Myotis ridleyi
Common name: Ridley’s Myotis
Myotis ridleyi (photo by Charles Francis)
Physical Description
Fur: Myotis ridleyi has short velvety fur, which on the head and back is dark brown, although the underparts are a slightly paler or greyer brown.
Nose: The nose is simple, and the skin of the muzzle and ears is a dark brown.
Ears: The ears are brown-black with a tragus curved forward.
Wings: The wings are a dark brownish black, and the wing membrane joins the foot at the base of the toes. Where the membrane joins the foot is often a feature that can help you tell the different species of Myotisapart.
Teeth: One of the other features that distinguishes M. ridleyi from all other Myotis is the presence of only 5 upper and 5 lower cheek teeth. All other species have 6. The cheek teeth are all those teeth behind the canines – the premolars and molars.
Size: Although Myotis ridleyi has quite a small forearm, with an average length of about 30 mm, it weighs an average of 5 g, which makes it seem quite chunky when you have it in the hand.
Ecology
This species if found in primary forest and often far from caves. We have very little idea where Myotis ridleyi roosts, there are some records of this species from caves, but occasionally at Krau we have captured individuals with mud on their ears and limbs, which makes us wonder if they are roosting in holes in river banks, or other earthy structures like termite nests. At this point we just don’t know.
Where they can be found
Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo
