Bini free-tailed bat

The Bini free-tailed bat (Myopterus whitleyi) is a species of bat in the family Molossidae. It is found in Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Nigeria, and Uganda. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Bini free-tailed bat

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Chiroptera
Family: Molossidae
Genus: Myopterus
Species:
M. whitleyi
Binomial name
Myopterus whitleyi
(Scharff, 1900)
Synonyms
  • Mormopterus whitleyi Scharff, 1900

Taxonomy

The Bini free-tailed bat was described as a new species in 1900 by English zoologist Robert Francis Scharff. The holotype had been collected in Benin City, Nigeria by J. C. Whitley, who is the eponym for its species name "whitleyi ".[2]

Description

It is a small bat; individuals have a forearm length of 35–37 mm (1.4–1.5 in) and weigh 10–12 g (0.35–0.42 oz). The fur on its back is a uniform dark brown, while its belly fur is significantly paler at creamy white or pure white. It has a patch of bristly hairs on its upper lip below its nostrils. Males have a modified sebaceous gland at their throats called a "gular gland".[3]

Range and habitat

The Bini free-tailed bat is found in West and Central Africa where it has been documented in the following countries: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Nigeria, and Uganda. Its habitat includes tropical lowland forest, though possibly also includes human-modified landscapes.[1]

Conservation

As of 2016, it is evaluated as a least-concern species by the IUCN. It meets the criteria for this classification due to its large geographic range, and thus, presumably large population size. Additionally, it is unlikely to be experiencing rapid population decline.[1]

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References
  1. Monadjem, A.; Fahr, J.; Hutson, A.M.; Mickleburgh, S.; Bergmans, W. (2017). "Myopterus whitleyi". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T14103A22046293. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T14103A22046293.en.
  2. Scharff, R. F. (1900). "Mormopterus whitleyi—a new species of bat from W. Africa". The Annals and Magazine of Natural History; Zoology, Botany, and Geology. 7. 6: 569–570. doi:10.1080/00222930008678425.
  3. Fahr, J. (2013). Kingdon, J.; Happold, D.; Butynski, T.; Hoffmann, M.; Happold, M.; Kalina, J. (eds.). Mammals of Africa. 4. A&C Black. p. 478–479. ISBN 9781408189962.
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