| Gallagher's free-tailed bat | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Chiroptera |
| Family: | Molossidae |
| Genus: | Chaerephon |
| Species: | C. gallagheri |
| Binomial name | |
| Chaerephon gallagheri (Harrison, 1975) | |
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| Synonyms | |
| |
Gallagher's free-tailed bat (Chaerephon gallagheri) is a free-tailed bat endemic to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Only one individual has ever been documented.
It was described as a new species in 1975 by David Harrison. The eponym for the species name "gallagheri" was Major Michael D. Gallagher, who collected the holotype. [2]
Its distinct morphology has called into question whether it represents its own genus of bat. [3]
Its fur is umber in color, with the belly paler than its back. The fur is short, with individual hairs only 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) long. Its flight membranes are grayish-black. [3] It is a small free-tailed bat, with a forearm length of 37.5 mm (1.48 in). [2] Its total length is 77 mm (3.0 in); its ear length is 19 mm (0.75 in); its tail is 28 mm (1.1 in) long; its hind foot is 8.4 mm (0.33 in) long. [3] Its greatest length of skull is 16.0 mm (0.63 in). Its ears are large and conjoined via the interaural membrane. [2] The interaural membrane has a deep, backwards-facing pocket containing an interaural crest with hairs approximately 9 mm (0.35 in) in length. The bat is likely able to evert this pocket to display the crest. [3] It is unique in its family due to the presence of large, paired "nasal inflations" similar to those found in the mouse-tailed bats. [2] Like other free-tailed bats, its tail extends beyond the margin of the uropatagium. It has a blunt snout. Its wings are long and narrow. [3]
As only one individual—a male—has been documented, little is known about its biology and ecology. Based on other members of its genus, it is hypothesized that Gallagher's free-tailed bat forages for insects at relatively high altitudes with a fast but not maneuverable flight. [1] [3]
The holotype was collected in the Scierie Forest, approximately 30 km (19 mi) southwest of Kindu, Democratic Republic of the Congo. [2] It was captured in a mist net that was placed in the evergreen undergrowth of a partly-deciduous forest. The forest where the holotype was collected has been heavily logged. [3] It is nocturnal, possibly roosting in hollow trees, rock crevices, or caves during the day. [1]
It is currently evaluated as data deficient by the IUCN, meaning that not enough information is available to assess its conservation needs. From 1996–2008, it was considered critically endangered, the most dire assessment category. This species is known from only one individual ever documented—the holotype. Threats to this species are unclear, but possibly include habitat destruction. [1]
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The lesser Angolan epauletted fruit bat is a species of megabat in the family Pteropodidae. It is found in Angola and the Republic of the Congo. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry and moist lowland forest, and savanna.
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The Benito roundleaf bat is a species of bat in the family Hipposideridae found in Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, and Togo. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.
The short-tailed roundleaf bat is a species of bat in the family Hipposideridae. It is found in Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and caves. It is threatened by habitat loss.
The Trevor's free-tailed bat is a species of bat in the family Molossidae. It is found in Central and West Africa. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and moist savanna.
The Bini free-tailed bat is a species of bat in the family Molossidae found in West and Central Africa. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.
The big-eared mastiff bat is a species of bat in the Molossidae family endemic to Papua New Guinea. It is only known from eleven specimens and it is not easy to survey. It forages in rainforest canopy and roosts in tree hollows. It is likely more widespread than currently known but additional research is needed.
Decken's horseshoe bat is a species of horseshoe bat. It is found in Kenya and Tanzania. Its natural habitats are tropica and subtropical moist lowland and montane forest, moist savanna, caves and other subterranean habitats.
The montane monkey-faced bat or montane flying monkey is a megabat endemic to the Solomon Islands. It is listed as a critically endangered species. Due to its imperilled status, it is identified by the Alliance for Zero Extinction as a species in danger of imminent extinction. In 2013, Bat Conservation International listed this species as one of the 35 species of its worldwide priority list of conservation. Only one individual has ever been found.
Chaerephon atsinanana is a free-tailed bat found on Madagascar. It was considered a subspecies of the little free-tailed bat until 2010. During the day, they are known to roost in man-made structures such as the roofs or attics of buildings.
