Pipistrellus coromandra ( Gray, 1838 )

Thapa, Sanjan, Subedi, Pradeep, Singh, Nanda B. & Pearch, Malcolm J., 2012, The first record of Scotozous dormeri Dobson, 1875 from Nepal with new locality records of Pipistrellus coromandra (Gray, 1838) and P. tenuis (Temminck, 1840) (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae), Journal of Threatened Taxa 4 (4), pp. 2481-2489 : 2484-2485

Pipistrellus coromandra ( Gray, 1838)

Coromandel Pipistrelle, Indian Pipistrelle, Little Indian Bat.

Scotophilus coromandra Gray, 1838: 498 . Pondi- cherry, Coromandel coast, India.

New material

31.iii.2009, 2 males (adult) (CDZ TU _ BAT 022 , CDZ TU _ BAT 024 ) , 1 female (adult) (CDZ TU _ BAT 023 ) , 1km south-east of Kusaha, Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve (buffer zone), Sunsari District , 26035 ’N, 86058 ’E, elevation 83m.

Diagnosis and description

The dorsal pelage of the collected material is a uniform chestnut brown. The ventral surface is pale brown; hairs have cinnamon brown tips and black roots. The ears and membranes are a uniform mid

brown. Some hairs are present on the interfemoral membrane in the vicinity of the body.

The skull is slightly elevated posteriorly although, in dorsal profile, it is essentially straight.

The first upper incisor (i 2) is bicuspidate. The sec- ond upper incisor (i 3) is well developed and, in lateral view, is separated narrowly from the upper canine (C 1). C 1 has a secondary cusp and a marked posterior cingular cusp.

The first upper premolar (pm 2) is intruded from the toothrow, its crown area equal to that of i 2. C 1 and the second upper premolar (pm 4) are close to each other but not in contact. The first lower premolar (pm 2) is extruded marginally from the toothrow; its crown area is three-quarters that of the second lower premolar (pm 4).

The baculum of P. coromandra (CDZ TU_BAT 022) has a mainly straight shaft with a mild depression at approximately two-thirds of its length, which gives the distal end an elevated appearance ( Fig. 3 ). The tip of the baculum is notably bifid and the basal lobes are deflected ventrally. The tip of the right hand fork was broken off during preparation of the material.

Distribution in Nepal

Bairia (Hinton & Fry 1923). Bardhaha Khola (Royal Chitwan NP) ( Myers et al. 2000); Bharabise (F.M.N.H.); Dudora Nala/Park Rd. (Royal Chitwan NP) ( Myers et al. 2000). Hazaria (Hinton & Fry 1923). “ Nepal Valley” [Kathmandu Valley] ( Scully 1887). Simal Ghol Tal (Royal Chitwan NP) ( Myers et al. 2000). Tamar Tal (Royal Chitwan NP) ( Myers et al. 2000). Tiger Tops, Dhangari Khola (Royal Chitwan NP) ( Myers et al. 2000).

IUCN status

Least Concern (ver. 3.1, 2001) ( Csorba et al. 2008).

Figures

Figure 3. Dorsal (d) and lateral (l) views of the bacula of Pipistrellus coromandra (CDZ TU_BAT 022) and Pipistrellus tenuis (CDZ TU_BAT 021).