Mops spurrelli, Dollman, 1911

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Molossidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 598-672 : 656

88.

Spurrell’s Free-tailed Bat

Mops spurrelli

French: Tadaride de Spurrell / German: Spurrell-Bulldogfledermaus / Spanish: Mops de Spurrell

Other common names: Spurrell's Mops Bat

Taxonomy. Xiphonycteris spurrelli Dollman, 1911 ,

“Bibianaha, 60 miles [= 97 km] W. of Kumasi, Gold Coast [= Ghana]. Altitude 700 feet [= 213 m].”

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. Recorded patchily from Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea (including Bioko I), Central African Republic, and NE DR Congo.

Descriptive notes. Head-body c¢.58-66 mm, tail 20-25 mm, ear 11-14 mm, hindfoot 7-10 mm, forearm 27-30 mm; weight c. 11 g. Males average slightly larger than females, especially on cranial characters. Spurrell’s Free-tailed Bat is a small free-tailed bat, with no facial ornamentation and with tail protruding beyond hind margin of uropatagium. Fur is short and dark reddish brown above, sometimes with scattered white or dark brown hairs; white below, merging into grayish white on chest and throat and into brown on flanks, with no midventral markings or contrasting ventral flank-stripe. Upper lip has 6-7 well-defined wrinkles on each side and many spoon-hairs. Wings and uropatagium are blackish brown. Ears are blackish brown and relatively short (extending halfway along muzzle when laid flat), inner margins connected by interaural band of skin having forwardfacing fold, bearing fringe of darker hair on its posterior edge but no interauralcrest. Tragus is minute and concealed by antitragus, which is large and tall, with rounded top and broad base. Anterior palate is narrowly emarginated, and basisphenoid pits are shallow. Lowerincisors have greatly enlarged cingula, especially in males. As is typical for Mops , cusps on M” have third ridge much reduced. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 48 and FNa = 64.

Habitat. [.owland rainforest, secondary forest, and Guinea savanna.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. Spurrell’s Free-tailed Bats are nocturnal and roost in hollow trees.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Spurrell’s Free-tailed Bats roost communally in small colonies.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List.

Bibliography. ACR (2017), Happold, M. (2013aq), Juste & Ibanez (1994a), Monadjem, Fahr, Bergmans, Mickleburgh, Hutson & Juste (2017a).

Figures

14. Bonda Mastiff Bat (Molossus currentium), 15. Fenton’s Masuft Bat (Molossus fentoni), 17. Pallas’s Mastiff Bat (Molossus molossus), 18. Miller’s Mastiff Bat (Molossus pretiosus), 19. Black Mastiff Bat (Molossus rufus)

Distribution. Recorded patchily from Sierra Leone , Liberia , Guinea , Ivory Coast , Ghana , Togo , Cameroon , Equatorial Guinea (including Bioko I), Central African Republic , and NE DR Congo .