Hesperoptenus gaskelli, Hill, 1983

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Vespertilionidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 716-981 : 836

161.

Gaskell’s False Serotine

Hesperoptenus gaskelli

French: Sérotine de Gaskell / German: Gaskell-Scheinbreitfligel / Spanish: Hesperopteno de Gaskell

Taxonomy. Hesperoptenus (Milithronycteris) gaskelli Hill, 1983 ,

“ Central Sulawesi [Indoncsial: ... River Ranu, 1°51’ S, 121° 30° E.”

Subgenus Milithronycteris . Relationships of H. gaskelli to other Hesperoptenus are unknown because it has not been included in a phylogenetic study. Monotypic.

Distribution. Known only from type locality in EC Sulawesi.

Descriptive notes. Forearm 40-1 mm (type specimen, juvenile female).

Gaskell’s False Serotine resembles Tickell’s False Serotine ( H. tickelli ) and the Large False Serotine ( H. tomesi ) but differs from both in its smaller size and teeth. Color (alcohol specimen) is rich chocolate-brown dorsally and ventrally. Hairs are more brownish at base but otherwise darker and lustrous. Muzzle is low, wide, laterally swollen, and sparsely haired. Internarial region is naked. Ears are thick, fleshy, and subquadrangular. Tragus is rather fleshy and more or less hatched-shaped. Thumb is relatively long, and second phalanx ofthird digit is shorter than first phalanx; upper surface of thumb has thin hairs; upper surface of forearm is naked; upper surface of uropatagium is sparsely haired on proximal one-half; base of tail is similarly furred above and below, with tip protruded beyond uropatagium. Skull is medium-sized, with broad non-inflated braincase; postorbital region is moderately constricted; and supraorbital region is abruptly expanded, with well-developed superior anteorbital tubercles. I? is caniniform and massive, and I’ is more or less ovate. I’ is displaced inward so that I? and C! are in contact. Condylo-canine length is 13-1 mm, and maxillary tooth row is 6 mm.

Habitat. Holotype was caught in small clearing on a covered (with vegetation) path at the edge of primary forest at 10 m above sea level.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. Nocturnal. Single specimen was caught in a harp trap with its top 3 m aboveground (bottom of trapping area would then be c.1-1-5 m aboveground).

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Data Deficient on The IUCN Red List. Gaskell’s False Serotine is known only from one locality in Morowali Nature Reserve.

Bibliography. Boitani et al. (2006), Conenna et al. (2017), Corbet & Hill (1992), Hill (1976, 1983), Hutson, Kingston & Francis (2008b), Simmons (2005).

Figures

144. Variegated Butterfly Bat (Glauconycteris variegata), 145. Machado’s Butterfly Bat (Glauconycteris machadoi), 146. Glen's Butterfly Bat (Glauconycteris gleni), 147. Pied Butterfly Bat (Glauconycteris superba), 148. Common Butterfly Bat (Glauconycteris argentata), 149. Bibundi Butterfly Bat (Glauconycteris egeria), 150. Abo Butterfly Bat (Glauconycteris poensts), 151. Striped Butterfly Bat (Glauconycteris alboguttata), 152. Beatrix’s Butterfly Bat (Glauconycteris beatrix), 153. Curry’s Butterfly Bat (Glauconycteris curryae), 154. Spotted Butterfly Bat (Glauconycteris humeralis), 155. Blackish Butterfly Bat (Glauconycteris atra), 156. Kenyan Butterfly Bat (Glauconycteris kenyacola), 157. Doria’s False Serotine (Hesperoptenus doriae), 158. Tickell’s False Serotine (Hesperoptenus tickelli), 159. Blanford’s False Serotine (Hesperoptenus blanfordi), 160. Large False Serotine (Hesperoptenus tomesi), 161. Gaskell’s False Serotine (Hesperoptenus gaskelli), 162. Great Evening Bat (Ia io), 163. Harlequin Bat (Scotomanes ornatus), 164. Ruppell’s Broad-nosed Bat (Scoteanax rueppellii), 165. Northern Broad-nosed Bat (Scotorepens sanborni), 166. Little Broad-nosed Bat (Scotorepens greyii), 167. Inland Broad-nosed Bat (Scotorepens balstoni), 168. Eastern Broad-nosed Bat (Scotorepens orion), 169. Silver-haired Bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans)

Distribution. Known only from type locality in EC Sulawesi.