| Southern forest bat | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Chiroptera |
| Family: | Vespertilionidae |
| Genus: | Vespadelus |
| Species: | V. regulus |
| Binomial name | |
| Vespadelus regulus | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
The southern forest bat (Vespadelus regulus) is a vesper bat found in Australia.
A species of Vespadelus , of the diverse and common micro-bats, bats assigned as either suborder Yangochiroptera or Microchiroptera. The description for the species was published by Oldfield Thomas in 1906. [2] The holotype, of indeterminate sex, was collected at King River, Western Australia at sea level. [2] The specimen was obtained on a survey of Southwest Australia, along with several other bat species. The lectotype, a skull held at British Museum of Natural History, was nominated in 1968, providing a single specimen from the material collected by Thomas. [3]
Thomas ascribed the species as Pipistrellus regulus, allying it to the genus Pipistrellus . The species has also been placed with genus Eptesicus . [4] [3] Prior to analysis that led to the description of new species, the population was assigned to a poorly studied pumilis group of Australian bat taxa. [5] Taxonomic instability also saw the species placed within a subgenus Pipistrellus (Vespadelus), [6] while others were elevating that taxon as genus Vespadelus. [4]
The taxonomic status of the population west of Adelaide, South Australia, is suspected to be a separate species. [1]
Common names for the Vespadelus regulus include little bat, King River little bat, and King River pipistrelle. [7]
Vespadelus regulus is an aerial predator of insects that hunts at night using echolocation. There is reddish-brown fur at the back, the ventral coloration is greyish or light brown. [8] This fur is thick, hairs are slightly greater than five millimetres in length, with an overall coloration at the dorsal side of dark Prout's brown. [2] The ears and wings are dark grey. [8] The range of measurements for the forearm is from 28 to 35 mm (1.1 to 1.4 in), and their weight is 4 to 7 g (0.14 to 0.25 oz). [8] It has a very short snout and large ears. The side profile of the skull is comparatively lower, flattened, and the head in top view is triangular. [9]
The species overall grey and brown fur is characterised by hairs that are coloured dark brown then markedly lighter at the upper part of the shaft. The penis is pendulous, without a sharp bend in the length, the glans penis has a lateral fold and is funnel-shaped in profile. The ratio of the third to second phalanx bone of the wings third finger is greater than 0.84, The measured range of length of the head and body combined is 36 to 46 mm (1.4 to 1.8 in), the tail is 28 to 34 mm (1.1 to 1.3 in) long, and the ear length is 9 to 13 mm (0.35 to 0.51 in). [9] The skull, at its longest measurement, is 12 to 13 mm (0.47 to 0.51 in) [3] They weigh from 3.6 to 7.0 g (0.13 to 0.25 oz). [9]
They are highly energetic and can hunt their prey, insects, with great agility. [10] [8]
Another bat of the genus, the little forest species Vespadelus vulturnus , is also found in eastern regions, it is usually smaller, a forearm length of less than 31 mm, probably possesses a whitish tragus, a head has a pronounced brow. The inland forest bat Vespadelus baverstocki is distinguished by its smaller size in their common range to the north, and is paler in colour and lacks the distinct fold at the glans penis. The related bats of genus Vespadelus , the eastern forest bat V. pumilus and large forest species V. darlingtoni , are distinctly darker in skin colour and their penis is bent at an acute angle. [9] The structural characteristics of their ultrasound calls are able to be discerned in sonograms, although imperfect recording conditions may not allow them to be distinguished from some other vespadeluses. The echolocation calls are emitted at a frequency of 38 to 46 kHz, and visual output of signals received by bat detectors are classified as "curved calls, tail absent or up-sweeping". [11]
An endemic of Tasmania and the southern regions of Australia, relatively common in coastal and sub-coastal habitat. [7] [9] The distribution range extends from southeast Queensland to the Eyre Peninsula, then restricted to the coast until their deeper inland ingress to the semiarid and forested regions of southwest Australia. The southwest of the continent, across an area to the north of Perth, is a region of low diversity in microbat taxa and none of the megachiropterans; this species is one of around ten to occur there.[ citation needed ] The also occur on Kangaroo Island, off the south coast of Australia. The habitat is a variety of mallee and other semi-arid woodland and wet sclerophyll forest in areas of higher rainfall. [9] The species is found in environs at sea level and above, in Victoria they are reported as occurring at altitudes up to 1700 metres. Colonies have been found in remnant bushland in agricultural and urban areas. [1]
The species is found roosting in tree hollows and sometimes in buildings. [12] The sites are often shared by individuals of the same gender. [9] The diverse range of habitat includes wet to dry sclerophyll forests and low shrub woodlands, in mallee and a range of vegetation types of temperate regions. [1] They display a strong preference for roosting in large, mature trees in the mid-decay stages, which correspond to trees with large numbers of suitable hollows. [12]
A study of roosting habitat and preferences for V. regulus and Nyctophilus gouldi in the Jarrah Forest of Southwest Australia examined the habits of these bats at two locations. This species favoured hollows of trees, predominantly the giants jarrah, Eucalyptus marginata , and marri, Corymbia calophylla , located in mature and open forest buffers reserved by later forest management practices. The individuals occupied a number of roosts in a confined locality, a hollow at a high elevation on the tree, and seem to favour riparian zones. [13] In a survey of the greater Melbourne area, where they are uncommon, the species did not adopt the bat boxes installed to replace their preferred habitat. [14]
Vespadelus regulus forages amongst all levels of their habitat, including at the ground and above the forest canopy. [7] They are fast and agile, able to twist in the air while pursuing small moths and other prey. [15] The species flight is characterised by spiralling and gliding in long arcs. [7] A study in comparative analysis of flight in Australian bats reported this highly energetic species, along with wattled bats Chalinolobus morio and Chalinolobus gouldii , had the greatest manoeuvrability. [10]
They occur in colonies of up to one hundred individuals, [1] and recorded in association with Chalinolobus morio, lesser long-eared Nyctophilus geoffroyi and south-eastern freetail bat. [7] A single birth occurs after a three month gestation period. [1]
The conservation status, as Eptisicus regulus, was assessed in IUCN 2003 red list as 'lower concern', [5] and in 2008 as 'least concern' with the note that determination of the taxonomic status of populations was required. [1] The species is found in protected parks and reserves, which provides some security from threatening factors. [1] The also appear to be less sensitive to altered land use, primarily the removal of habitat by encroachment of agricultural and suburban development. [1]
Vespertilionidae is a family of microbats, of the order Chiroptera, flying, insect-eating mammals variously described as the common, vesper, or simple nosed bats. The vespertilionid family is the most diverse and widely distributed of bat families, specialised in many forms to occupy a range of habitats and ecological circumstances, and it is frequently observed or the subject of research. The facial features of the species are often simple, as they mainly rely on vocally emitted echolocation. The tails of the species are enclosed by the lower flight membranes between the legs. Over 300 species are distributed all over the world, on every continent except Antarctica. It owes its name to the genus Vespertilio, which takes its name from a word for bat, vespertilio, derived from the Latin term vesper meaning 'evening'; they are termed "evening bats" and were once referred to as "evening birds".
Gould's long-eared bat is a microbat found in southern regions of Australia. It occurs in eastern Australia, from Queensland to Victoria, and in a smaller isolated range in the south-west of Western Australia.
The chocolate wattled bat is a bat in the family Vespertilionidae. It is found only in Australia, including the island Tasmania, and widespread in southern regions. It is known to reside from sea level to at least 1,570 metres (5,150 ft) in Victoria.
The little pied bat is a species of vesper bat in the family Vespertilionidae. It is found only in semi-arid woodlands in eastern Australia.
Nyctophilus arnhemensis, known as the northern or Arnhem long-eared bat, is a species of Chiroptera (bats) native to northern regions of Australia. The distribution range is from north-western Queensland to northern Western Australia.
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 pygmy long-eared bat is a vesper bat, found in the north of the Australian continent. An insectivorous flying hunter, they are one of the tiniest mammals in Australia, weighing only a few grams and one or two inches long.
The western false pipistrelle, species Falsistrellus mackenziei, is a vespertilionid bat that occurs in Southwest Australia. The population is declining due to loss of its habitat, old growth in tall eucalypt forest which has largely been clear felled for tree plantations, wheat cultivation and urbanisation. Although it is one of the largest Australian bats of the family, the species was not recorded or described until the early 1960s. A darkly colored bat with reddish brown fur and prominent ears, they fly rapidly around the upper canopy of trees in pursuit of flying insects.
The inland forest bat is a vesper bat that occurs in central and arid regions in Australia. They were first described in 1987, published in a review of poorly surveyed microbat populations. A tiny flying mammal, whose body is around twelve millimetres (½ inch) long, that occupies small cavities in trees and buildings while roosting. The nocturnal activity is foraging for insects, typically moths.
Vespadelus is a genus of Australian bats in the family Vespertilionidae.
The large forest bat is a common vesper bat found in southeast Australia, Tasmania, and Lord Howe Island.
The yellow-lipped cave bat is a vesper bat that only occurs in the Kimberley region of northwest Australia. The bat was first captured at Tunnel Creek in 1958 and a description published nearly twenty years later. Aside from observations of their physical characteristics, a preference for caves, and hunting insects over streams, little is known of the species.
Finlayson's cave bat is a species of vesper bat found only in Australia.
The little forest bat is a species of vesper bat in the family Vespertilionidae. It is found only in south-eastern Australia, including Tasmania. It is a tiny bat often weighing less than 4 g (0.14 oz). It is sometimes referred to as Australia's smallest mammal, although the Northern or Koopmans Pipistrelle, Pipistrellus westralis, is possibly smaller, weighing on average around 3 g (0.11 oz). It is the smallest bat in Tasmania
The Vespertilioninae are a subfamily of vesper bats from the family Vespertilionidae.
The Christmas Island pipistrelle is an extinct species of vesper bat that was found only on Christmas Island, Australia.The last individual bat seen in August 2009 with no further sightings despite intensive efforts to locate it.
Nyctophilus daedalus is a species of bat in the family Vespertilionidae, a flying mammal endemic to northern Australia. They are also referred to as the pallid long-eared bat or northern long-eared bat.
Nyctophilus major, referred to as a western long-eared bat, is a species found in forests and woodlands of Southwest Australia.
Vespertilionini is a tribe of bats in the family Vespertilionidae. The largest of the tribes in Vespertilioninae, it contains many genera found throughout the Old World and Australasia.
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