299.

Sri Lankan Woolly Bat

Kerivoula malpasi

French: Kérivoule du Sri Lanka / German: Sri-Lanka-Wollfledermaus / Spanish: Querivoula de Sri Lanka

Taxonomy. Kerivoula malpasi W. W. A. Phillips, 1932,

“Kumbalgamuwa (3,000 feet [= 914 m]) in the Mulhalkelle district of the Central Province,” Sri Lanka.

See K. hardwickii . Kerivoula malpasi is very closely related to K. crypta and might be a subspecies ofit. Monotypic.

Distribution. Central highlands of Sri Lanka and one record from NE.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 39-55 mm, til 35-43 mm, ear 6- 2 mm {one speci men), hindfoot 5-8 mm, forearm 317- 36 mm. Pelage is long and silky. Dorsal pelage is dark brownish or gray to light brown; venteris a little lighter and grayer, especially on abdomen. Face is covered in hairs except on nostrils, bare parts of face and body are dark brown, and membranes are brown and semi-translucent. Ears are funnelshaped, with rounded tips. Tragus is long and attenuated, narrowing gradually toward sharp point; has prominent basal notch on posterior margin; and is slightly concave. Wings are attached at base oftoes, and calcaris well developed and curved. Skull is apparently similar to that of the Flat-skulled Woolly Bat ( K. depressa) and relatively flattened.

Habitat. Warm, montane well-sheltered forests at elevations of 500-1100 m.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. The Sri Lankan Woolly Bat roosts in curled banana fronds.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Sri Lankan Woolly Bat reportedly roosts alone.

Status and Conservation. Not assessed on The IUCN Red List. The Sri Lankan Woolly Bat has a limited distribution and is currently known from a few specimens spread across five localities on Sri Lanka. A specimen collected in 2018 was the first in 23 years. It appears to be rare but might be more widespread.

Bibliography. Gabadage et al. (2018), Phillips (1932), Tu Vuong Tan et al. (2018).