Chaerephon jobensis, G. S. Miller, 1902

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Molossidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 598-672 : 651

77.

Greater Northern Free-tailed Bat

Chaerephon jobensis

French: Tadaride de Miller / German: Yapen-Bulldogfledermaus / Spanish: Caerepon de Miller

Other common names: Northern Mastiff Bat, Northern Free-tailed Bat, Wrinkle-lipped Mastiff Bat

Taxonomy. Nyctinomus jobensis G. S. Miller, 1902 ,

“Ansus, Island of Jobie [= Yapen Island], Northwestern New Guinea [= Papua Province],” Indonesia.

Chaerephon jobensis has sometimes been considered to include C. solomonis and C. bregullae as subspecies but genetic research by S. Ingleby and D. Colgan in 2003 has demonstrated them to be distinct species. Race colonicus was not recognized as distinct by W. D. L. Ride in 1970, but was reinstated as a subspecies by Ingleby and Colgan in 2003. Two subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

C.j.jobensisG.S.Miller,1902—Moluccas(SeramI),YapenI,ENewGuinea,andBismarckArchipelago(NewBritainI).

C. j. colonicus Thomas, 1906 — N Australia fromjust N of Geraldton in Western Australia E to Rockhampton in C Queensland, including major offshore Is.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 52-71 mm, tail 31-45 mm, ear 16-21 mm, hindfoot 10-3-12-6 mm, forearm 43-50 mm; weight 10-5-13-5 g (nominotypicaljobensis); head— body 80-90 mm, tail 35-45 mm, ear 16-22 mm, forearm 46-52 mm; weight 20-30 g (colonicus). Fur of the Greater Northern Free-tailed Bat is short and dark gray brown to reddish brown,slightly grayer below. Lips are wrinkled and ears are large, round, and joined by band ofskin across head. Skull rises very slightly from rostrum to cranium, with slight sagittal crest.

Habitat. The Greater Northern Free-tailed Bat occupies a very large range of habitats from sea level up to 1400 m, including mangroves, monsoon forests, dry sclerophyll woodlands, tree-lined riparian areas, rainforests, lower montane forests, villages, and farmland.

Food and Feeding. The Greater Northern Free-tailed Bat captures flying insects above the canopy or in open areas. It has been observed capturing moths attracted to streetlights and moth-trapping light stations.

Breeding. Obviously pregnant females have been caught in October and November; single young are born in December, and become independent in March-April.

Activity patterns. Greater Northern Free-tailed Bats emerge from their roosts around twilight. Flight is direct and fast (average 24 km /h). They are most active in the first two hours after dusk, but remain active throughout the night. There is no distinct variation in activity between seasons. They roost in tree hollows, caves, cracks in cliffs, buildings, and cracks in bridges. Echolocation calls are very loud and of low frequency (16-23 kHz), and are audible to humans.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Greater Northern Free-tailed Bat generally roosts in small colonies of ¢.10-15 individuals or fewer; however, large colonies of up to 300 individuals have been found. Like White-striped Free-tailed Bats ( Austronomus australis ), Greater Northern Free-tailed Bats are very vocal when in the roost, and their audible social calls can often be heard by humans from some distance away, alerting observers to the location of roosts. Greater Northern Free-tailed Bats travel long distances each night from roosts to foraging grounds, and have been reported often flying in pairs.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List, because of its very wide distribution, expected large population, and tolerance to a broad range of habitats, including human-modified habitats.

Bibliography. Adams et al. (1988), Bonaccorso (1998), Churchill (2008), Flannery (1995a), Ingleby & Colgan (2003), Jackson & Groves (2015), Milne, Fisher et al. (2005), Ride (1970).

Figures

On following pages: 61. Spotted Free-tailed Bat (Chaerephon bivittatus); 62. Long-crested Free-tailed Bat (Chaerephon chapini); 63. Gallagher's Free-tailed Bat (Chaerephon gallagheri); 64. Grandidier's Free-tailed Bat (Chaerephon leucogasten); 65. Lappet-eared Free-tailed Bat (Chaerephon majon; 66. Nigerian Free-tailed Bat (Chaerephon nigeriae); 67. Sao Tome Free-tailed Bat (Chaerephon tomensis); 68. Little Free-tailed Bat (Chaerephon pumilus);, 69. Russet Free-tailed Bat (Chaerephon russatus); 70. Seychelles Free-tailed Bat (Chaerephon pusillus); 71. Madagascar Free-tailed Bat (Chaerephon atsinanana); 72. Black-and-red Free-tailed Bat (Chaerephon jobimena); 73. Lesser Northern Free-tailed Bat (Chaerephon johorensis); 74. Wrinkle-lipped Free-Tailed Bat (Chaerephon plicatus); 75. Fijian Free-tailed Bat (Chaerephon bregullae); 76. Solomons Free-tailed Bat (Chaerephon solomonis); 77. Greater Northern Free-tailed Bat (Chaerephon jobensis).

Subspecies and Distribution. C.j.jobensisG.S.Miller,1902—Moluccas(SeramI),YapenI,ENewGuinea,andBismarckArchipelago(NewBritainI). C. j. colonicus Thomas, 1906 — N Australia fromjust N of Geraldton in Western Australia E to Rockhampton in C Queensland, including major offshore Is.