300.

Cryptic Woolly Bat

Kerivoula crypta

French: Kérivoule cryptique / German: Kryptische Wollfledermaus / Spanish: Querivoula criptico

Taxonomy. Kerivoula crypta Wroughton & Ryley, 1913,

“Shimoga [= Shivamogga], South India.”

See K. hardwickiiand K. malpasi. Monotypic.

Distribution. Known only from type locality in SW India (Karnataka).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 44 mm, tail 42 mm, ear 12- 5 mm, hindfoot 7 mm, forearm 31- 5 mm (type specimen). The Cryptic Woolly Bat is very similar to Hardwicke’s Woolly Bat (K. hardwicki), being distinguished by its smaller and less emarginated ears, shorter wings, and darker color. Fur is long and silky. Dorsal pelage is dark brown (hairs unicolored, unlike in Hardwicke’s Woolly Bat); venter is somewhat paler. Ears are funnel-shaped, with rounded tips, lacking wide emargination. 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 of toes, and calcar is well developed and curved. Skull is apparently similar to that of the Flat-skulled Woolly Bat ( K. depressa) and relatively flat.

Habitat. Known only from a forested area.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. No information.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Not assessed on The IUCN Red List. The Cryptic Woolly Batis currently known only from one specimen. Distribution is likely wider, but this needs verification.

Bibliography. Tu Vuong Tan et al. (2018), Wroughton & Ryley (1913).