Chaerephon plicatus (Buchannan, 1800)

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Molossidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 598-672 : 650

74.

Wrinkle-lipped Free-Tailed Bat

Chaerephon plicatus

French: Tadaride a nez plissé / German: Faltenlippen-Bulldogfledermaus / Spanish: Caerepon de nariz arrugada

Other common names: \ Wrinkle-lipped Bat

Taxonomy. Vespertilio plicatus Buchanan, 1800 ,

“Puttahaut in Bengal,” India.

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, China, Thailand, Laos, Vietham, Cambodia, Borneo, Java, Lesser Sunda Is (Bali and Lombok), and Philippines; presence in Bangladesh is very likely but needs confirmation. Previous records on Malay Peninsula and Sumatra need further verification as to whether the populations may have disappeared or may have been misidentified.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 65-75 mm, tail 28-40 mm, ear 16-24 mm, hindfoot 8-12 mm, forearm 40-50 mm; weight 13-31 g. Pelage is soft, dense, and mostly uniform chestnut; dorsal hair is dark brown; it is slightly paler on ventral side with gray or whitish tips; individual hairs are dense and very short. Upper lip is wrinkled, with slightly protruded nostrils. Ears are dark brown in color, thick, moderate in size, and joined on forehead by flap of skin. Tragus is small and separated from antitragus by deep notch. Hindfoot has bristle hairs on side of outer and inner toes. Tail is robust and exposed from tail membrane for over one-half ofits length. P? is very small. M? is well developed, about one-half of M* in crown area. Upper and lower canines are sharp and pointed. Upper incisors are remarkably robust.

Habitat. Various habitats ranging from urban and agricultural areas to karst forest areas, from sea level up to elevations of ¢. 950 m.

Food and Feeding. The Wrinkle-lipped Free-tailed Bat has been reported feeding mainly on Coleoptera and Homoptera, which together accounted for over 80% ofits diet. In central Thailand, main diet items are brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens) and white-backed planthopper (Sogatella furcifera), both Hemiptera , which are known as the major insect pests in ricefields.

Breeding. The Wrinkle-lipped Free-tailed Bat has been observed engaged in breeding activities during March-April and September—October. In Thailand and Cambodia, pregnant females were found in February-March and in August to early October. Females with young were seen in May-June.

Activity patterns. Wrinkle-lipped Free-tailed Bats usually emerge from their roosts before dusk in a large continuous flock, which forms a large, dark column. They roost mainly in limestone caves, but can also be found roosting in rock crevices and old buildings and temples. Wrinkle-lipped Free-tailed Bats feed high in open space, e.g. over ricefields and other water bodies, but also come down near the ground or over the canopy in early evening. This species uses a relatively low-frequency FM echolocation call with peak frequencies of ¢.23-30 kHz, a start frequency of 39 kHz, and end frequency of 17 kHz, with durations of 6-12 milliseconds. Feeding buzzes have peak frequencies of 25-30 kHz.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Wrinkle-lipped Free-tailed Bats often form large colonies of thousands of individuals, e.g. at Khao Chong Pran Cave, south-western Thailand, a population size of 2-6 million bats was estimated. They have been found sharing the same cave system with several other bat species, including Lesser Dawn Bats (Eonycteris spelaea), tomb bats ( Taphozous spp. ), horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus spp.), leat-nosed bats (Hipposideros spp.), and myotis ( Myotis spp. ). Estimated foraging range is ¢. 27 km in diameter from roosting cave.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List, due to its widespread range and relatively high population size. However, populations have been continually declining locally due to habitat loss (e.g. limestone cave quarry), hunting, and disturbance due to uncontrolled guano harvesting.

Bibliography. Corbet & Hill (1992), Csorba, Bumrungsri et al. (2014), Francis (2008a), Kusuminda & Yapa (2017), Leelapaibul et al. (2005), Lekagul & McNeely (1988), Phillipps & Phillipps (2016), Srilopan et al. (2018), Thomas et al. (2013), Thong Vu Dinh (2014a), Utthammachai et al. (2008).

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. India , Sri Lanka , Myanmar , China , Thailand , Laos , Vietham, Cambodia , Borneo, Java, Lesser Sunda Is (Bali and Lombok), and Philippines ; presence in Bangladesh is very likely but needs confirmation. Previous records on Malay Peninsula and Sumatra need further verification as to whether the populations may have disappeared or may have been misidentified.