Chaerephon plicatus (Buchannan 1800)
- Dataset
- Molossidae
- Rank
- SPECIES
Classification
- kingdom
- Animalia
- phylum
- Chordata
- class
- Mammalia
- order
- Chiroptera
- family
- Molossidae
- genus
- Chaerephon
- species
- Chaerephon plicatus
activity
Activity patterns. Wrinkle-lipped Free-tailed Bats usually emerge from their roosts before dusk in a large continuous flock, which forms a large, dark column. They roost mainly in limestone caves, but can also be found roosting in rock crevices and old buildings and temples. Wrinkle-lipped Free-tailed Bats feed high in open space, e. g. over ricefields and other water bodies, but also come down near the ground or over the canopy in early evening. This species uses a relatively low-frequency FM echolocation call with peak frequencies of ¢. 23 - 30 kHz, a start frequency of 39 kHz, and end frequency of 17 kHz, with durations of 6 - 12 milliseconds. Feeding buzzes have peak frequencies of 25 - 30 kHz.
biology_ecology
Habitat. Various habitats ranging from urban and agricultural areas to karst forest areas, from sea level up to elevations of ¢. 950 m.
biology_ecology
Movements, Home range and Social organization. Wrinkle-lipped Free-tailed Bats often form large colonies of thousands of individuals, e. g. at Khao Chong Pran Cave, south-western Thailand, a population size of 2 - 6 million bats was estimated. They have been found sharing the same cave system with several other bat species, including Lesser Dawn Bats (Eonycteris spelaea), tomb bats (Taphozous spp.), horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus spp.), leat-nosed bats (Hipposideros spp.), and myotis (Myotis spp.). Estimated foraging range is ¢. 27 km in diameter from roosting cave.
breeding
Breeding. The Wrinkle-lipped Free-tailed Bat has been observed engaged in breeding activities during March-April and September — October. In Thailand and Cambodia, pregnant females were found in February-March and in August to early October. Females with young were seen in May-June.
conservation
Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List, due to its widespread range and relatively high population size. However, populations have been continually declining locally due to habitat loss (e. g. limestone cave quarry), hunting, and disturbance due to uncontrolled guano harvesting.
description
Descriptive notes. Head-body 65 - 75 mm, tail 28 - 40 mm, ear 16 - 24 mm, hindfoot 8 - 12 mm, forearm 40 - 50 mm; weight 13 - 31 g. Pelage is soft, dense, and mostly uniform chestnut; dorsal hair is dark brown; it is slightly paler on ventral side with gray or whitish tips; individual hairs are dense and very short. Upper lip is wrinkled, with slightly protruded nostrils. Ears are dark brown in color, thick, moderate in size, and joined on forehead by flap of skin. Tragus is small and separated from antitragus by deep notch. Hindfoot has bristle hairs on side of outer and inner toes. Tail is robust and exposed from tail membrane for over one-half ofits length. P? is very small. M? is well developed, about one-half of M * in crown area. Upper and lower canines are sharp and pointed. Upper incisors are remarkably robust.
discussion
This species is monotypic.
distribution
Distribution. India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, China, Thailand, Laos, Vietham, Cambodia, Borneo, Java, Lesser Sunda Is (Bali and Lombok), and Philippines; presence in Bangladesh is very likely but needs confirmation. Previous records on Malay Peninsula and Sumatra need further verification as to whether the populations may have disappeared or may have been misidentified.
food_feeding
Food and Feeding. The Wrinkle-lipped Free-tailed Bat has been reported feeding mainly on Coleoptera and Homoptera, which together accounted for over 80 % ofits diet. In central Thailand, main diet items are brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens) and white-backed planthopper (Sogatella furcifera), both Hemiptera, which are known as the major insect pests in ricefields.
materials_examined
“ Puttahaut in Bengal, ” India.
Name
- Synonyms
- Vespertilio plicatus Buchanan 1800
- Homonyms
- Chaerephon plicatus (Buchannan 1800)
- Common names
- Caerepon de nariz arrugada in language.
- Faltenlippen-Bulldogfledermaus in 德語
- Tadaride a nez plissé in 法文
- Wrinkle-lipped Bat in 英文
- Wrinkle-lipped Free-Tailed Bat in 英文
- \ Wrinkle-lipped Bat in 英文