Megaderma spasma (Linnaeus, 1758)

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Megadermatidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 182-192 : 191-192

3.

Lesser Asian False-vampire

Megaderma spasma

French: Mégaderme de Seba / German: Kleiner Falscher Vampir / Spanish: Megaderma de Seba

Other common names: Common Asian Ghost Bat, Lesser False Vampire, Lesser False Vampire Bat, Malayan False-vampire

Taxonomy. Vespertilio spasma Linnaeus, 1758 ,

Ternate, Molucca Islands, Indonesia.

Megadermais neuter, so widely used adjectival subspecific names celebensis, ceylonensis, and philippinensis have been changed for gender agreement. Seventeen subspecies are recognized, many with limited distributions, but no comprehensive review has been undertaken to validate them. Morphologically, these subspecies are very similar, with only minor differences in size. Nevertheless, large differences in mtDNA between an individual from Java and individuals from mainland Indochina and differences in chromosome numbers among individuals from the Philippines and those from Thailand and China suggest that some of these are cryptic species.

Subspecies and Distribution.

M.s.spasmaLinnaeus,1758—TernateandHalmaheraIs(NMoluccas).

M.s.abditumChasen,1940—AurI,offEPeninsularMalaysia.

M.s.cartmataeG.S.Miller,1906—KarimataI,offWBorneo.

M.s.celebenseShamel,1940—Sulawesi.

M.s.ceylonenseK.Andersen,1918—SriLanka.

M.s.horsfieldiBlyth,1863—peninsularIndia.

M.s.kinabaluChasen,1940—MtKinabaluinNBorneo.

M.s.lasiaeLyon,1916—LasiaandBabiIs,offWSumatra.

M.s.majusK.Andersen,1918—mostofMyanmar,NEIndia,andBangladesh.

M.s.mediumK.Andersen,1918—MalayPeninsula(includingTarutaoI)andNSumatra.

M.s.minusK.Andersen,1918—SChina(Yunnan),Thailand,Laos,Vietham,andCambodia.

M.s.natunaeK.Andersen&Wroughton,1907—BunguranandNorthNatunaIs.

M.s.niasenseLyon,1916—NiasandSiberutIs,oftWSumatra.

M.s.pangandaranaSody,1936—C&EJava.

M.s.philippinenseWaterhouse,1843—Philippines.

M.s.stumatisLyon,1916—SiumatI,offWSumatra.

M. s. tnfolium E. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1810 — S Sumatra, W Java, and Borneo; also on South Natuna, Tambelan, Krakatau, and Kangean Is.

Also recorded on Andaman Is, but subspecies involved not known.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 54-81 mm (tailless), ear 30-43 mm, hindfoot 9-5—-17 mm, forearm 53-5-62-5 mm; weight 23-28 g. Sexes are similar in size. The Lesser Asian Falsevampire is the smallest of the Asian megadermatids. Ears are large, joined over top of head for c.15% oftheir length on inner margins; tragus is deeply forked, with tall pointed posterior lobe and shorter bluntly pointed anterior lobe. Posterior noseleat is relatively short, width at base similar to height, but narrowing toward top. Thickened, raised median ridge connects to heartshaped median noseleaf. Anterior noseleaf is broad and rounded, largely covering muzzle with no notch. Fur is long and woolly, generally pale gray to brownish gray, darker above. Ears, noseleaf, and wing membranes are dark gray to brownish gray. Baculum has short shaft with two prongs. Skull has elongate rostrum with a shallow frontal depression but no frontal shield and with small postorbital processes. C' has very small anterolingual cusp; P? is minute and intruded; M' has moderately developed mesostyle; and coronoid process of mandible is equal in height or taller than C,. Dental formula is I 0/2,C1/1,P2/2,M 3/3 (x2) = 28. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 38 and FN = 64 ( Thailand), 2n = 38 and FN = 70 ( China), and 2n = 46 and FN = 64 ( Philippines).

Habitat. Wide variety of forested habitats from lowland evergreen rainforests to seasonally dry semideciduous forests. The Lesser Asian False-vampire is primarily found in lowlands, but has been reported in hills at elevations of up to 1000 m.

Food and Feeding. Lesser Asian False-vampires mainly eat large insects and other arthropods, but occasionally catch and eat small vertebrates including frogs,lizards, and small birds (Zosterops sp.). They have been known to kill and partially eat small bats caught with it in a harp trap. In a one-year study at two roosts on Luzon Island, Philippines, insects comprised over 99% ofprey items, with vertebrates representing only 0-5% of prey items. They usually fly low to the ground searching for food and are thought to capture prey mainly on the ground or on vegetation. They may often use prey-generated sounds or vision to locate prey. They may use echolocation to help capture prey.

Breeding. In India, mating occurs in December—January, with young born between early April and early June. Most females give birth to one young, but ¢.10-15% have twins. Young cling to their mothers until they are nearly full-grown. Mothers carry small young while foraging, and larger young are left in the roost. Larger young may still cling to their mothers when they return, and they can be carried within diurnal roosts. Young reach nearly full size at ¢.45 days old and are thought to be independent at c.2 months old. When young are larger, females bring back large insects for them to dismember and eat themselves; females continue to suckle young until they are nearly independent.

Activity patterns. Lesser Asian False-vampires leave their diurnal roost to forage ¢.30 minutes after sunset but can return to the roost during the night. They are not known to use torpor. In India, roosts have been found in caves, disused wells, temples, houses, and hollow trees. Echolocation calls are short FM, broadband calls. Peak energy tends to be in the third harmonic, with the frequency sweeping from 73 kHz to 56 kHz, butthere is often significant energy in the second through sixth harmonics.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Lesser Asian False-vampires are believed to be resident year-round, but they do move among roosts at different times of year. At a cave roost in India, numbers of individuals throughout the year varied from none or a single individual up to 27 individuals. Both sexes share the same roost. Other species of bats do not share the roost area, although other species can occur elsewhere in larger caves. Foraging areas can be near diurnal roosts, and some individuals might return to the roost during the night to consume their food.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The [UCN Red List.

Bibliography. Balete (2010), Bates & Harrison (1997), Brosset (1962b), Corbet & Hill (1992), Hood et al. (1988), Mao Xiuguang et al. (2008), Rickart et al. (1999).

Figures

1. Yellow-winged False-vampire (Lavia frons), 2. Heart-nosed False-vampire (Cardioderma cor), 3. Lesser Asian False-vampire (Megaderma spasma), 4. Greater Asian False-vampire (Lyroderma lyra)

Subspecies and Distribution. M.s.spasmaLinnaeus,1758—TernateandHalmaheraIs(NMoluccas). M.s.abditumChasen,1940—AurI,offEPeninsularMalaysia. M.s.cartmataeG.S.Miller,1906—KarimataI,offWBorneo. M.s.celebenseShamel,1940—Sulawesi. M.s.ceylonenseK.Andersen,1918—SriLanka. M.s.horsfieldiBlyth,1863—peninsularIndia. M.s.kinabaluChasen,1940—MtKinabaluinNBorneo. M.s.lasiaeLyon,1916—LasiaandBabiIs,offWSumatra. M.s.majusK.Andersen,1918—mostofMyanmar,NEIndia,andBangladesh. M.s.mediumK.Andersen,1918—MalayPeninsula(includingTarutaoI)andNSumatra. M.s.minusK.Andersen,1918—SChina(Yunnan),Thailand,Laos,Vietham,andCambodia. M.s.natunaeK.Andersen&Wroughton,1907—BunguranandNorthNatunaIs. M.s.niasenseLyon,1916—NiasandSiberutIs,oftWSumatra. M.s.pangandaranaSody,1936—C&EJava. M.s.philippinenseWaterhouse,1843—Philippines. M.s.stumatisLyon,1916—SiumatI,offWSumatra. M. s. tnfolium E. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1810 — S Sumatra, W Java, and Borneo; also on South Natuna, Tambelan, Krakatau, and Kangean Is. Also recorded on Andaman Is, but subspecies involved not known.