66.

Inland Forest Bat

Vespadelus baverstocki

French: Vespertilion de Baverstock / German: Baverstock-Waldfledermaus / Spanish: Vespadela de Baverstock

Other common names: Baverstock's Forest Bat

Taxonomy. Eptesicus baverstocki Kitchener, B. Jones & Capuii, 1987,

“Yuinmery area, Western Australian Goldfields (28°28'30"S, 119°17'15"E) at altitude ca. 450 m,” Australia.

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. Throughout inland Australia, primarily in C & E, with a more isolated presence in SW Western Australia.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 35-4-43-5 mm, tail 26-4-33-8 mm, ear 9:1-11-4 mm, Poceanm 26-5-31-4 mm; weight 3-6-5-6 g. The Inland Forest Batis significantly larger at southern limit of range (north-western Victoria) than elsewhere. Dorsal pelage is pale sandy brown to brownish gray; usually much paler creamy white to pale brown ventrally (hairs dark brown at base, with cream or very pale brown tips). Face is pinkish gray as are digits and arms; membranes are dark brown (nearly blackish) and ears are grayish brown, occasionally with white tragus. Ears are small and rounded triangular with smoothly convex anterior edge; tragus is narrow, anteriorly straight or slightly concave, posteriorly convex, and with rounded tip and slight posterobasal lobe. Uropatagium reachesto tip oftail. Glans penis is funnel-shaped. Baculum is considerably longer than in congeners (mean 4-7 mm), is slightly arrow-shaped in dorsal view, with slight lateral distal wings and deeply bifurcated and wide base, and is slightly expanded dorso-ventrally at base in lateral view (shaft narrows distally and gently arches ventrally). Skull is moderately long; lambdoidal crest is weakly to well developed; anterior narial notch is usually narrow U-shaped but occasionally a broad U-shape; rostrum is short. I? is bicuspid, I’ is unicuspid; P* is much smaller than C' and within tooth row; crista linking base of metacone and hypocone on M' and M?*is absent.

Habitat. Found in a wide variety of habitats, such as Acacia (Fabaceae), Callitris (Cupressaceae), and Casuarina (Casuarinaceae) woodlands, mallee, open eucalypt ( Eucalyptus, Myrtaceae) woodlands, and various shrub and grassland habitats. Generally in more arid environments.

Food and Feeding. Inland Forest Bats forage over a wide area, and are very maneuverable fliers. They are generally insectivorous, although the specific makeup of the diet is unknown.

Breeding. Pregnant females have been captured in November; they congregate in maternity colonies to give birth and raise their young. Males with enlarged testes have been reported between December and April. The Inland Forest Bat seems to breed only once per year. Litter size appears to be one. Newborn young are carried by the mother until their weight affects the mother’s flight; they are then left at the roost while the female forages. Subadult males with partially enlarged testes were captured in January and February, suggesting that they may become fertile by April of their first year.

Activity patterns. Inland Forest Bats leave their roosts at dusk to forage. Because they occur in such arid environments that lack many large trees, they are often found in small hollowsin stunted trees. Roosts are generally within tree hollows and abandoned buildings. Call Shape is FM/QCEF.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Colonies range in size from a few individuals to over 60. A large colony of over 60 bats was found in the crack around a door frame in an abandoned railway building.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCNRed List. The Inland Forest Bat is widespread, and occupies a wide range of habitats, with no major threats currently identified.

Bibliography. Churchill (2008), Kitchener et al. (1987), Lumsden & Bennett (1995), Lumsden, Reardon & Ellis (2008), Queale (1997), Reardon, Kutt et al. (2008).