The variety of day roosts and roost characteristics used by Hilgendorf’s tube-nosed bat Murina hilgendorfi in Hayakawa, Yamanashi, Japan

Abstract

To reveal the roosting behavior of Hilgendorf’s tube-nosed bat Murina hilgendorfi, we studied their usage of a range of potential roost habitats, including abandoned mines, tunnels, dead broadleaf traps, dead summer cypress (Bassia scoparia) thickets, and outer building walls, in Hayakawa, Yamanashi Prefecture, Central Japan, between September 2013 and August 2016. Abandoned mines and tunnels were used from May to November, and most frequently in May, June and July. Dead broadleaf traps were used in only September. Dead summer cypress thickets were used in June, August, September and October. The outer walls of buildings were used in June and October. Bats appeared to select exposed roost habitats, such as dead summer cypress thickets and outer building walls, in preference to hidden roost habitats, such as dead broadleaf traps. Hilgendorf’s tube-nosed bats used a variety of roosts in June, August, September and October, but when the same roost habitat was checked on successive days, bats appeared and disappeared at intervals of a few days, implying that they frequently switched roost sites.