Glischropus aquilus, Csorba et al., 2015

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Vespertilionidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 716-981 : 763

6.

Dark Thick-thumbed Bat

Glischropus aquilus

French: Pipistrelle sombre / German: Dunkle Dickdaumenfledermaus / Spanish: Pipistrela de Sumatra

Taxonomy. Glischropus aquilus Csorba et al., 2015 ,

“Sukabanjar village, Lampung, Sumatra, Indonesia, 4°56’S, 103°52°E, 768 m a.s.l.”

This species appears to be sister to G. tylopus , based on genetic data. Monotypic.

Distribution. Known only from type locality in SW Sumatra.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 35-4 mm, tail: 38: 8 mm, ear 11 mm, hindfoot 6-2 mm, forearm 32-2 mm; weight 4-8 g holotype). The Dark Thick-thumbed Bat is distinguished from its congeners by its darker pelage and ears. Dorsal pelage is uniformly dark brown (individual hairs dark brown with a lighter brown tip), while ventral pelage is a lighter medium brown (individual hairs dark brown for basal two-thirds and medium brown for distal one-third). Ears are blackish, wide, and broadly rounded, and tragus is relatively narrow and bluntly pointed. Plagiopatagium is attached to base of toe and calcaris short (extending to less than one-half the free edge of uropatagium). Thumb has a large pinkish pad as in other Glischropus , which is oval-shaped; soles of feet are pink and fleshy. Penis is dorso-ventrally flattened, and proximal one-half is practically naked, while distal one-half is very hairy (hairs are stiff and whitish on dorsal surface and around glans). In comparison to the Javan Thick-thumbed Bat ( Glischropus javanus ) and the Common Thick-thumbed Bat ( G. tylopus ), the Dark Thick-thumbed Bat has a deeper rostrum, more elevated frontal region, and higher occipital region. This species is most similar to the Indochinese Thick-thumbed Bat ( G. bucephalus ), although it shows greater post-dental width, as well as having a less swollen braincase and a gradually narrowing interorbital region. I? is bicuspid; I’ is one-halfthe height of I; P? is as large as I? basally and is partly displaced from tooth row and visible in lateral view; lower molars are nyctalodont.

Habitat. Collected in secondary forest near a bamboo stand and a small stream at an elevation of 768 m.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. Like other species in the genus, Dark Thick-thumbed Bats probably roost in dead bamboo stalks, rock crevices, and banana leaves, when available.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Not assessed on The [UCN Red List. The Dark Thick-thumbed Bat is known only from a single specimen. Further research is needed to provide a clear picture of the species’ conservation status.

Bibliography. Csorba et al. (2015), Huang, J.C.C. et al. (2014).

Figures

1. Desert Yellow Lesser House Bat (Scotoecus pallidus), 2. Dark-winged Lesser House Bat (Scotoecus hirundo), 3. Light-winged Lesser House Bat (Scotoecus albofuscus), 4. Ruppell’s Bat (Vansonia rueppellii), 5. Indochinese Thick-thumbed Bat (Glischropus bucephalus), 6. Dark Thick-thumbed Bat (Glischropus aquilus), 7. Common Thick-thumbed Bat (Glischropus tylopus), 8. Javan Thick-thumbed Bat (Glischropus javanus), 9. Dormer’s Bat (Scotozous dormeri), 10. Chinese Noctule (Nyctalus plancyi), 11. Bird-like Noctule (Nyctalus aviator), 12. Japanese Noctule (Nyctalus furvus), 13. Mountain Noctule (Nyctalus montanus), 14. Greater Noctule (Nyctalus lasiopterus), 15. Common Noctule (Nyctalus noctula), 16. Leisler’s Noctule (Nyctalus leisleri), 17. Azores Noctule (Nyctalus azoreum)

Distribution. Known only from type locality in SW Sumatra.