The fraternal myotis (Myotis frater) is a species of vesper bat native to East Asia.

Taxonomy

The long-tailed myotis (M. longicaudatus) was split as a distinct species by a 2015 study based on molecular evidence. This has also been followed by the American Society of Mammalogists, the IUCN Red List, and the ITIS. Phylogenetic evidence supports the reddish myotis (M. soror) of Taiwan being the sister species to M. frater.

Description

An adult fraternal myotis has a body length of about 5 cm, a tail of about 4.5 cm, and a forearm length of about 3.8 cm.

Distribution

The species is found throughout China and Taiwan. Bats that could potentially belong to this species have also been collected in Uttarkhand, India, but their taxonomy remains unresolved.

Status

There are no major threats to this species, although it may be threatened by roadkill in Taiwan. It may be sensitive to climate change, but this was based on the old classification that included M. longicaudatus within the species, and thus this remains unconfirmed.