Murina cyclotis
round-eared tube-nosed bat

Murina cyclotis is widespread in Central and Southeast Asia. It is found in Sri Lanka, India, Nepal, as far north as northern Myanmar, south through Indochina, Vietnam, Malaysia and parts of Indonesia and the lesser Sunda islands. They're also found in the Philippine Islands on the islands of Biliran, Camiguin, Catanduanes, Luzon, Mindanao, Sibuyan, and Siqujor. (Bates and Harrison, 1997; Heaney, 2005; Lekagul and McNeely, 1988; Medway, 1983; Myers, Smith, and Lama, 2000; Wilson and Reeder, 1993)

Murina cyclotis occurs at elevations as low as 250 m in the foothills to 1,500 m in the montane forests. Round-eared tube-nosed bats are found primarily in the tropical forests of southeast Asia. Coastal areas inhabited by M. cyclotis are bordered by the South China Sea and Philippine Sea, which suggests reliance on humid regions. (Bates and Harrison, 1997; Heaney, 2005; Medway, 1983; Phillips, 1980)

Round-eared tube-nosed bats range in weight from 9 to 12 g, with total length between 80 and 89 mm. Only one wingspan measurement (229 mm) has been reported for this species. Females tend to be slightly larger than males. Round-eared tube-nosed bats are diagnosed by tubular nostrils and short, round ears. They have triangular tragi, which are long, narrow, and tapering to a point. The anterior braincase is ballooned and the upper lip possesses a protruding fringe of hairs. Murina cyclotis has small eyes which are closer to the ears than the nostrils. Two different color patterns have been noted. In one color variant, the dorsal fur is a reddish-brown, with the hairs increasing in lightness from the base to the tip; the ventral fur is grayish white, with a brownish tinge. In the other color variant, the dorsal fur is grayer, without the reddish tinge; the ventral fur is grayish white without any brownish tinge. This species has a semi-transparent wing membrane, relatively long thumbs, and a tail shorter than the length of its head and body. The feet are hairy, small, and the claws are relatively long and sharp.

Three subspecies of M. cyclotis have been identified. M. c. cyclotis is found from northeastern India to Vietnam, M. c. eileenae is in Sri Lanka and has slightly darker and duller fur, and M. c. peninsularis is found on the Malay Peninsula and is identified by a relatively wider anterior rostrum and more massive teeth.

No seasonal variation in morphology has been reported. (Corbet and Hill, 1992; Lekagul and McNeely, 1988; Medway, 1983; Myers, Smith, and Lama, 2000; Phillips, 1980)

There is no information reported for lifespan and longevity in M. cyclotis.

Murina cyclotis individuals feed in open forest areas, and fly approximately 1.8 m above the ground. Their flight is slow but maneuverable. They roost in large dead and dry leaves of the cardamon plant. Several individuals often roost together on a single leaf or bunch of leaves, which serves to camouflage the bats. A closely related species Murina florium has been found roosting in enclosed plant-material nests and hanging nests of bird species, presumably to provide protection where other roosting options are not available. Another closely related species, Murina aurata, is thought to hibernate in trees during the winter. This suggests possible hibernation of M. cyclotis>, but this is not known for certain. (Bates and Harrison, 1997; Kingston et al., 1999; Schulz, 1998)

Home Range

There is no information reported on the home range of Murina cyclotis.

Round-eared tube-nosed bats detect their environment through echolocation and minimally through the visual field, as their eyes are small and reduced. They are also sensitive to chemical cues. (Phillips, 1980)

These bats make use of echolocation to avoid obstacles and capture airborne prey. Calls are frequency-modulated (FM), with low intensity and short duration. The calls are at high frequency, starting at 152 to 180 kHz and sweeping down to an end frequency of 43 to 86 kHz. This large bandwidth allows these bats to accurately locate targets in the cluttered forests they inhabit. Furthermore, the use of an extremely high echolocation frequency may reduce the need for both visual and other auditory signals. (Bates and Harrison, 1997; Kingston et al., 1999; Schulz, 1998)

Round-eared tube-nosed bats eat insects in the damp forests they inhabit. A closely related species, M. florium (Flores tube-nosed bats) has been observed to eat in a manner possibly similar to M. cyclotis. While eating a moth, M. florium individuals were observed perching by both feet and thumb claws. They placed separated pieces of the insect into the uropatagium. After feeding on the edible parts, they released the waste to the ground below. This posture was also used by M. florium to ingest fecal matter (coprophagy). (Bates and Harrison, 1997; Bonaccorso, 1998)

The reddish-brown color of M. cyclotis makes it difficult for predators to detect as they roost among dead leaves.

There are no known predators of M. cyclotis, however the skulls of a closely related species, M. florium, have been recovered from owl pellets. Most bats are preyed on by owls as they fly and by snakes at roosts. (Bonaccorso, 1998; Phillips, 1980)

Round-eared tube-nosed bats eat insects and impact their populations in the areas in which they live. However, they may be too uncommon to have much impact.

Murina cyclotis may carry and transmit diseases such as rabies to humans, although this possibility is statistically quite low.

Because they are insectivorous bats, round-eared tube-nosed bats reduce the number of insects in the areas they inhabit, making them beneficial for agriculture and in reducing insect-borne diseases.

Round-eared tube-nosed bats do not appear to be endangered. They are one of the more abundant Murina species, but have not been studied extensively. Although individuals are relatively rare, the distribution is very broad. Because they haven't been studied well, it's possible that distinct regional populations have not yet been diagnosed. Their occupation of tropical forests in southeast Asia suggest that they will persist wherever forests persist. (Bates and Harrison, 1997; Phillips, 1980)

The type specimen is from Darjeeling, India. (Wilson and Reeder, 1993)