Tadarida fulminans (Thomas, 1903)

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Molossidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 598-672 : 666

111.

Malagasy Free-tailed Bat

Tadarida fulminans

French: Tadaride de Thomas / German: Madagaskar-Bulldogfledermaus / Spanish: Murciélago rabudo de Thomas

Other common names: Madagascan Large Free-tailed Bat, Madagascar Large Free-tailed Bat, Large Free-tailed Bat, Large Guano Bat, Lightning Guano Bat, Madagascan Large Guano Bat

Taxonomy. Nyctinomus fulminans Thomas, 1903 ,

“ Fianarantsoa, E. Betsileo, Madagascar.”

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. E & SC Africa, including NE DR Congo, E Uganda, W & S Kenya, Rwanda, N Tanzania, NE & SW Zambia, Zimbabwe, N & C Mozambique, S Malawi, and Pafuri region of Kruger National Park in extreme NE South Africa; also three records from S Madagascar, including type locality near Fianarantsoa, and recent records from Isalo National Park and Tolagnaro on SE coast.

Descriptive notes. Head—body ¢.79-95 mm, tail 53-66 mm, ear 19-25 mm, hindfoot 11-15 mm, forearm 56-61 mm; weight 23-49 g. The Malagasy Free-tailed Bat is larger than most other African free-tailed bat. Pelage of sexes is quite distinct, reddish brown (males) to dark chocolate-brown (females) above and fulvous pink (adult males) to white (females and subadults) below, with yellowish (adult males) to white (females and subadults) mid-ventral and flank-stripes. Upper lip lacks well-defined wrinkles and has comparatively few spoon-hairs. Ears are dark brown, comparatively small (not reaching snout when laid forward), with inner margins meeting at base of forehead to form a V-shaped valley. Tragus is large, roughly rectangular, and not concealed by antitragus, which is low, triangular, and only slightly larger than tragus. There is no interaural crest. Gular gland is naked and conspicuous, especially in males in which it is often ringed by greenish hairs. Wing membranes are brown dorsally (paler over phalanges) and whitish ventrally becoming browner toward tips. Interfemoral membrane is dorsally brown, ventrally whitish, darkening toward margins. Ventral sides of forearms and legs are naked and white. Thumb and plantar (sole) pads are present. Skull 1s not extremely flattened. Braincase is not slightly flattened as in the Egyptian Free-tailed Bat (7 adarida aegyptiaca ). Anterior palatal emargination is wide, and basisphenoid pits are deep. Dental formulais11/2,C1/1,P 2/2, M 3/3(x2) = 30. Chromosomal complement in South Africa has 2n = 48 and FNa = 66.

Habitat. Associated with miombo and mopane savanna woodlands containing steepsided inselbergs or mountains.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. Based on a study in Zimbabwe, females give birth to a single offspring at a time, and they can have two birth seasons in a year (seasonally polyestrous). Unlike other molossids, Malagasy Free-tailed Bats give birth not only during the warm-wet season from October to November, but also during the cool-dry season from May to June. The second birth is followed by a postpartum estrus in June-July. Gestation lasts 100-110 days.

Activity patterns. Malagasy Free-tailed Bats are nocturnal and roost during the day in crevices in cliffs and caves, under exfoliated granite sheets, and between boulders. In Zimbabwe, echolocation calls of one individual had a low peak frequency (17 kHz), narrow bandwidth (13 kHz), and long duration (15 milliseconds). Predators include Cape eagle-owl (Bubo capensis).

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Malagasy Free-tailed Bats roost communally in small colonies of 30 or more individuals. In Zimbabwe, they sometimes share roosts with Ansorge’s Free-tailed Bats ( Chaerephon ansorgei ) and Spotted Freetailed Bats ( C. bivittatus ).

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

Bibliography. Cotterill (2001b, 2013k), Cotterill & Fergusson (1993), Goodman & Cardiff (2004), Monadjem, Ranivo, Hutson, Cotterill & Racey (2017), Taylor et al. (2015).

Figures

On following pages: 105. Roberts's Flat-headed Bat (Sauromys petrophilus); 106. Brazilian Free-tailed Bat (Tadarida brasiliensis); 107. European Free-tailed Bat (7adarida teniotis); 108. Egyptian Free-tailed Bat (7adarida aegyptiaca); 109. Kenyan Big-eared Free-tailed Bat (Tadarida lobata); 110. African Giant Free-tailed Bat (Tadarida ventralis); 111. Malagasy Free-tailed Bat (7adarida fulminans); 112. East Asian Free-tailed Bat (7adarida insignis); 113. La Touche's Free-tailed Bat (Tadarida latouchei); 114. New Guinea Free-tailed Bat (Austronomus kuboriensis); 115. White-striped Free-tailed Bat (Austronomus australis); 116. East Coast Free-tailed Bat (Micronomus norfolkensis); 117. Beccari's Free-tailed Bat (Ozimops beccaril); 118. Northern Coastal Free-tailed Bat (Ozimops cobourgianus); 119. Cape York Free-tailed Bat (Ozimops hall); 120. South-western Free-tailed Bat (Ozimops kitchener); 121. Loria’s Free-tailed Bat (Ozimops loriae); 122. Lumsden'’s Free-tailed Bat (Ozimops lumsdenae); 123. Inland Free-tailed Bat (Ozimops petersi); 124. Southern Free-tailed Bat (Ozimops planiceps); 125. Ride's Free-tailed Bat (Ozimops ride); 126. Hairy-nosed Free-tailed Bat (Setirostris eleryi).

Distribution. E & SC Africa, including NE DR Congo , E Uganda , W & S Kenya , Rwanda , N Tanzania , NE & SW Zambia , Zimbabwe , N & C Mozambique , S Malawi , and Pafuri region of Kruger National Park in extreme NE South Africa ; also three records from S Madagascar , including type locality near Fianarantsoa, and recent records from Isalo National Park and Tolagnaro on SE coast.