Austronomus kuboriensis (McKean & Calaby, 1968)

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Molossidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 598-672 : 667

114.

New Guinea Free-tailed Bat

Austronomus kuboriensis

French: Tadaride du Kubor / German: Neuguinea-Bulldogfledermaus / Spanish: Murciélago rabudo de Kubor

Other common names: New Guinea Mastiff Bat

Taxonomy. Tadarida kuboriensis McKean & Calaby, 1968 ,

“ Minj-Nona Divide , Kubor Range , New Guinea (Lat. 6°02’S, Long.

144°45'E).”

Prior to description, a single 1961 specimen of the species was regarded as Austronomus australis from Australia. In 1982 K. F. Koopman regarded this form as a race of A. australis , but subsequent publications have treated it as a species. There has been some confusion over the parent genus. T. Iredale and E. Le G. Troughton proposed the novel genus Austronomus in 1934, but it wasinitially invalid; the name was validated by Troughton in 1941. Austronomus was synonymized within the genus Tadarida by J. E. Hill in 1961 and others; it was alternatively synonymized with Nyctinomus in 1988 by J. A. Mahoney and D. W. Walton and others. Subsequently, the genus Austronomus was again recognized for kuboriensis and australis by L. K. Ammerman and colleagues in 2012 and T. B. Reardon and colleagues in 2014, and it currently remains in use. Monotypic.

Distribution. Highlands of New Guinea, including Kwiyawagi and Kelangur Cave areas in Papua Province, Indonesia, and Enga, Western Highlands, Central, and Milne Bay provinces in Papua New Guinea.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 71-84 mm,tail 41-48 mm, forearm 54-60 mm; weight 23-26 g. The New Guinea Free-tailed Bat is one of the largest free-tailed bats in New Guinea, comparable in size to the Mantled Giant Mastift Bat ( Otomops secundus ). Fur is dark red brown on back, and paler underneath. There is no shoulder mantle, and ear margins are smooth, unlike those of the Mantled Giant Mastiff Bat. Wings are long, narrow, and tapered. Skull is very flat. Dental formula for both species of Austronomus i511/2,C1/1,P 2/2, M 3/3 (x2) = 30.

Habitat. The New Guinea Free-tailed Bat has been found in montane habitats, including Nothofagus (Nothofagaceae) moss forests, alpine and subalpine grasslands, and fern lands. Recorded at altitudes of 1900-3100 m.

Food and Feeding. The New Guinea Free-tailed Bat has been observed hawking insects over an alpine grassland at Porgera Reservoir.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. The New Guinea Free-tailed Bat is reported to have a very low frequency and loud echolocation call, similar to that of the White-striped Free-tailed Bat ( Austronomus australis ) of Australia.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List, in view of its apparently wide distribution and the lack of major threats within its high-altitude range, and because there is no reason to believe it is declining.

Bibliography. Ammerman et al. (2012), Armstrong & Aplin (2009), Bonaccorso (1998), Bonaccorso & Reardon (2008b), Flannery (1995b, 1999), Helgen (2007b), Hill (1961), Iredale & Troughton (1934), Koopman (1982b), Mahoney & Walton (1988), McKean & Calaby (1968), Reardon et al. (2014), Troughton (1941).

Figures

On following pages: 105. Roberts's Flat-headed Bat (Sauromys petrophilus); 106. Brazilian Free-tailed Bat (Tadarida brasiliensis); 107. European Free-tailed Bat (7adarida teniotis); 108. Egyptian Free-tailed Bat (7adarida aegyptiaca); 109. Kenyan Big-eared Free-tailed Bat (Tadarida lobata); 110. African Giant Free-tailed Bat (Tadarida ventralis); 111. Malagasy Free-tailed Bat (7adarida fulminans); 112. East Asian Free-tailed Bat (7adarida insignis); 113. La Touche's Free-tailed Bat (Tadarida latouchei); 114. New Guinea Free-tailed Bat (Austronomus kuboriensis); 115. White-striped Free-tailed Bat (Austronomus australis); 116. East Coast Free-tailed Bat (Micronomus norfolkensis); 117. Beccari's Free-tailed Bat (Ozimops beccaril); 118. Northern Coastal Free-tailed Bat (Ozimops cobourgianus); 119. Cape York Free-tailed Bat (Ozimops hall); 120. South-western Free-tailed Bat (Ozimops kitchener); 121. Loria’s Free-tailed Bat (Ozimops loriae); 122. Lumsden'’s Free-tailed Bat (Ozimops lumsdenae); 123. Inland Free-tailed Bat (Ozimops petersi); 124. Southern Free-tailed Bat (Ozimops planiceps); 125. Ride's Free-tailed Bat (Ozimops ride); 126. Hairy-nosed Free-tailed Bat (Setirostris eleryi).

Distribution. Highlands of New Guinea , including Kwiyawagi and Kelangur Cave areas in Papua Province, Indonesia , and Enga, Western Highlands, Central, and Milne Bay provinces in Papua New Guinea .