Gloomy tube-nosed bat

Murina tenebrosa (English: Gloomy Tube -nosed Bat = Dark tube nose bat ) is a presumably extinct bat species of the subfamily of the tube nosed bats ( Muri Ninae ). It has been known only by an older female that was found in 1962 on the Japanese island of Tsushima.

Features

The head-body length of the holotype is 50.5 mm, the forearm length 34.4 mm and the ears of length 16 mm. The fur is very soft, wavy, woolly and shiny. It consists of short and long hair. The back fur is dark brown with gray yellow tips. The snout and the anterior neck are brown. The hairs on the underside are lighter than the dorsal fur hair; dark brown on the flanks and light yellowish brown on the belly. The surface of the wing membrane between the hind limbs ( Uropatagium ) is nearly hairless. The long, tubular nostrils protrude outwards slightly. They are shorter than the other Japanese taxa of the tube nosed bats.

Habitat and behavior

The type specimen was discovered in a cave. However, it is possible that this species has also lived in tree hollows. You had to rely on large forests and fed on insects. Nothing more is known about their way of life.

Status

The IUCN lists Murina tenebrosa into the category of risk of extinction with the addition probably extinct. The forest area in Tsushima is heavily deforested. Search in caves as well as efforts to catch this bat with strained Japan networks remained, so far without result. A 1919 found on Yakushima copy, which was considered in 1920 by Glover Morrill Allen as Murina ussuriensis could represent this type.