Northern free-tailed bat

Northern free-tailed bat
Ears of the Northern free-tailed bat as seen from the back
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Chiroptera
Family: Molossidae
Genus: Mops
Species:
M. johorensis
Binomial name
Mops johorensis
(Dobson, 1873)

The northern free-tailed bat (Mops johorensis) is a species of bat in the family Molossidae. It is found in Indonesia and Malaysia.

Taxonomy and etymology

It was described as a new species in 1873 by Irish zoologist George Edward Dobson. Dobson had obtained the holotype from James Wood-Mason. Dobson initially placed it in the genus Molossus and the subgenus Nyctinomus, with a scientific name of Molossus (Nyctinomus) johorensis.[2] Its species name "johorensis" is Latin for "belonging to Johor." Johor is a state in Malaysia; the holotype was collected there.

Description

Its ears are large and round. Its tragi are small and squarish in shape. Its ears are connected to each other by a band of tissue called the interaural membrane. As a free-tailed bat, its tail extends beyond the uropatagium. Its dental formula is 2.1.2.34.1.2.3, for a total of 36 teeth.[2]

Conservation

It is currently listed as vulnerable by the IUCN. It meets the criteria for this designation because its population have declined by more than 30% from 2004–2014.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b Senawi, J.; Csorba, G.; Kingston, T. (2020). "Chaerephon johorensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T4313A22019065. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T4313A22019065.en. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b Dobson, G. E. (1873). "Description of a Remarkable New Species of Molossus (Nyctinomus), from Johore in the Malay Peninsula". Proceedings of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. 1873: 22.