Megaderma spasma — Details

Lesser False Vampire Bat learn more about names for this taxon

Overview

Brief Summary

Biology

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The in-flight agility and sophisticated echolocation calls of the lesser false vampire bat allow them to enjoy an astoundingly varied diet. They have been recorded eating large insects such as grasshoppers, cockroaches, beetles and moths, as well as vertebrates including frogs, mice (2), fish, birds and even smaller bats (5). They are 'gleaners': bats that hunt by snatching their prey from tree trunks, branches, leaves, walls or the forest floor using the interfemoral membrane that stretches between the hind legs. They return to their roost to consume their prey (6). A gentle and sociable bat, the lesser false vampire roosts in small, mixed-sex groups throughout the year. They mate between November and January, giving birth in April or June to a single pup after a 150 – 160 day gestation. The pup is carried in flight by its mother for two to three months, before it is weaned and learns to fly alone (7). The bats communicate with social calls that differ considerably from their complex hunting calls, which sweep from frequencies of 130 kHz to 10 kHz extremely rapidly (8). This style of echolocation is very effective in cluttered environments but is not easily detected by prey. The large ears of the lesser false vampire bat can, however, pick up sounds from the prey as well as very weak returning echoes (9).
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Comprehensive Description

Description

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The lesser false vampire bat is one of only two species belonging to the genus Megaderma (Megaderma spasma and Megaderma lyra). Paradoxically, whilst they are voracious carnivores, they do not resemble the vampire bats of South America, but are instead so-named due to their large teeth which caused confusion before the true vampire bats were confirmed as the only blood-drinkers. They have large, rabbit-like ears that are joined at their base and enclose a long tragus (inner ear) that is split in two. The noseleaf, which is used for echolocation, is an oval-shaped lobe with a central bar that carries flaps on either side. The Megadermatidae do not have tails, but do possess a large area of membrane between the hind legs, known as the interfemoral membrane, which is used for scooping prey from leaf surfaces. The fur is very long and fluffy, and varies in colour from grey to brown. Juveniles are consistently grey (2).
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Distribution

Range Description

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This species is very widely distributed over much of South Asia and Southeast Asia. In South Asia, it is predominantly distributed in the Western Ghats and northeastern parts of India, and in Sri Lanka. It is known from Bangladesh (Khulna division), India (Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal) and Sri Lanka (Eastern, Southern and Western provinces) (Molur et al. 2002) In Southeast Asia, it ranges throughout virtually the entire mainland, and most of insular Southeast Asia, including the major islands of Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi and Halmahera (all to Indonesia), Borneo (Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia), and throughout Philippines except for the Batanes/Babuyan region. There are records in the Philippines for Biliran, Bohol, Busuanga, Catanduanes, Cebu, Dinagat, Leyte, Luzon (Abra [Lawrence 1939)], Aurora, Camarines Sur, Isabela, Laguna Province [Taylor 1934; Ingle 1992], Rizal provinces), Mindanao (Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental [Sanborn 1952], Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, South Cotabato, Zamboanga del Sur provinces), Mindoro, Negros, Palawan, Panay, Polillo, Siquijor (Heaney et al. 1998). In South Asia this species has been recorded up to an elevation of 1,600 m asl.
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Geographic Range

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India and Sri Lanka to Indochina, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

Biogeographic Regions: oriental (Native )

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Range

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The lesser false vampire bat is widely distributed across Southern and Southeast Asia, from India to Indonesia and the Philippines. There are a large number of recorded subspecies: Megaderma spasma horsfieldii (India); Megaderma spasma ceylonese (Sri Lanka); Megaderma spasma majus (Burma); Megaderma spasma minus (Cambodia, Thailand, Indochina); Megaderma spasma medium (Singapore Island, southern Burma, Tarutua Island, the Riau Islands, northern Sumatra); Megaderma spasma abditum (Aor Island, Johore Island); Megaderma spasma lasiae (western Sumatra); Megaderma spasma niasense (Mentawai Islands); Megaderma spasma siumatatis (Sumatis Island); Megaderma spasma trifolium (Borneo and offshore islands); Megaderma spasma pangandarana (Java); Megaderma spasma natunae (Natuna Island); Megaderma spasma carimatae (Karimata Island off Borneo); Megaderma spasma kinabalu (Mount Kinabalu on Borneo); Megaderma spasma philippinensis (the Philippines); Megaderma spasma celebensis (Sulawesi); Megaderma spasma spasma (Ternate Island) (3).
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Physical Description

Morphology

Physical Description

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The total body length is from 65-95mm. There is no external tail. The fur is bluish-gray along the back and brownish-gray along the underside.

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Ecology

Habitat

Habitat and Ecology

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Habitat and Ecology
In South Asia, this species is found in humid areas and dense tropical moist forest. It roosts in small colonies in caves, old and disused buildings, temples, lofts of thatched huts, tiled roofs, hollows in large trees and disused mines (Molur et al. 2002). It has a low and fast flight and feeds on Lepidopterans, coleopterans, hymenopterans and other insects but does not feed on vertebrates. One young is born between April to the month of June (Bates and Harrision 1997). Rarely occurs in the same location with M. lyra. Individuals hang separately until disturbed, when they huddle together (S. Molur pers. obs.). In the Philippines, it is found in lowland primary and secondary forest (Heaney et al. 1991). Known to roost in caves, tree-hollows, and hollow logs (Taylor 1934; Lawrence 1939; Rabor 1986; Ingle 1992; Rickart et al. 1993; Lepiten 1995). On Palawan, the species occurs in bamboo thickets, secondary forest, and primary forest (Esselstyn et al. 2004).

Systems
  • Terrestrial
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Habitat

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This species can live in a variety of habitats including hollow trees, caves, buildings, and any other large, sheltered structure. They are usually found in wet areas.

Terrestrial Biomes: forest ; rainforest

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Habitat

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Feeding in the understorey of the rainforest, this bat species roosts in small groups in caves, large tree hollows, tunnels, and abandoned buildings (2) (4).
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Trophic Strategy

Food Habits

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Primarily an insectivore but can be carnivorous, feeding on lizards, other small reptiles, and small rodents.

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Life History and Behavior

Reproduction

Reproduction

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Males and females live together throughout the year. The mating season is from November to January. The young (usually 1, rarely 2) are born between April and June after a 150-160 day gestation period. The birth of the young is timed to occur before the monsoon season sets in. The young grow very rapidly and are carried by the mother for 2-3 months.

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Molecular Biology and Genetics

Molecular Biology

Barcode data: Megaderma spasma

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The following is a representative barcode sequence, the centroid of all available sequences for this species. 

 
There are 4 barcode sequences available from BOLD and GenBank.  Below is a sequence of the barcode region Cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI or COX1) from a member of the species.  See the BOLD taxonomy browser for more complete information about this specimen and other sequences.
 
ABRVN553-06|ROM MAM 111378|Megaderma spasma| ---------------------------------------ACCCTATACCTGTTGTTCGGTGCCTGGGCCGGCATAGTAGGCACAGCCCTA---AGTCTTCTAATCCGGGCTGAGCTCGGTCAGCCGGGAGCCTTGCTGGGTGAC---GACCAGATCTACAACGTAATCGTCACAGCCCACGCCTTCGTAATAATCTTCTTCATAGTAATGCCCATTATAATCGGCGGATTTGGCAACTGACTTGTGCCCCTAATG---ATCGGTGCCCCTGACATAGCGTTTCCCCGAATAAACAACATGAGCTTCTGGCTCCTCCCCCCGTCCTTCCTGCTTCTCCTTGCCTCCTCAATAGTGGAGGCCGGGGCTGGGACCGGTTGAACTGTCTACCCACCCCTGGCGGGGAACCTGGCCCACGCCGGAGCCTCCGTGGACCTA---ACCATTTTCTCCCTCCATCTAGCGGGTGTATCCTCTATCCTAGGTGCTATTAATTTCATTACTACAATCATTAATATGAAGCCTCCAGCCCTGTCCCAATATCAGACCCCCCTATTTGTCTGATCAGTCCTAATCACAGCTGTCCTTCTCCTTCTATCCCTTCCCGTTCTCGCCGCC---GGAATTACAATACTGCTGACCGACCGCAACCTGAACACCACCTTCTTCGACCCAGCCGGGGGAGGAGATCCGATCCTGTACCAACACCTC------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
-- end --

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Statistics of barcoding coverage: Megaderma spasma

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Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 4
Species: 9
Species With Barcodes: 1

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Conservation

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List Assessment

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Red List Category
LC
Least Concern

Red List Criteria

Version
3.1

Year Assessed
2008

Assessor/s
Csorba, G., Bumrungsri, S., Helgen, K., Francis, C., Bates, P., Gumal, M., Kingston, T., Heaney, L., Balete, D., Esselstyn, J., Molur, S. & Srinivasulu, C.

Reviewer/s
Hutson, A.M., Racey, P.A. (Chiroptera Red List Authority) & Cox, N. (Global Mammal Assessment Team)

Justification
This species is listed as Least Concern because of its wide distribution, presumed large population, occurrence in a number of protected areas, tolerance to secondary forest, and because it is unlikely to be declining at nearly the rate required to qualify for listing in a threatened category.

History
  • 1996
    Lower Risk/least concern
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Conservation Status

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The Asian False Vampire Bat is not considered threatened or endangered.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern

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Status

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Classified as Lower Risk – least concern (LR/lc) on the IUCN Red List 2004 (1).
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Population

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Population
It is a common species in South Asia. In the Philippines, the species is widespread and locally common to uncommon in primary and secondary forest (Heaney et al. 1998). It is always encountered in small groups, though sometimes cumulative numbers are in the hundreds (L. Heaney, Esselstyn, and Balete pers. comm. 2006).

Population Trend
Unknown
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Threats

Threats

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Major Threats
Over much of the species range there are no major threats to populations as a whole. In Southeast Asia, there are localized threats to caves, especially due to guano mining and limestone quarrying. In South Asia, the primary forest habitats of this species are under threat, usually deforested for timber, firewood and agricultural purposes (Molur et al. 2002). Roosts in large hollow trees and old buildings are under threat due to human interference from being cut down or broken down or cleaned up. Populations in some areas are also under threat from being exploited for medicinal purposes where the bat oil is used for massaging ailing newborns and infants (S. Molur pers. obs.).
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Threats

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The rapid increase in land devoted to growing oil palm has resulted in extensive loss of primary forest. Together, Malaysia and Indonesia export 88% of the world's palm oil, for use in products such as margarine, lipstick and detergent. Deforestation continues at a steady rate for agricultural land and building communities, and despite the contribution of many bats in the control of insect crop pests, persecution of bats is also a threat (10).
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Management

Conservation Actions

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Conservation Actions
In South Asia, there are no direct conservation measures in place, however, the species may occur in many protected areas, but the few protected areas it has currently been recorded from include Tadoba Tiger Reserve, Melghat Tiger Reserve, Pench National Park in Maharashtra and Sunderbans National Park in West Bengal. It is presumably present within a number of protected areas in Southeast Asia. In South Asia, further studies are needed into the distribution, abundance, reproduction and ecology of this species. Populations should be monitored to record changes in abundance and distribution. Habitat maintenance, conservation and restoration are needed. Public awareness activities are needed to mitigate threats to this taxon (Molur et al. 2002).
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Conservation

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Deforestation of primary forest for oil palm plantations, including within protected areas, is an issue of major concern and one that relies on both governmental action and consumer concern. Some large retailers have agreed, in collaboration with the WWF, to source products containing palm oil from plantations that are not on deforested land (10). Many scientific and charitable groups contribute to bat monitoring and local education programmes that can help to reduce persecution and raise awareness of the natural assets of the land (11).
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Relevance to Humans and Ecosystems

Benefits

Economic Importance for Humans: Negative

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No documented examples.

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Economic Importance for Humans: Positive

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No documented examples. May help control harmful insect pests.

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Wikipedia

Lesser False Vampire Bat

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The lesser false vampire bat, Megaderma spasma, is a bat found in South Asia and Southeast Asia from Sri Lanka and India in the west to Indonesia and the Philippines in the east. They live in caves and tree hollows. They are insectivorous.

The Lesser False Vampire Bat has a wingspan of up to 30 centimetres (12 in) and have a head-and-body length of around 10 centimetres (3.9 in). Their forearms are normally around 7 centimetres (2.8 in).

Sometimes called the yellow-winged bat, the lesser vampire bat has yellowish veins through the wing, and when the wings are spread with light behind, they are given a prominent yellow/orange tinge. Their body colour ranges from grey-brown to blue-brown. Lesser False Vampire Bats live in rock crevices, caves, foliage and hollow trees, depending on availability.

Megaderma spasma is from the order Chiroptera and family Megadermatidae which comprises four genera and five species.[1][2] M. spasma also known as lesser false vampire.[3][4][5] Its type locality was in Indonesia, Molucca Islands and Ternate.[5] There are two specimens of M. spasma[6] collected in Sarawak Museum Unimas, one from Niah and another one from batu 16, Ulu Gombak. M. spasma was distributed in India to Indochina and Malay peninsula, Sri Lanka, Andaman Islands, Sumatra, Borneo, Mollucas, Philippines, Sulawesi and other Indonesian islands.[3][4][5] In Borneo, it can found in Sepilok, Darvel Bay area in Sabah, Niah and Kuching in Sarawak, upper S. Kapuas in West and upper S. Tengah in South Kalimantan.[4] It is most closely related to the Greater False Vampire Bat, which is the only other species in the genus Megaderma.

M. spasma has fur pale grey to grey-brown in colour.[4] Its noseleaf has long dorsal lobe with stiffened central ridge and broad convex flaps on the sides. Its ears are very large, joined at the base and it has no visible tail. Its echolocation pulses are short, low in density and broadband and its large ears are sensitive to echoes returning from their pulses and also sensitive to the sounds that prey generates.[2] M. spasma usually roosts in groups in caves, pits, building, and hollow trees.[3][4] M. spasma favours grasshoppers and moths[3] but sometimes they eat small vertebrates including other bats.[4] They have well developed, forward-pointing eyes and can locate prey visually.[2]

M. spasma usually roosts in a group of 3–30 individuals.[7] Their ecological importance may be both positive and negative to humans. They eat some insects which harm human crops, but they may carry and transmit certain diseases.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b Feldhamer, G. A.; Drickamer, L. C., Vessey, S. H., and Merritt, J. F. (1999). Mammalogy : Adaptation, Diversity and Ecology. McGraw-Hill. pp. 206–224. 
  2. ^ a b c Altringham, John D.; Tom McOwat (1996). Bats: Biology and Behaviour. Oxford University Press. pp. 31–33. ISBN 9780198503224. 
  3. ^ a b c d Nowak, R. (1999). Walker's Mammals of the World, Vol 1 (6th ed.). Baltimore and London: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 326–327. 
  4. ^ a b c d e f Payne, J.; Francis, C. M. and Phillipps, K. (1985). Mammals of Borneo. The Sabah Society with World Wildlife Fund Malaysia. p. 185. 
  5. ^ a b c Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (1993). Mammal Species of the World (2nd ed.). Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 163. 
  6. ^ Kooi, K. M. (1995). Catalogue of mammal skins in the Sarawak Museum, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS): Institute of Biodiversity and environmental conservation (IBEC). p. 27. 
  7. ^ Ellis, E. (1999). "Megaderma spasma". Animal Diversity Web. http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Megaderma_spasma.html. Retrieved 2009-01-12. 
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