Taphozous kapalgensis, McKean & Friend, 1979

Bonaccorso, Frank, 2019, Emballonuridae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 350-373 : 354

10 . Amhem Sheath-tailed Bat

Taphozous kapalgensis

French: Taphien de Kapalga I German: Arnhemland-Grabfledermaus I Spanish: Tafozo de Kapalga

Other common names: ArnhemTomb Bat, White-striped Sheath-tailed Bat

Taxonomy. Taphozous kapalgensis McKean & Friend, 1979 , “

‘ Kapalga’, at the edge of the western flood plain of the South Alligator River, near Rookery Point, N.T. [= Northern Territory] (lat. 12°32’S, long. 132 ° 23 ’E),” Australia.

Taphozous kapalgensis is in the subgenus Taphozous . Monotypic.

Distribution. N Australia, in extreme E Kimberley region ofWestern Australia and in W Top End of the Northern Territory.

Additional research might prove that it occurs further E across the Top End of the Northern Territory.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 75-85 mm, tail 20-23 mm, ear 16-5-17-6 mm, hindfoot 7 - 6 - 8 -1 mm, forearm 57-6-63 mm; weight 26-29-5 g. The Amhem Sheath-tailed Bat has pale orange-brown pelage, with two white ventral flank-stripes. Uropatagium is naked except in sparsely haired anal region. Adult males have well-developed gular pouch, which is a rudimentary slit in females. Radio-metacarpal sacs are present.

Habitat. Floodplains, swamps, mangroves, monsoon forests, and open woodlands dominated by Corymbia papuana (Myrtaceae) and Pandanus spiralis (Pandanaceae) . The Amhem Sheath-tailed Bat occurs in tropical stratified woodlands with mixtures of Eucalyptus tectifica, C. papuana , and C. clavigera (all Myrtaceae ). When foraging over floodplains, it typically flies 10—20 m aboveground.

Food and Feeding. The Amhem Sheath-tailed Bat forages for insects above tree canopies, but it flies closer to the ground in open areas and flyway corridors that can include road cuts. It also will feed low over water. As it feeds, it flies rapidly with abrupt dives and twists while emitting loud, shrill echolocation calls.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. The Amhem Sheath-tailed Bat is nocturnal, but its roosting habitats are unclear. Because it occurs for from rocky outcrops with caves and rock fissures, it likely roosts in tree hollows. Aboriginal people report that it roosts at the base of Pandanus leaves. Echolocation call frequencies are 22-9—25-5 kHz, with relatively short durations of 3—7 milliseconds.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCNRed List. Populations of the Amhem Sheath-tailed Bat are considered stable. It occurs in several protected areas including Kakadu National Park, Fogg Dam Conservation Reserve, and Point Stuart Coastal Reserve. Additional studies on distribution, abundance, roost selection, natural history, and threats are needed to better assess its status and need for conservation action. Potential threats include large-scale invasion of coastal floodplain by introduced plant species, degradation of habitats by feral Water Buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis), and saltwater intrusion on coastal plains causing loss of tree stands of Melaleuca (Myrtaceae) .

Bibliography. Chimimba & Kitchener (1991), Lumsden et al. (2005), McKean & riend (1979), Milne & McKean (2008), Milne & Pavey (2011), Milne et al. (2003), Woinarski & Milne (2005).

Figures

On following pages: 4. Hamilton'sTomb Bat [Taphozous hamiltoni); 5. Hildegarde'sTomb Bat (Taphozous hildegardeae}; 6. Long-winged Sheath-tailed Bat (Taphozous longimanus); 7. Black-beardedTomb Bat (Taphozous melanopogoh); 8. Theobald'sTomb Bat (Taphozous theobaldi); 9. Indonesian Tomb Bat (Taphozous achates); 10. Arnhem Sheath-tailed Bat (Taphozous kapalgensis}; 11. Coastal Sheath-tailed Bat (Taphozous australis}; 12. Common Sheath-tailed Bat (Taphozous georgianus); 13. Hill's Sheath-tailed Bat (Taphozous hilli); 14. Troughton's Sheath-tailed Bat (Taphozous troughtoni); 15. Pel's Pouched Bat (Saccolaimus peli); 16. Bare-rumped Sheathtailed Bat (Saccolaimus saccolaimus); 17. Papuan Sheath-tailed Bat (Saccolaimus mixtus); 18. Yellow-bellied Sheath-tailed Bat (Saccolaimus flaviventris).

Distribution. N Australia, in extreme E Kimberley region ofWestern Australia and in W Top End of the Northern Territory. Additional research might prove that it occurs further E across the Top End of the Northern Territory.