Solomons mastiff bat
| Solomons mastiff bat | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Chiroptera |
| Family: | Molossidae |
| Genus: | Chaerephon |
| Species: | C. solomonis |
| Binomial name | |
| Chaerephon solomonis Troughton, 1931 | |
The Solomons mastiff bat (Chaerephon solomonis) is a species of bat in the family Molossidae. It is endemic to the Solomon Islands.
Taxonomy and etymology
It was described as a new species by Australian mammalogist Ellis Le Geyt Troughton in 1931.[2] Troughton likely chose the species name "solomonis" because this species was first discovered on the Solomon Islands. It is sometimes classified as a subspecies of the northern freetail bat, Chaerephon jobensis.[3] The genus Chaerephon was formerly considered a subgenus of or synonymous with the genus Tadarida, meaning that this species has been known as Tadarida jobensis solomonis or Tadarida solomonis.[4][1]
Description
Its forearm is 40.5–45 mm (1.59–1.77 in). In total, its head and body are 63–68 mm (2.5–2.7 in) long, while its tail is 35–36 mm (1.4–1.4 in) long. Its fur is a rich, auburn brown, with white hairs interspersed infrequently. Its tragus is lobed and broad at the tip.[2]
Range and habitat
Its range is currently known to include Choiseul Island and Santa Isabel Island, both of which are part of the Solomon Islands.[1]
Conservation
It is evaluated as least concern by the IUCN. It meets the criteria for this designation because it is a common species, and future studies will likely expand its range to other islands. Its population is assumed to be large, and it is not thought to be in rapid decline, which would qualify it for a more urgent classification.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 4 Hamilton, S. (2014). "Chaerephon solomonis". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 2014: e.T4320A67362737. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T4320A67362737.en. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
- 1 2 Troughton, Ellis. "Three new bats of the genera Pteropus, Nyctimene, and Chaerephon from Melanesia". Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales. 56: 207–209.
- ↑ Koopman, K.F. (1993). "Order Chiroptera". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M. Mammal species of the world: a taxonomic and geographic reference. Washington, D. C., USA: Smithsonian Institution Press. pp. 137–241.
- ↑ Jackson, S.; Jackson, S. M.; Groves, C. (2015). Taxonomy of Australian mammals. Csiro Publishing. p. 259. ISBN 9781486300136.