About Miniopterus fuliginosus (Hodgson, 1835)
This species, Miniopterus fuliginosus, has long, narrow wings, large wingspans, and low wing loadings that allow it to make quick, long-distance flights. Head and body length ranges from 10 to 11 centimetres (3.9 to 4.3 inches), forearm length ranges from 4 to 5 centimetres (1.6 to 2.0 inches), and wingspan measures 30 to 31 centimetres (12 to 12 inches). Dorsal (upper-body) color ranges from reddish brown to dark blackish brown, while the ventral (underpart) fur is lighter in color. The wing membrane is blackish brown. The fur is dense and soft; it is long on the upper body and short on the underparts. The ears are small, and the cheeks below the eyes lack hair. A 2018 study by Zhang Jiang Lu and colleagues found that echolocation frequencies are very similar across different Eastern bent-wing bat colonies. Variation in the species' echolocation calls is likely caused by differences in background noise, rather than genetic drift.
