesper bat. Only one individual has ever been documented, in China's Sichuan Province.

Taxonomy

It was described as a new species in 1911 by Oldfield Thomas. As of 2006, the holotype is the only individual that has ever been documented. It had been collected in Kangding, China as part of the Duke of Bedford's Zoological Expedition, led by Malcolm Playfair Anderson.[1] It is similar in appearance to Ognev's long-eared bat and Plecotus wardi.[2] It has sometimes been included as a subspecies of the grey long-eared bat (Plecotus austriacus).[3]

Description

It has a forearm length of approximately 44 mm (1.7 in).[1] Its forearm, thumb, and claw lengths are among the greatest in its genus. It has a medium-sized skull relative to other members of its genus,[2] with a greatest length of 17.2 mm (0.68 in).[1] Its orbital processes and zygomatic arches are weak, with the orbit (eye socket) elliptical in shape. It can be differentiated from other members of Plecotus by its large body size and darker fur.[2]

Range and habitat

Only one individual of this species has been documented. Its only known locality is Kangding, which is in the western Sichuan Province.[2] It was collected at an elevation of 2,600 m (8,400 ft) above sea level.[1]

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References

Thomas, Oldfield (1911). "10. 'The Duke of Bedford' s Zoological Exploration of Eastern Asia.- XIII. On Mammals from the Provinces of Kan-su and Sze-chwan, Western China". Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. 81: 158–180. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1911.tb06996.x.
Spitzenberger, Friederike; Strelkov, Petr P.; Winkler, Hans; Haring, Elisabeth (2006). "A preliminary revision of the genus Plecotus (Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae) based on genetic and morphological results". Zoologica Scripta. 35 (3): 187–230. doi:10.1111/j.1463-6409.2006.00224.x.
"Plecotus ariel Thomas, 1911". ITIS. Retrieved 8 February 2020.

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[Thomas-1] Thomas, Oldfield (1911). "10. 'The Duke of Bedford' s Zoological Exploration of Eastern Asia.- XIII. On Mammals from the Provinces of Kan-su and Sze-chwan, Western China". Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. 81: 158–180. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1911.tb06996.x.

[Spitzenberger-2] Spitzenberger, Friederike; Strelkov, Petr P.; Winkler, Hans; Haring, Elisabeth (2006). "A preliminary revision of the genus Plecotus (Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae) based on genetic and morphological results". Zoologica Scripta. 35 (3): 187–230. doi:10.1111/j.1463-6409.2006.00224.x.

[3] "Plecotus ariel Thomas, 1911". ITIS. Retrieved 8 February 2020.