Tadarida lobata
Creators: name: Wilson, Don E.
name: Mittermeier, Russell A.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2019
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Mammalia
Chiroptera
Molossidae
Tadarida
Tadarida lobata

description: 109. Kenyan Big-eared Free-tailed Bat <i>Tadarida lobata</i> <b>French:</b> Tadaride du Kenya / <b>German:</b> Kenia-Bulldogfledermaus / Spanish: Murciélago rabudo de Kenia <b>Other common names:</b> Big-eared Free-tailed Bat, Big-eared Guano Bat, Big-eared Kenyan Guano Bat, Big-eared Kenya Free-tailed Bat, Eastern Africa Free-tailed Bat <b>Taxonomy.</b> Nyctinomus lobatus Thomas, 1891, “Turquel, Sik, British East Africa [= Turkwell Gorge, West Pokot County, Kenya].” This species is monotypic. <b>Distribution.</b> Two isolated populations, in W &amp; S Kenya and N Zimbabwe. <b>Descriptive notes.</b> Head-body ¢.78-86 mm, tail 46-60 mm, ear 25-32 mm, hindfoot 12-14 mm, forearm 55-62 mm; weight 20-33 g. The Kenyan Big-eared Free-tailed Bat is larger than most other African free-tailed bats. Its large ears distinguish it from other similar-sized bats such as the African Giant Free-tailed Bat (7adarida ventralis) and the Malagasy Free-tailed Bat (7. fulminans), which has smaller ears (less than 25 mm long). Unwrinkled upper lip distinguishes it from all other large molossids apart from the African Giant Free-tailed Bat and the Malagasy Free-tailed Bat. Pelage is short, velvety, dark brown above and brown below, with white to offwhite mid-ventral stripe and white flank-stripe. Adults have a conspicuous white spot between shoulder blades that also distinguishes this species from other large African free-tailed bats. Upperlip lacks well-defined wrinkles and has comparatively few spoonhairs. Ears are semi-translucent pale grayish brown and relatively large, and extend well beyond snout when laid forward. Tragus is large, roughly rectangular, not concealed by antitragus, which is moderate-sized, roughly twice as large as tragus. There is no interaural crest. Gular gland is present in both sexes. Wing and interfemoral membranes are semi-translucent, grayish dorsally, and whitish ventrally. Ventral sides of forearms and legs are naked and white. Thumb and plantar (sole) pads are present. Skull is not extremely flattened. Anterior palatal emargination is wide, and basisphenoid pits are shallow to moderately developed. Dental formulaisI'1/2, C 1/1, P 2/2, M 3/3(x2) = 30. <b>Habitat.</b> Associated with semiarid woodlands in proximity of steep-sided granitic inselbergs or sandstone gorges and cliffs, where the species roosts during the day. <b>Food and Feeding.</b> No information. <b>Breeding.</b> In Zimbabwe, based on the collection of lactating females in November, Kenyan Big-eared Free-tailed Bats may give birth in late October or early November. <b>Activity patterns.</b> Kenyan Big-eared Free-tailed Bats are nocturnal. Echolocation call has not been recorded, although the species was reported to emit loud double-beat audible squeaks, similar to those reported for the Large-eared Giant Mastiff Bat (Otomops martiensseni). <b>Movements, Home range and Social organization.</b> Kenyan Big-eared Free-tailed Bats roost communally, in small colonies of 30 or more individuals. <b>Status and Conservation.</b> Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Kenyan Big-eared Free-tailed Bat is a very rare bat that is seldom caught. <b>Bibliography.</b> Cotterill (1996b, 2001b, 2013m), Monadjem &amp; Cotterill (2017c), Peterson (1974), Taylor et al. 2015).
description: Published as part of <i>Don E. Wilson &amp; Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Molossidae, pp. 598-672 in Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona :Lynx Edicions</i> on pages 665-666, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6418279