The Bismarck trumpet-eared bat (Kerivoula myrella), also known as the Manus Island woolly bat, is a species of vesper bat in the family Vespertilionidae. It is found in subtropical or tropical dry forests.

Taxonomy

The Bismarck trumpet-eared bat was described as a new species in 1914 by British mammalogist Oldfield Thomas. The holotype had been collected on Manus Island, which is part of the Bismarck Archipelago.

Bismarck trumpet-eared bat

Description

Overall, the Bismarck trumpet-eared bat is similar in appearance to Hardwicke's woolly bat. It has a forearm length of .

Bismarck trumpet-eared bat

Biology and ecology

It is an echolocating species with frequency modulation of its calls. The calls are broadband, with very slight curvature of the downward sweep of call frequencies. Its echolocation calls have low energy, meaning that it is unlikely to be detected by acoustic detectors unless it passes close to the device's microphone.

Bismarck trumpet-eared bat

Range and habitat

It is found in Papua New Guinea, though its range may also include Indonesia. It has been documented at a range of above sea level.

Conservation

As of 2008, it is evaluated as a Vulnerable species by the IUCN. It meets the criteria for this designation regarding its population size, ecological requirements, and threats it may be facing.

References

Kerivoulinae

Bats of Oceania

Bats of Indonesia

Mammals of Papua New Guinea

Mammals of Western New Guinea

Bismarck Archipelago

Vulnerable fauna of Oceania

Taxonomy articles created by Polbot

Taxa named by Oldfield Thomas

Mammals described in 1914

Bats of New Guinea