Chaerephon leucogaster, A. Grandidier, 1869

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Molossidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 598-672 : 646-647

64.

Grandidier’s Free-tailed Bat

Chaerephon leucogaster

French: Tadaride de Grandidier / German: Grandidier-Bulldogfledermaus / Spanish: Caerepon de Grandidier

Other common names: Madagascan White-bellied Free-tailed Bat

Taxonomy. Nyctinomus leucogaster A. Grandidier, 1869 ,

“Mahab [= Mahabo] au Ménabé,” east of Morondava, Madagascar.

The species forms a complex with C. pumilus , C. atsinanana , and C. pusillus that stretches across south-western Arabia, Africa, Madagascar, and other Indian Ocean islands. Monotypic.

Distribution. Widely distributed over Africa, with scattered records from Sierra Leone, Mali, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Ethiopia, Republic of the Congo, DR Congo, coastal Tanzania (including Pemba I), and possibly Zambia; in Madagascar, widespread in the lower-lying areas of W (including Nosy Be and Nosy Komba), with a single record from E coast; also occurs on Comoro Is (Grande Comore, Anjouan, Mohéli, and Mayotte).

Descriptive notes. Head-body ¢.53-62 mm,tail 26-37 mm, ear 13-17 mm, hindfoot 5-7 mm, forearm 33-37 mm; weight 6-10 g. Grandidier’s Free-tailed Bat is the smallest member of Chaerephon in Madagascar. Pelage is short; head, back, throat, and chest are dark brown, and belly is whitish. Wing and tail membranes are typically blackish, but pale and translucent in some individuals. Ears are medium-sized andjoined by band of skin. In males, there is interaural crest and associated crest of long erectile hairs. There are no gular ortail glands. Tragusis very small, squarish or sometimes with small lobe at top of posterior margin, and concealed by semicircular antitragus. Anterior palatal emargination is closed, with paired incisive foramina, and basisphenoid pits are deep. M? has third ridge nearly as long as second ridge.

Habitat. In Madagascar, dry open woodlands, degraded habitats, and urban areas from sea level up to ¢. 900 m.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. Grandidier’s Free-tailed Bat is nocturnal and roosts synanthropically in the roof spaces of buildings, particularly those associated with colonial architecture. The only record of a natural roost involves a small group of four individuals that was located under the bark of an exfoliating dead tree c. 5 m off the ground. According to J. M. Russ and colleagues in 2003, in cluttered habitats in Madagascar the narrow FM echolocation calls had a low peak frequency (frequency with most energy) of 28 kHz, a bandwidth of 19 kHz, and a duration of 8 milliseconds. In Madagascar, individuals were recovered from pellets of bat hawks (Macheiramphus alcinus).

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Grandidier’s Free-tailed Bats occur in small colonies roosting together in buildings.

Status and Conservation. Not assessed on The IUCN Red List. Grandidier’s Free-tailed Bat was included within the Little Free-tailed Bat ( C. pumilus ), which was classified as Least Concern.

Bibliography. ACR (2017), Goodman (2011), Goodman & Raherilalao (2013), Goodman, Andriafidison et al. (2005), Ratrimomanarivo, Goodman, Stanley et al. (2009), Russ, Bennett et al. (2003).

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).

Distribution. Widely distributed over Africa, with scattered records from Sierra Leone , Mali , Ivory Coast , Ghana , Nigeria , Cameroon , Chad , Ethiopia , Republic of the Congo , DR Congo , coastal Tanzania (including Pemba I), and possibly Zambia ; in Madagascar , widespread in the lower-lying areas of W (including Nosy Be and Nosy Komba), with a single record from E coast; also occurs on Comoro Is (Grande Comore, Anjouan, Mohéli, and Mayotte ).