Madagascar sucker-footed bat

The Malagasy adhesive disc bat ( Myzopoda aurita ) is a species of bat. The only closely related species of bat is Myzopoda close manni, which also found only on Madagascar and was not described until 2007. With the American holdfast bats both types have in common the suction cups, but they differ in their structure and are probably only due to convergent evolution.

Dissemination

This bat comes today only found in Madagascar, mainly on the east coast, and Myzopoda is the only endemic bat species on this island. Still in the Pleistocene it was, however, also common in East Africa.

Description

Malagasy adhesive disc bats are named after the sucker- like pads on their wrists and ankles. These serve them for sticking to smooth surfaces. Numerous glands in these cushions but a sticky secretion, which facilitates holding. These animals can reach a body length of about 57 millimeters; the tail is about 48 millimeters long and its tip protrudes from the Uropatagium ( the wing membrane between the legs) addition. Their coat is light or golden brown. Their head is broad and rounded, the ears are very long and bent slightly backwards. The lips are very large, with the upper lip over the lower hanging.

Way of life

Habitat of these animals are predominantly palm forests. Its leaves serve as their sleeping place, where they hold with their adhesive discs on the leaves and support with a long tail. As food they serve insects, mainly small butterflies which they locate by means of echolocation. About the behavior or propagation of the Malagasy adhesive disc bats is not known.

Threat

Because of the frequency of the species and the use of heavily impacted by human habitats, the Malagasy bat adhesive disc on the part of IUCN is classified as not at risk.