Mops brachypterus, Peters, 1852

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Molossidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 598-672 : 653

79.

Short-winged Free-tailed Bat

Mops brachypterus

French: Tadaride a ailes courtes / German: Kurzflligel-Bulldogfledermaus / Spanish: Mops de alas cortas

Other common names: Short-winged Mops Bat, Sierra Leone Free-tailed Bat, Sierra Leone Mops Bat, White-fingered Free-tailed Bat

Taxonomy. Dysopes brachypterus Peters, 1852 ,

“Insula Mozambique,” Mozambique.

Races have disjunct ranges, molecular analysis may show these to be distinct species. Two subspecies are recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

M.b.brachypterusPeters,1852—UgandaandthenalongthecoastfromSEKenyatoNEMozambique;alsoonUngujaandMafiaIs(ZanzibarArchipelago)andMozambiqueI.

M. b. leonis Thomas, 1908 — Sierra Leone E to SW Central African Republic, N Gabon, and N Republic of the Congo, with isolated records from NE & SC DR Congo.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 52-65 mm, tail 25-35 mm, ear 14-19 mm, hindfoot 11 mm, forearm 34-41 mm; weight 12-18 g. Dorsal fur is short, blackish brown, dark rusty brown, sepia-brown, or grayish brown with no grizzling white flecks or spots; undersideis pale brownish gray, very pale gray, orange, yellowish cream or white, without conspicuous mid-ventral markings or contrasting flank-stripe; a bright orange morph is recorded from Cameroon. Wings are dark brown to black and slightly translucent, and uropatagium is dark brown. Upper lip has 5-7 wrinkles and many spoon-shaped hairs. Ears are blackish brown and relatively short, not reaching muzzle when laid forward. Tragus is small. Antitragus is large and subrectangular, sometimes with corners very rounded. V-shaped interaural band connects inner margins of ears, without interaural pouch or crest, but supporting row of dark brown hairs on posterior edge. Anterior palate has narrow emargination, in contrast to most Mops species, where it is closed. Basisphenoid pits are moderately to well developed. As is typical for Mops , cusps on M?® are V-shaped rather than N-shaped (i.e. with third “leg” being much reduced). Chromosomal complement has 2n = 48 and FNa = 54.

Habitat. [.owland rainforest and forest—savanna ecotones in West and Central Africa, and coastal forest mosaic habitats in coastal eastern Africa.

Food and Feeding. Short-winged Free-tailed Bats have been observed feeding on winged termites.

Breeding. In March in north-eastern DR Congo, 14 out of 18 collected Short-winged Free-tailed Bats were carrying a single embryo.

Activity patterns. Short-winged Free-tailed Bats are nocturnal, and roost in hollows in trees, deserted holes of barbets ( Lybiidae ), and crevices in dead trees and buildings, or under the corrugated iron roofs of buildings. Predators include bat hawks (Macherramphus alcinus).

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Short-winged Free-tailed Bats roost communally in colonies of 10-20 individuals or many more. Sometimes roosts are shared with Railer Free-tailed Bats ( Mops thersites ), less often with Angolan Free-tailed Bats (M. condylurus ).

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

Bibliography. ACR (2017), Happold, M. (2013ai), Monadjem, Fahr, Hutson et al. (2017b), Monadjem, Taylor et al. (2010).

Figures

78. Bakari’s Free-tailed Bat (Mops bakarii), 79. Short-winged Free-tailed Bat (Mops brachypterus), 80. Angolan Free-tailed Bat (Mops condylurus)

Subspecies and Distribution. M.b.brachypterusPeters,1852—UgandaandthenalongthecoastfromSEKenyatoNEMozambique;alsoonUngujaandMafiaIs(ZanzibarArchipelago)andMozambiqueI. M. b. leonis Thomas, 1908 — Sierra Leone E to SW Central African Republic , N Gabon , and N Republic of the Congo , with isolated records from NE & SC DR Congo .