Chaerephon bemmeleni (Jentink, 1879)

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Molossidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 598-672 : 645

60.

Gland-tailed Free-tailed Bat

Chaerephon bemmeleni

French: Tadaride de van Bemmelen / German: Van-Bemmelen-Bulldogfledermaus / Spanish: Caerepon de van Bemmelen

Other common names: Gland-tailed Wrinkle-lipped Bat, Van Bemmelen's Wrinkle-lipped Bat

Taxonomy. Nyctinomus bemmeleni Jentink, 1879 ,

“ Liberia.”

Two subspecies are recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

C.b.bemmeleniJentink,1879—Guinea,SierraLeone,Liberia,IvoryCoast,andCameroon.

C. b. cistura Thomas, 1903 — SC South Sudan, Uganda, E DR Congo, SW Kenya, and N Tanzania.

Descriptive notes. Head-body ¢.60-70 mm, tail 34—40 mm, ear 14-20 mm, hindfoot 9-13 mm, forearm 41-48 mm; weight 11-14 g. The Gland-tailed Free-tailed Bat is distinguished from other molossids by having a pair of sac-like glands in both sexes just lateral to base of tail that open ventrally and may be evident as dorsal swellings. Pelage is short, covering rump but not extending onto tail membrane. Pelage is dark brown with slight frosting but no spots or stripes above, paler below, with flanks darker than belly; there are no mid-ventral markings, and ventral flank-stripes are whitish, contrasting with dark flanks. Upper lip has 6-8 well-defined wrinkles on each side and comparatively few spoon-hairs. Ears are blackish brown, joined by V-shaped band of skin between inner margins, very broad and square, just reaching snout when laid forward. Interaural band has no distinct crest, sometimes having dense hairs, sometimes being almost naked. Tragus is small and concealed by large antitragus. Wing and tail membranes are pale gray. Anterior emargination of palate is narrow and basisphenoid pits are shallow. M? has third ridge about three-quarters as long as second ridge. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 48 and FNa = 54.

Habitat. Both moist and dry lowland tropical forests, montane grasslands (at 1600 m on Mount Nimba), as well as drier and moist savannas in the eastern population, including Acacia (Fabaceae) —-Commiphora ( Burseraceae ) bushland, Isoberlinia (Fabaceae) woodland, and forest-savanna mosaic.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. Gland-tailed Free-tailed Bats are nocturnal and may roost in hollow trees or crevices in rocky areas.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Gland-tailed Free-tailed Bats probably roost communally in small groups, which they may share with Ansorge’s Freetailed Bats ( Chaerephon ansorgei ).

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

Bibliography. Fahr (2013v), Monadjem, Fahr, Bergmans, Mickleburgh, Hutson & Cotterill (2017a).

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.b.bemmeleniJentink,1879—Guinea,SierraLeone,Liberia,IvoryCoast,andCameroon. C. b. cistura Thomas, 1903 — SC South Sudan , Uganda , E DR Congo , SW Kenya , and N Tanzania .