Chaerephon bivittatus (Heuglin, 1862)

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

61.

Spotted Free-tailed Bat

Chaerephon bivittatus

French: Tadaride tachetée / German: Flecken-Bulldogfledermaus / Spanish: Caerepon manchado

Other common names: Spotted Gland-tailed Bat, Spotted Wrinkle-lipped Bat

Taxonomy. Nyctinomus bivittatus Heuglin, 1862 ,

Keren, Eritrea.

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. Fairly widespread in Zimbabwe, extending marginally into S Zambia, E Malawi, and W Mozambique, with isolated populations occurring in Eritrea, Ethiopia, South Sudan, E Uganda, W & SE Kenya, NE Tanzania, and N Zambia.

Descriptive notes. Head-body c¢.74-81 mm, tail 32-48 mm, ear 15-22 mm, hindfoot 9-13 mm, forearm 46-51 mm; weight 15-32 g. Pelage of the Spotted Freetailed Bat is short and reddish brown, blackish brown or grayish brown above, with white spots on head, shoulders, and back; paler below, without white flank-stripe but with much darker throat in some individuals; two distinct color forms are known, with or without dark throat, and dark-throated individuals sometimes lack white spots. Upper lip has 5-8 well-defined wrinkles on each side and comparatively few spoon-hairs. Ears are light reddish brown, joined by V-shaped band of skin, and short, reaching halfway along muzzle when folded forward. Males have interaural crest of very short (2 mm) hairs. Tragus is small and concealed by large antitragus. Wing and tail membranes are dark brown; wings may be reddish brown in some individuals. There are no gular or tail glands. Anterior palate is either narrowly emarginated or enclosed with palatal foramina, and basisphenoid pits are moderately developed. M? has third ridge almost as long as second ridge. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 48 and FNa = 54.

Habitat. In Zimbabwe, moist and dry savanna woodland, usually associated with exposed rocky outcrops of granite, basalt, and sandstone. In Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Kenya, montane habitats.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. Limited information available. Pregnant females have been recorded in October and November but not during March, in Zimbabwe.

Activity patterns. Spotted Free-tailed Bats are nocturnal and roost in crevices or under overhangs. Echolocation calls of a free-crawling individual were low frequency (21 kHz) with narrow bandwidth (16 kHz) and medium duration (6 milliseconds). Predators include owls.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Spotted Free-tailed Bats probably roost communally in groups.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red Lust.

Bibliography. Cotterill (2013), Monadjem, Cotterill, Hutson et al. (2017b), 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. Fairly widespread in Zimbabwe , extending marginally into S Zambia , E Malawi , and W Mozambique , with isolated populations occurring in Eritrea , Ethiopia , South Sudan , E Uganda , W & SE Kenya , NE Tanzania , and N Zambia .