Western sucker-footed bat

Myzopoda close manni is a species of bat occurring in Madagascar.

Dissemination

Myzopoda close manni is endemic to Madagascar. You get there before only in the north - west of the island.

Features

Myzopoda close manni is a relatively small bat, the forearm length is about 45-49 mm. The tail is about 44 mm long and protrudes from the tail wing membrane. The back of the animal is brownish, greyish colored the belly side. Remarkable are the sucker like bale at the wrists and ankles. With the help of these bales, the bats can cling to surfaces. Contrary to earlier theories ( active hard eyes or sticking ) adhere to the animals through wet adhesion to smooth surfaces.

Way of life

Little is known about the life of Myzopoda close manni. During the day the animals rest mostly in rolled leaves of several species of palm trees, eg Ravenala madagascariensis. There are different animals have been found in caves. Here, they do not hang like other species of bats upside down, but sit with your head up, because the attachment means of wet adhesion upside down does not work. Main food are butterflies and cockroaches, to a lesser extent beetles and Hymenoptera. The discovery of a representative of the genus Monomorium might suggest that bats Absammeln their prey from the surface of the vegetation. However, the food composition and other behaviors of the kind require further research.

Endangering

The IUCN assumes no risk for the type since the distribution is large. In addition, the type of the progressive destruction of the rainforests and the associated spread of Ravenala madagascariensis seems to benefit.

Etymology and History of Research

The genus was Myzopoda with the Malagasy adhesive disc bat as monotypic. Only in 2007 was described Myzopoda close manni on the basis of morphological differences in coat color and the skeleton as a separate species. Genetic studies also have Myzopoda close manni out as a separate species. The scientific name honors Prof. Dr. Harald Schliemann, who has done research for many years on adhesive disc bats.