species of mammals of the pacific area 55 

 Common Bats. Subfamily Vespertilionin^ 



Fifteen genera and groups of common bats are present in this 

 area. This extremely large and varied group is almost world- 

 wide in distribution; in the Pacific region these bats are found 

 from the Malay Peninsula north to the Kuriles, east to the 

 Samoan Islands, and south to Tasmania and New Zealand. 

 Representatives of an American offshoot of this group occur on 

 the Hawaiian and Galapagos Islands. The wings are normal, 

 the third finger with the proximal joint more than half the 

 length of the end joints. The muzzle has no nose-leaf, nor are 

 the nostrils produced into tubes. The ears arise from the sides 

 of the head and are neither funnel-shaped nor united across the 

 forehead. There are three lower incisors. 



The Mouse-eared Bats {Myotis) are the most widespread of 

 the insectivorous group, being found on all continents and ad- 

 jacent islands as far as the limits of tree-growth, and on the 

 Malaysian and Pacific islands east to Samoa. All of the many 

 species have six cheek-teeth above and below. Most are about 

 the size of the American little brown bats, with head and body 

 about two and one-fourth inches long, the tail a little shorter 

 than this, and the forearm from one and one-eighth to one and 

 one-half inches. Several larger species (forearm about two 

 inches) occur in Sumatra, Java, Celebes, the Philippines, For- 

 mosa, and the Luchus. Some of the larger species of Myotis 

 are brightly colored, with reddish or orange and black wings, 

 like the butterfly-like Kerivoula-hats (p. 61). 



The Long-eared Bat (Plecotus), found in Japan as well as 

 in continental Asia and Europe, is closely related to the long- 

 eared, jackass, or lump-nosed bats (^Corynorhinus) of southern 

 and western United States. The long ears may be folded up 

 when the bats are resting. Four cheek-teeth are found above 

 and six below. The head and body of the Japanese form meas- 

 ures about two inches long, the forearm one and one-half inches, 

 the wing-spread about ten inches. 



