Chaerephon chapini, J. A. Allen, 1917

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Molossidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 598-672 : 646

62.

Long-crested Free-tailed Bat

Chaerephon chapini

French: Tadaride de Chapin / German: Chapin-Bulldogfledermaus / Spanish: Caerepon de Chapin

Other common names: Chapin’s Free-tailed Bat, Chapin’'s Wrinkle-lipped Bat, Crested Free-tailed Bat, Crested Wrinklelipped Bat, Long-crested Gland-tailed Bat, Long-crested Wrinkle-lipped Bat, Pale Free-tailed Bat

Taxonomy. Chaerephon (Lophomops) chaprl ni]. A. Allen, 1917 ,

“Faradje, northeastern Belg Congo [= DR Congo].”

This species was previously divided into three subspecies ( chapini , shortridge, lancaster); indeed, race shortridge: has even been considered a separate species. However, pending further study, A. Monadjem and coauthors in 2010 and the African Chiroptera Report of 2017 are provisionally followed here in treating this complex as a single monotypic species; the £0is in need of revision. Monotypic.

Distribution. Very patchily distributed over much of sub-Saharan Africa in Ivory Coast, Ghana, South Sudan, Ethiopia, NE & S DR Congo, Uganda, Kenya, Republic of the Congo, Angola, Zambia, Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe.

Descriptive notes. Head-body ¢.50-60 mm, tail 27-44 mm, ear 12-19 mm, hindfoot 6-9 mm, forearm 34-40 mm; weight 5-11 g. Pelage of the Long-crested Free-tailed Bat is short and pale gray, pale rusty brown or medium grayish brown above with no grizzling or white spots; pure white or pale grayish brown below with mid-ventral markings white or absent, and white flank-stripe. Upper lip has 5-6 well-defined wrinkles on each side and many spoon-hairs. Ears are brown, joined by band of skin containing back-facing pocket for interaural crest; they are of medium length, almost reaching end of muzzle when folded forward. Tragus is minute, partly concealed by antitragus. Males have long bicolored interaural crest of 12-15 mm, basally rusty brown or gray and terminally white; in females crestis shorter, 3-5 mm, and white. Wings are white (or occasionally pale to grayish brown), becoming yellowish toward body, with many minute black specks; tail membrane is medium brown. There are no gular ortail glands. Anterior palatal emargination is variable, can be narrowly open or closed, and basisphenoid pits are moderately developed. M* has third ridge one-half to two-thirds the length of second ridge. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 48 and FNa = 64.

Habitat. All southern African records of Long-crested Free-tailed Bats are associated with cathedral mopane woodland. Elsewhere, they are also found in Isoberlinia (Fabaceae) woodland, Acacia (Fabaceae) — Commiphora (Burseraceae) bushland, and miombo woodland.

Food and Feeding. [.ong-crested Free-tailed Bats are open-air foragers. In the dry season in Zimbabwe (April-October), diet comprised mostly Coleoptera with some Lepidoptera , Diptera , and other insects.

Breeding. Scattered data from southern Africa indicate seasonal polyestry with a postpartum estrus.

Activity patterns. Long-crested Free-tailed Bats are nocturnal and often netted near rivers. They produce narrowband, low-frequency (peak frequency 20 kHz), and longduration (5h—10 milliseconds) echolocation calls.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. [.ong-crested Free-tailed Bats roost communally in small to medium-sized groups.

Status and Conservation. Classified as LLeast Concern on The IUCN Red List, due to its wide distribution and expected large population, and because it occurs in a number of protected areas. Although it can be common in north-western Zimbabwe,it is rarely collected.

Bibliography. ACR (2017), Fenton & Eger (2002), Happold & Cotterill (2013), Monadjem, Cotterill, Hutson et al. (2017c), Monadjem, Taylor et al. (2010).

Figures

On following pages: 61. Spotted Free-tailed Bat (Chaerephon bivittatus); 62. Long-crested Free-tailed Bat (Chaerephon chapini); 63. Gallagher's Free-tailed Bat (Chaerephon gallagheri); 64. Grandidier's Free-tailed Bat (Chaerephon leucogasten); 65. Lappet-eared Free-tailed Bat (Chaerephon majon; 66. Nigerian Free-tailed Bat (Chaerephon nigeriae); 67. Sao Tome Free-tailed Bat (Chaerephon tomensis); 68. Little Free-tailed Bat (Chaerephon pumilus);, 69. Russet Free-tailed Bat (Chaerephon russatus); 70. Seychelles Free-tailed Bat (Chaerephon pusillus); 71. Madagascar Free-tailed Bat (Chaerephon atsinanana); 72. Black-and-red Free-tailed Bat (Chaerephon jobimena); 73. Lesser Northern Free-tailed Bat (Chaerephon johorensis); 74. Wrinkle-lipped Free-Tailed Bat (Chaerephon plicatus); 75. Fijian Free-tailed Bat (Chaerephon bregullae); 76. Solomons Free-tailed Bat (Chaerephon solomonis); 77. Greater Northern Free-tailed Bat (Chaerephon jobensis).

Distribution. Very patchily distributed over much of sub-Saharan Africa in Ivory Coast , Ghana , South Sudan , Ethiopia , NE & S DR Congo , Uganda , Kenya , Republic of the Congo , Angola , Zambia , Namibia , Botswana , and Zimbabwe .