Chaerephon pusillus, G. S. Miller, 1902

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Molossidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 598-672 : 649

70.

Seychelles Free-tailed Bat

Chaerephon pusillus

French: Tadaride des Seychelles / German: Seychellen-Bulldogfledermaus / Spanish: Caerepon de las Seychelles

Taxonomy. Nyctinomus pusillus G. S. Miller, 1902 ,

“Aldabra Island [= Atoll, Seychelles], Indian Ocean.”

Chaerephon pusillus was previously included in C. pumilus , but studies by S. M. Goodman and colleagues in 2007 and 2010 showedit to be much smaller, and to be distinct on molecular grounds. An endemic species of hemipteran ectoparasite, Hypoctenes hutsoni ( Polyctenidae ), occurs only on C. pusillus from Aldabra Atoll. Monotypic.

Distribution. W Seychelles (Amirantes Is and Aldabra Atoll).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 52-57 mm, tail 27-36 mm, ear 15-18 mm, hindfoot 4-6 mm, forearm 36-39 mm; weight 5-12 g. The Seychelles Free-tailed Bat differs from the Little Free-tailed Bat ( C. pumilus ) in having distinctly smaller head, as well as in fine differences in external morphology of head, rostrum, nostrils, and ear structure. Pelage is short, lighter brown above than in the Little Free-tailed Bat, and medium brown below, darker than in the Little Free-tailed Bat; white flank-stripe commonly found in the Little Free-tailed Bat is absent in the Seychelles Free-tailed Bat. Upperlip has 5-7 or more well-defined wrinkles on each side and many spoon-hairs. Ears are medium brown and relatively small, as in the Little Free-tailed Bat, also containing interaural pouch which houseserectile crest in males. Antitragus is somewhat rounded and arch-shaped, with slight anterior elongation, as opposed to more angular in the Little Free-tailed Bat. Wings are medium brown;tail membrane is dark brown. Nostrils and head are somewhat smaller, and skull is shorter and more pointed, than in the Little Free-tailed Bat. Anterior palate encloses paired palatal foramina. M” has third ridge almost as long as second ridge.

Habitat. Recorded only in synanthropic situations from sea level to elevations of c. 400 m.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. The Seychelles Free-tailed Bat is nocturnal. Roosts are mostly associated with public buildings in the French colonial style, as these have enclosed attics.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Seychelles Free-tailed Bats roost communally in small colonies. Both maternity and mixed-sex colonies have been observed. Based on interviews with people occupying buildings with roosts, colonies may migrate during the cold season.

Status and Conservation. Not assessed on The IUCN Red List.

Bibliography. ACR (2017), Goodman & Ratrimomanarivo (2007), Goodman, Buccas et al. (2010), Goodman, Weyeneth et al. (2010).

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. W Seychelles (Amirantes Is and Aldabra Atoll).