Ozimops cobourgianus

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Ozimops cobourgianus
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Chiroptera
Family: Molossidae
Genus: Ozimops
Species:
O. cobourgianus
Binomial name
Ozimops cobourgianus
(Johnson, 1959) [2]
Synonyms
  • Tadarida loriae cobourgiana
  • Mormopterus (Ozimops) cobourgianus

Ozimops cobourgianus is a species of molossid bat, insectivorous flying mammals known as freetail bats, which are found in north and west coastal regions of Australia. First described in 1959, the group were later recognised as species Mormopterus cobourgianus and soon placed with a new genus. They are associated with mangrove habitat and roost in the hollows of those trees, and known to seek food there and in eucalypt or melaleuca woodland or other coastal habitat. A smaller bat of genus Ozimops , O. cobourgianus are around fifty millimetres (two inches) long and weigh six to ten grams. Little is known of their habits.

Contents

Taxonomy

A species of genus Ozimops , established to separate new species and generic combinations of mostly Australian molossid bats. The population has been described as subspecies Tadarida loriae cobourgiana by David H. Johnson in 1959, the result of examination of mammal specimens the author collected on a 1948 scientific expedition backed by American and Australia institutions. [2] Johnson described a single specimen, allying it to a species known from New Guinea named Tadarida loriae and this was synonymised in various revisions until its recognition as a species (Churchill, 2008; Jackson &Groves, 2015). [3] The epithet was emended from cobourgiana to cobourgianus. The generic combination of this species was inferred by the elevation of the subgenus to genus Ozimops. [4]

The holotype was collected at Black Rock Point, southeast of the Cape Don lighthouse in the Cobourg Peninsula, at the northern coast of the Australian continent. [3]

The recognition as a species, while not formally published, was designated as Mormopterus "species 5 (populations U and V)". The species was published with a subgeneric arrangement as Mormopterus (Ozimops) cobourgianus, a synonym inferred by the subsequent recognition of genus Ozimops. [4] The common name north-western free-tailed bat may refer to species Ozimops cobourgianus, other names have included northern coastal free-tailed, western little free-tailed and mangrove freetail bat. [5] [1]

Description

Ozimops cobourgianus is a small species of a microchiropteran genus, allied with the family Molossidae. Their forearm measurements are from 32.0 to 35.1 millimetres, an average of 34 mm, and their weight is 6.8 to 10.5 grams (7.3 g). The length of the head and body combined is a mean 50.5 mm for its range of 47 to 55 mm, the tail length is 30 to 36 mm (33 mm). [6] [3] The fur is light and creamy in colour at the head and back, the hair is brown to orange at the upper part of the cream coloured shaft and tinged with grey brown. The animal's pelage is lighter at the front, a yellowish shade of cream, and extends out from the body at the wing line from the humerus to the upper leg. A slightly lemon colour is found at the fringe of the upper lip, the throat to chin are yellowish grey. [3] [6]

The genital morphology of Ozimops species allows them to be distinguished, the glans penis of O. cobourgianus bears large spiny epithelial protuberances over much of the surface. The shape of the glans shaft is a cylinder that tapers at the head, which is free of the spines. The head of the glans penis is composed of a pronounced mound at the end of the baculum, parted from an inner head. The exterior of the penis is covered in long hair, and there is a small preputial gland with around ten long hairs. [3]

Distribution and habitat

Ozimops cobourgianus is found at coastal regions, up to one hundred kilometres inland. They are found at Shark Bay in the north of the west coast, and known from populations along the northern coast to the border of the Northern Territory and Queensland. They have not been recorded at the coast, midway between these two areas, at the higher rainfall zones of the Kimberley region and the west of the Top End. [1] Their occurrence at the western Kimberley extends to offshore islands, Koolan, Lachlan and Sunday Islands, and only known at coastal fringes of mangrove forest. The species occurs further inland in the range across the Top End, O. cobourgianus also occurs at the Tiwi Islands in the Northern Territory; the westernmost record of this population is around Wadeye and to the east near Wollogorang Station. [1]

They are known to occupy tree hollows of the mangrove species Avicennia marina , but no other types of roost site are known. [1] [5]

Ecology

The stability of the population and vulnerability to threats is unknown. The IUCN red list notes this population is less vulnerable to changes in land use in the region, it may be vulnerable to threats to coastal regions due to increased industrial and tourist development of the region; the status of least concern is given only tentatively. Two geographically remote populations appear to exist in the north and northwest, with differences in the habitat they occupy. The northwest population is reported in large colonies, possibly related to breeding or maternity, and records are sparse across the range. The individuals or colonies may be transient in areas, noted as sometimes absent when localities were resurveyed. [1]

Ozimops cobourgianus are observed gathering above the tree canopy after sunset in numbers of around one hundred, and dispersing themselves to forage in surrounding areas. [5] The numbers of individuals in colonies may be seasonal or regional, as information is limited to a few observations of their habits. The maternity season is sometime between December and February, with single births, and they are assumed to live around eight to ten years. The individuals reach sexual maturity at around ten months, also assumed from similar species, and the midpoint of these ages is inferred for the generation length of O. cobourgianus as four to five years. [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Free-tailed bat</span> Family of bats

The Molossidae, or free-tailed bats, are a family of bats within the order Chiroptera. The Molossidae is the fourth-largest family of bats, containing about 110 species as of 2012. They are generally quite robust, and consist of many strong-flying forms with relatively long and narrow wings with wrinkled lips shared through their genus. Their strong flying form allows them to fly 60 miles per hour using tail winds and at altitudes over 10,000 feet. This makes them unique among bats, as they are the only bat family that withstands the elevation. They are widespread, being found on every continent except Antarctica. They are typically found in caves, abandoned mines, or tunnels.

<i>Mormopterus</i> Genus of bats

Mormopterus is a genus of molossid microchiropterans, small flying mammals referred to as free-tailed bats. The genus has been the subject of several revisions, and the diversity of taxa centred on Australia were separated to a new genus Ozimops, and two monotypic genera, Setirostris and Micronomus. The species of Mormopterus, in this stricter sense, are only found in areas outside of Australia and West Papua.

<i>Micronomus</i> Species of bat

Micronomus norfolkensis is a species of molossid bat, a family of flying mammals. The bat is endemic to Australia, where it occurs from southeastern Queensland to eastern New South Wales. They are the sole species of genus Micronomus and referred to by variations on east-coast free-tailed bat.

<i>Ozimops beccarii</i> Species of bat

Beccari's free-tailed bat is a species of bat in the free-tailed bat family Molossidae found to Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. It can be found in several habitat types, including savanna, tropical moist forest, and fragmented and urban habitat. It roosts in trees, caves, and buildings in small colonies. This is a common species which is not considered to be threatened. The names Beccari's free-tailed bat or Beccari's mastiff bat once applied to populations in Australia.

<i>Ozimops planiceps</i> Species of bat

Ozimops planiceps is a small bat in the family Molossidae, native to Australia and Indonesia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Little goblin bat</span> Species of bat

The little goblin bat is a species of bat in the family Molossidae, the free-tailed bats. It is endemic to Cuba.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inland broad-nosed bat</span> Species of bat

The inland broad-nosed bat is a species of vesper bat. They are endemic to Australia and widespread throughout the inland, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. This insectivorous microbat, measuring 12 centimetres (4.7 in) in length, roosts in tree hollows during the day and forages over woodland and water at night.

<i>Nyctophilus geoffroyi</i> Species of bat

Nyctophilus geoffroyi is a vespertilionid bat. a flying nocturnal mammal found in Australia, The species is relatively common. They have been referred to as the lesser long-eared bat.

The Solomons mastiff bat is a species of bat in the family Molossidae. It is endemic to the Solomon Islands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White-striped free-tailed bat</span> Species of bat

The white-striped free-tailed bat is a species of bat in the family Molossidae. Its echolocation calls are audible to humans, which is a characteristic found in only a few microbat species. The species was formerly classified as Tadarida australis.

<i>Setirostris</i> Genus of bats

Setirostris eleryi is a species of small insectivorous bat found in inland eastern Australia. It is the sole species of the molossid genus Setirostris, a name that refers to the coarse bristles on their faces. Earlier common names have referred to this unique feature, and the 'free-tail' that is a common feature of its microchiropteran family, the Molossidae; no single common name emerged during the taxonomic revisions that identified what was referred to as the bristle-faced freetail.

Ozimops loriae is a species of bat found in Australia and Papua New Guinea.

Ozimops ridei is a species of molossid bat found in eastern Australia.

Ozimops petersi, the inland free-tailed bat is a species of bat found in Australia.

Austronomus, known as Australasian free-tailed bats, is a molossid genus of microchiropterans. The two recognised species are the white-striped Austronomus australis, found in a wide distribution range across Australia, and the New Guinea species Austronomus kuboriensis.

Ozimops kitcheneri, the south-western free-tailed bat, is a species of molossid bat found in Southwest Australia. A small flying mammal, it forages in forests and woodlands for insects.

Ozimops is a genus of molossid bats found in Australia, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.

Ozimops lumsdenae is a species of molossid bat found in Australia, the largest of the genus Ozimops.

Ozimops halli, also referred to as the Cape York free-tailed bat, is a species of molossid bat found at the Cape York Peninsula in Australia.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Reardon, T., Lumsden, L., Woinarsky, J. & Burbidge, A.A. 2017. Mormopterus cobourgianus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017: e.T71536513A71536527. https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T71536513A71536527.en. Downloaded on 09 February 2019.
  2. 1 2 Johnson, D.H. (1959). "Four new mammals from the Northern Territory of Australia". Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington. 72: 183–187.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Reardon, T. B.; McKenzie, N. L.; Cooper, S. J. B.; Appleton, B.; Carthew, S.; Adams, M. (2014). "A molecular and morphological investigation of species boundaries and phylogenetic relationships in Australian free-tailed bats Mormopterus (Chiroptera: Molossidae)". Australian Journal of Zoology. 62 (2): 109–136. doi: 10.1071/ZO13082 . hdl: 10536/DRO/DU:30070309 .
  4. 1 2 Jackson, S.; Groves, C. (2015). Taxonomy of Australian Mammals. CSIRO Publishing. p. 260. ISBN   9781486300136.
  5. 1 2 3 Andrew, D. (2015). Complete Guide to Finding the Mammals of Australia. CSIRO Publishing. p. 323. ISBN   9780643098145.
  6. 1 2 Menkhorst, P.W.; Knight, F. (2011). A field guide to the mammals of Australia (3rd ed.). Melbourne: Oxford University Press. p. 176. ISBN   9780195573954.
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