Finlayson's cave bat (''Vespadelus finlaysoni'') is a species of

vesper bat Vespertilionidae is a family of microbats, of the order Chiroptera, flying, insect-eating mammals variously described as the common, vesper, or simple nosed bats. The vespertilionid family is the most diverse and widely distributed of bat famili ...

found only in

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

Taxonomy

The description of ''Vespadelus finlaysoni'' was first published in 1987, separated as a new species in a revision of the genus ''

Eptesicus ''Eptesicus'' is a genus of bats, commonly called house bats or serotine bats, in the family Vespertilionidae. The genus name is likely derived from the Greek words ''ptetikos'' 'able to fly' or ''petomai'' 'house flier', although this is not cer ...

''. The population had been included with '' Vespadelus pumilus'', then placed as ''Pipistrellus'' (''Vespadelus'') ''pumilis'' in 1993 and 1994 revisions, but reëlevated to species status in 1997. The publication in conservation listings had used the name ''Eptesicus finlaysoni'', synonymous with the later combination. The

holotype A holotype (Latin: ''holotypus'') is a single physical example (or illustration) of an organism used when the species (or lower-ranked taxon) was formally described. It is either the single such physical example (or illustration) or one of s ...

was collected at

Cossack, Western Australia Cossack, known as Bajinhurrba in Ngarluma language, and formerly known as Tien Tsin, is a historic ghost town located north of Perth and from Roebourne in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. The nearest town to Cossack, which is locate ...

. This specimen, an adult male, was obtained from the roof of the Customs House (altitude 5

metres asl Height above mean sea level is a measure of a location's vertical distance (height, elevation or altitude) in reference to a vertical datum based on a historic mean sea level. In geodesy, it is formalized as orthometric height. The zero level vari ...

) by N.L. McKenzie on 7 August 1984 and deposited at the

Western Australian Museum The Western Australian Museum is a statutory body, statutory authority within the Culture and the Arts Portfolio, established under the ''Museum Act 1969''. The museum has six main sites. The state museum, WA Museum Boola Bardip, is located i ...

(WAM M22407). Common names have included the inland—or Finlayson's—cave bat, or little cave eptesicus and little brown bat. The epithet and appellation is given for the South Australian field researcher and mammalogist H. H. Finlayson, noted for his research in the regions inhabited by the species.

Description

A small microbat, weighing 3 to 7 grams with a forearm length of 30 to 37 millimetres. The fur at the back is dark brown, the ventral side is a lighter shade. The brown of the dorsal side becomes blackish in parts and is tinged with red, the colour of the skin is also very dark. The bare parts of the face and the wing membranes are dark in colour. The face is typically unadorned, lacking distinguishing features, and they superficially resemble many of the species of the genus. The glans penis is pointed toward the end and rod-shaped. The measurements of ''V. finlaysoni'' for the head and body combined are 34 to 46 mm, forearm precisely 29.8 to 36.7 mm, tail 31 to 42 mm long, and the ear from the notch to tip is 9 to 13 mm; the average weight is 4.3 g for a measured range of 2.8 to 6.3 grams. The penis morphology and reddish colour of the fur distinguish ''Vespadelus finlaysoni'' from similar species. Resembling the northern species '' Vespadelus caurinus'', this species is however larger and their range does not intersect. The flight of the species is fluttery and rapid, sharply turning as it forages over water.

Biology

''Vespadelus finlaysoni'' form colonies that occupy caves or cavities with rocky terrain, and will take residence in abandoned mining operations. They forage for prey near water. They may be observed cohabiting with other bats, species of '' Saccolaimus'' (sheathtail bats), or with the ghost bat ''

Macroderma gigas The ghost bat (''Macroderma gigas'') is a species of bat found in northern Australia. The species is the only Australian bat that preys on large vertebrates – birds, reptiles and other mammals – which they detect using acute sight and heari ...

'' which also known to prey on this bat. The species reproduces with single or twin births. The maternal season is most of the year in the north of the range, becoming restricted in the south to November to December. The bats are insectgivorous.

Range and habitat

''Vespadelus finlaysoni'' is a widely distributed species of the genus ''Vespadelus''. They are found across the west and central regions of the Australian continent. The species is closely associated with rocky outcrops and ranges. They occur inland from the coast in the west, across the arid interior to tropical grasslands at

Cape York Peninsula The Cape York Peninsula is a peninsula located in Far North Queensland, Australia. It is the largest wilderness in northern Australia.Mittermeier, R.E. et al. (2002). Wilderness: Earth's last wild places. Mexico City: Agrupación Sierra Madre, ...

. They roost in caves, cliffs, or other suitable crevices.

Conservation

The species is listed as least concern in Queensland and Northern Territory state conservation listings.

References

External links

Image of the type specimen's skull
{{Taxonbar, from=Q303147 Bats of Australia Vespadelus Mammals of Western Australia Mammals of South Australia Mammals of the Northern Territory Mammals described in 1987 Taxa named by Darrell Kitchener