(Hodgson, 1835)
Hodgson's bat
External characters (Table 63)
This is a medium-small species of Myotis with an average forearm length of 47.4 mm (44.5-49.1 mm). The pelage has a very distinct coloration. The dorsal surface is ginger brown mid-dorsally and orange-brown on the flanks (Mfo1). The ventral surface is deep orange posteriorly and lighter cinnamon brown on the throat (Mfo2). The head is hairy, except for around the eyes, nostrils and lips (Mfo3). The ears are naked; they are orange-coloured with darker margins and are relatively short. Each ear is ovate in shape with the anterior border evenly rounded; there is a shallow concavity on the posterior border. The tragus is long, narrow and obtusely pointed; the anterior border is straight; the posterior border is concave in its upper part. The wings are broad and have a characteristic colour pattern of orange and black (Mfo1). The orange extends in narrow lines alongside each of the metacarpals. Black triangular areas are present between the third, fourth, and fifth metacarpals and inside the fifth. These black triangular areas are sometimes dotted and streaked with orange. The interfemoral membrane is orange. The feet are not enlarged; they average less than half the length of the tibiae. The wings are attached to the base of the phalanx of the outer metatarsal of each foot.
Cranial characters
The skull is smaller than that of M. sicarius (Msi3) and has an average condylo-canine length of 16.4 mm (16.3-16.6 mm). However the braincase is relatively larger with the lambda more rounded and just forming the most posterior part of the skull. The sagittal crest is scarcely evident, except in the parietal region; it bifurcates anteriorly to form supraorbital ridges. The rostrum is robust and with well developed lachrymal projections. The zygomata greatly exceed the braincase in width and are without dorsal projections. The lambdoid crests are essentially absent or very poorly developed. The palate is long, broad and concave; there is a small median process on the postorbital extension. The mesopterygoid space is short. The tympanic bullae are small. In lateral view, there is a gentle gradient between the rostrum and the braincase with the post nasal notch scarcely evident. The coronoid process of each half mandible is well developed; it greatly exceeds the height of the canine; its anterior surface is nearly vertical and its posterior surface slopes gently downwards to the condyle, which is equal to the canine in height.
Dentition
- Upper toothrow length (C-M3) averages 7.1 mm (6.8-7.2 mm). The upper canine is tall, slightly recurved and with a well developed cingulum; it is without accessory cusps. Both the first (PM2) and second (PM3) upper premolars are reduced. PM3 is particularly small, occasionally absent, with a crown area of between half and less than one third that of PM2; it is completely displaced inwards so that PM2 and third premolar (PM4) are in contact. M3 includes a parastyle, mesostyle and three commissures.
- In the lower dentition, the second premolar (pm3) is very variable in size, ranging from minute to two-thirds the crown area of the first (pm2); it is occasionally absent. Both small premolars are situated in the toothrow and are compressed between the canine and third premolar (pm4).
Variation
Specimens from north-eastern Bihar and Darjeeling district in West Bengal are provisionally referred to M. f. auratus on account of their larger size (= M. f. andersoni in Sinha, 1986). Specimens from elsewhere in the Indian subcontinent are referred to the nominate race M. f. formosus .