Gilded tube-nosed bat (Murina rozendaali)

Description

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Gilded tube-nosed bat fact file

• Description
• Biology
• Range
• Habitat
• Status
• Threats
• Conservation
• Find out more
• Glossary
• References
• Print factsheet

Gilded tube-nosed bat description

The gilded tube-nosed bat (Murina rozendaali) belongs to a genus of bats which are characterised by their conspicuous tube-like nostrils ⁽⁵⁾.

The gilded tube-nosed bat is distinguished from other members of the genus Murina by its longer skull length and the golden tips to the dark brown fur on the upperparts ⁽³⁾. The underparts of the gilded tube-nosed bat are white with a buffy or yellow tinge ⁽⁴⁾.

Like all Murina species, the gilded tube-nosed bat has rounded ears and a long and pointed tragus ⁽⁴⁾. The long tail of the gilded tube-nosed bat is almost completely enclosed within the tail membrane, which stretches between the ankles ^{(4) (5) (6)}.

Gilded tube-nosed bats found in Peninsular Malaysia are significantly smaller than those from Sabah in Borneo ⁽⁷⁾.

Also known as

Rozendaal’s tube-nosed bat.

Size

Forearm length: 2.8 - 3.2 cm ⁽²⁾

Tail length: 3 - 3.6 cm ^{(3) (4)}

Weight

3.8 - 4.5 g ⁽²⁾

Gilded tube-nosed bat biology

Little is known of the biology and life history of the gilded tube-nosed bat. It is an insectivorous species ⁽⁶⁾, which flies low over the ground when hunting, skimming over the surface of crops and grass in search of prey ⁽⁵⁾.

Other bats in the genus Murina have been known to roost in the dead dry leaves of cardamom plants, in caves ⁽⁵⁾ and even in suspended birds’ nests ⁽⁹⁾. It is thought that the gilded tube-nosed bat is most likely to roost in foliage, and its roost sizes are likely to be small ⁽¹⁾.

Gilded tube-nosed bat range

The gilded tube-nosed bat occurs in Peninsular Malaysia and at a few locations in Sabah, Borneo ⁽¹⁾. In 2006, it was also recorded for the first time in central Kalimantan in Borneo ⁽⁸⁾, and it may also potentially occur in Thailand ⁽¹⁾.

Gilded tube-nosed bat habitat

This rare, patchily-distributed bat inhabits lowland dipterocarp forest, where it has been observed flying low over streams ^{(1) (2)}.

Gilded tube-nosed bat status

The gilded tube-nosed bat is classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List ⁽¹⁾.

Gilded tube-nosed bat threats

The lowland forest on which the gilded tube-nosed bat depends is rapidly declining due to logging and agriculture ⁽¹⁾, particularly oil palm plantations ⁽¹⁰⁾. Fire has also become a significant threat to the forests of Malaysia and Indonesia in recent years. Tropical forests do not burn under natural conditions, but logging activities, which leave fuelwood on the forest floor and expose the understorey to drying, have created flammable conditions ⁽¹⁰⁾.

Gilded tube-nosed bat conservation

There are no specific conservation measures known to be in place for the gilded tube-nosed bat, but it does occurs in Krau Wildlife Reserve in Malaysia ⁽¹⁾, which may offer the resident population some protection.

A number of conservation organisations, such as WWF, are also working to conserve forests in the regions inhabited by this elusive bat ⁽¹¹⁾.

Find out more

Learn more about bat conservation:

• Bat Conservation International:
  http://www.batcon.org/

Find out more about conservation in Malaysia and Borneo:

• Conservation International: Biodiversity Hotspots - Sundaland:
  http://www.biodiversityhotspots.org/xp/Hotspots/sundaland
• WWF - Heart of Borneo Forests:
  http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/where_we_work/borneo_forests/

Authentication

This information is awaiting authentication by a species expert, and will be updated as soon as possible. If you are able to help please contact:
arkive@wildscreen.org.uk

This species information was authored as part of the ARKive and Universities Scheme.

Glossary

Dipterocarp forest

Forest dominated by trees in the family Dipterocarpaceae, resinous trees that are found in the old world tropics.

Genus

A category used in taxonomy, which is below ‘family’ and above ‘species’. A genus tends to contain species that have characteristics in common. The genus forms the first part of a ‘binomial’ Latin species name; the second part is the specific name.

Insectivorous

Feeding primarily on insects.

Tragus

A soft cartilaginous projection extending in front of the external opening of the ear. In bats, it plays an important role in filtering returning echoes in echolocation.

References

1. IUCN Red List (November, 2010)
   http://www.iucnredlist.org/
2. Kingston, T., Francis, C.M., Zubaid, A. and Kunz, T.H. (2003) Species richness in an insectivorous bat assemblage from Malaysia. Journal of Tropical Ecology, 19: 67-79.
3. Suyanto, A. and Struebig, M.J. (2007) Bats of the Sangkulirang limestone karst formations, East Kalimantan - a priority region for Bornean bat conservation. Acta Chiropterologica, 9: 67-95.
4. Francis, C.M. (2008) A Field Guide to the Mammals of South-East Asia. New Holland Publishers, London.
5. Nowak, R.M. (1994) Walkers Bats of the World. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Maryland.
6. Altringham, J. (2001) Bats: Biology and Behaviour. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
7. Francis, C.M. (1997) First record for Peninsular Malaysia of the gilded tube-nosed bat Murina rozendaali. Malayan Nature Journal, 50: 359-362.
8. Struebig, M.J., Galdikas, B.M.F. and Suatma (2006) Bat diversity in oligotrophic forests of southern Borneo. Oryx, 40: 447-455.
9. Schulz, M. (1997) Bats in bird nests in Australia: a review. Mammal Review, 27: 69-76.
10. Conservation International: Biodiversity Hotspots - Sundaland (June, 2011)
    http://www.biodiversityhotspots.org/xp/Hotspots/sundaland
11. WWF - Heart of Borneo Forests (November, 2010)
    http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/where_we_work/borneo_forests/