Cheiromeles torquatus, Horsfield, 1824

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Molossidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 598-672 : 621-622

3.

Greater Naked Bat

Cheiromeles torquatus

French: Chiroméle nu / German: Kragen-Nacktfledermaus / Spanish: Queiromelo grande de espalda desnuda

Taxonomy. Cheiromeles torquatus Horsfield, 1824 ,

Penang, Malaysia.

Northernmost but unusual record from Ratchaburi Province, south-western Thailand, ¢. 300 km north of Isthmus of Kra, is worth additional taxonomic research.

Three subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

C.t.torquatusHorsfield,1824—SW(RatchaburiProvince)andextremeSpeninsularThailand(Hala-BalaWildlifeSanctuaryandincludingoffshoreTarutaoI),PeninsularMalaysia(includingoffshorePenangandTiomanIs),Singapore,RiauArchipelago(KundurandGalangIs),Sumatra,Borneo,andPalawanI(Philippines).

C.t.caudatusTemminck,1841—JavaandBangkaI.

C. t. jacobsoni Thomas, 1923 — restricted to Simeulue I, off W Sumatra.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 125-180 mm, tail 60-75 mm, hindfoot 24-27 mm, forearm 65-90 mm; weight 150-196 g. Skin of the Greater Naked Bat is black or blackish gray and almost completely naked, with only short bristle hairs on outer toe of hindfoot and lower neck where skin is folded forming an oily gular sac that produces strong odor. Ears are relatively large, rounded, and separated from each other. Antitragus is distinct and rounded. Skin on flanks is folded in deep pocket that contains mammae of females. Tail is long and exposed. Hindfootis very large and powerful. Skull is heavily built, with distinct, well-developed posterior sagittal crest projecting backward. Mastoid process is very well developed and projected laterally. Upper and lower canines are raassive. Dental formulais1 1/2, C1/1,P1/2. M 3/3 (x2) = 28.

Habitat. [.owlands, marshes, rocky surfaces with holes and crevices, farms, and trees.

Food and Feeding. Dental characteristics of the Greater Naked Bat suggest thatit eats large hard-shelled insect prey (e.g. beetles). It uses echolocation to huntfor food.

Breeding. In Peninsular Malaysia, pregnant Greater Naked Bats had single embryos in June, August-September, and December. They have an average of two litters/year. As soon as young are born, mothers leave them in roosts when they hunt.

Activity patterns. The Greater Naked Bat roosts in caves, rock crevices, and hollow trees. It feeds in open spaces (e.g. over forest canopy or ricefields). It is also usually found or heard flying over streams in forests. It uses relatively low-frequency echolocation call that is usually very loud and clearly audible. Call frequency can be alternated during flight. At high frequency, initial frequency can be up to 48 kHz, with terminal frequency of ¢.25 kHz, peak frequency of ¢.29 kHz, and duration of ¢.22 milliseconds. At low frequency, initial frequency can be ¢.32 kHz, with terminal frequency of c.19 kHz, peak frequency of c.24 kHz, and duration of c.21 milliseconds.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Greater Naked Bat is colonial, roosting in groups to conserve energy; colony size can be nearly a thousand individuals. It shares caves with other molossids such as the Malayan Free-tailed Bat ( Mops mops ).

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCNRed List. Populations of Greater Naked Bats have been declining continuously due to forest loss and hunting for food. Some indigenous Malay people kill them in large numbers and eat them as delicacy.

Bibliography. Chasen (1925), Corbet & Hill (1992), Csorba, Bumrungsri, Francis, Bates, Gumal & Kingston (2008e), Francis (2008a), Kingston et al. (2006), Lekagul & McNeely (1988), Leong et al. (2009), Lim, B.L. et al. (1999).

Figures

1. Blunt-eared Bat (Tomopeas ravus), 2. Lesser Naked Bat (Chewromeles parvidens), 3. Greater Naked Bat (Chewromeles torquatus), 4. Peters’s Little Mastff Bat (Mormopterus jugularis), 5. Reunion Little Masuft Bat (Mormopterus francoismoutoui), 6. Mauritian Little Mastiff Bat (Mormopterus acetabulosus), 7. Sumatran Little Mastift Bat (Mormopterus doriae), 8. Least Little Mastiff Bat (Mormopterus minutus), 9. Kalinowski’s Little Mastiff Bat (Mormopterus kalinowskii), 10. Incan Little Masuft Bat (Mormopterus phrudus), 11. Alvarez’s Mastff Bat (Molossus alvarez), 12. Aztec Mastff Bat (Molossus aztecus), 13. Coiban Mastuff Bat (Molossus cotbensis)

Subspecies and Distribution. C.t.torquatusHorsfield,1824—SW(RatchaburiProvince)andextremeSpeninsularThailand(Hala-BalaWildlifeSanctuaryandincludingoffshoreTarutaoI),PeninsularMalaysia(includingoffshorePenangandTiomanIs),Singapore,RiauArchipelago(KundurandGalangIs),Sumatra,Borneo,andPalawanI(Philippines). C.t.caudatusTemminck,1841—JavaandBangkaI. C. t. jacobsoni Thomas, 1923 — restricted to Simeulue I, off W Sumatra.