Mammals

Wroughton's Free-tailed Bat, Wroughton's Giant Mastiff Bat (Otomops wroughtoni) DD
This free-tailed bat was previously considered to be one of the 15 most critically endangered bat species in the world. It was thought to be endemic to a single cave system in India until its recent discovery in Cambodia and northeast India. These discoveries indicate the species could be distributed much more widely than is known today. However, careful monitoring is needed, as these bats are extremely vulnerable to habitat destruction and roost disturbance.
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Urgent Conservation Actions
Monitoring is recommended as a priority, followed by habitat management and public awareness programmes.
Distribution
India and Cambodia.
 
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Evolutionary Distinctiveness
Order: Chiroptera
Family: Molossidae
Wroughton's free-tailed bat belongs to the family Molossidae (free-tailed bats and mastiff bats). This group of 16 genera and 100 species dates back to the late Eocene (38 million years ago) of Europe and North America. It is also known from South America, Africa, Australasia, Asia, and the West Indies. There are seven widely scattered species in the genus Otomops, occurring in central and southern Africa, Madagascar, India, Indonesia and New Guinea. There is some confusion over the relationships between these species because they are so poorly known.
Description
Size: 
Head and body length: 60-103 mm (average for genus)
Tail length: 30-50 mm (average for genus)
Forearm length: 63-67 mm
Weight: Male: approx. 36 g
Female: approx. 27 g
This species has large forward pointing ears connected to each other by a membrane over the forehead. The face is naked and the nostril pad is large and prominent. The hair is short and velvety. It is a rich dark brown colour on the crown of the head, back and rump. There is a thin white border on each flank, extending from the armpit to the groin, and on the membranes of the forearms. The shoulders and the nape of the neck are a pale greyish white. The ventral surface is a dull brown, but with a contrasting grey collar, which extends onto the chin and upper chest. A small throat sac is present in both sexes. The tail projects far beyond the free edge of the narrow tail membrane, hence the common name “free-tailed bats” for this family.
Ecology
Very little is known about the ecology of this species. It is thought to be active throughout the year. Its diet is unknown, but probably consists of insects like that of other Molossids. The bats are active at night, and roost upside down in caves during the day. In India they live in small groups of usually five to seven individuals in narrow gaps and deep hollows in the roofs of the cave. Females are thought to have one litter per year, consisting of a single young. Specimens of this species collected in India in December had newborn young, while others were on the verge of delivery.
Habitat
Members of the family Molossidae roost in caves, hollow trees and human-made structures. Populations of this bat have been found in large natural caves, situated near forested areas.
Distribution
Until relatively recently, this species was known to occur in only one cave near Karnataka, in the Western Ghats of India. In 2000 it was reported from Cambodia, and in 2001 a specimen was collected from Siju cave in Meghalaya, northeast India, approximately midway between the previous two locality records.
Population Estimate
Unknown.
Population Trend
Unknown.
Status
Classified as Critically Endangered (CR B1+2c) on the 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Threats
This species was considered to be one of the 15 most critically endangered bat species until the two new colonies were discovered. The new discoveries have given researchers cause to hope that the species could be distributed much more widely than is known today. However, the species is extremely vulnerable to habitat destruction and roost disturbance, and the Western Ghats population may be suffering as a result of encroachment from mining, timber and hydroelectric companies.
Conservation Underway
The species is listed on Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act of India, affording it the highest degree of protection. It has recently been proposed to receive the highest level of protection under Cambodian wildlife law. However, these listings will not protect the species from indirect threats resulting from habitat disturbance and human activities.
Conservation Proposed
Monitoring of the bats at all sites from which the species is known is recommended as a priority, followed by habitat management and public awareness programmes. The Bhimgad Forest in the Western Ghats, from which the original population is known, was first proposed as a national reserve more than eight years ago. However, despite repeated efforts by local organisations the area remains unprotected.
Links
Sanctuary Asia
Support this organisation in its campaign to protect the Bhimgad Forest, one of the few known habitats of Wroughton’s free-tailed bat in India.

References
Bates, P. J. J. and Harrison, D. L. 1997. The Bats of the Indian Subcontinent. Harrison Zoological Museum, Sevenoaks, 258pp.

Chiroptera Specialist Group & CBSG CAMP Workshop, India. 2000. Otomops wroughtoni. In: IUCN 2006. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 14 September 2006.

Hutson, A. M., Mickleburgh, S. P. and Racey, P. A. (Compilers). 2001. Microchiropteran Bats: Global Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan. IUCN/SSC Chiroptera Specialist Group. IUCN: Gland, Switzerland.

Nowak, R. M. 1999. Walker’s Mammals of the World. Sixth edition. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore and London.

Thabah, A. and Bates, P. J. J. 2002. Recent Record of Otomops Wroughtoni (Thomas, 1913) (Chiroptera: Molossidae) from Meghalaya, North-East India. Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 48(3): 251-253.

Walker, S. and Molur, S. (Compilers). 2002. Summary of the Status of South Asian Chiroptera. Extracted from the CAMP report. Zoo Outreach Organisation, CBSG, South Asia and WILD, Coimbatore, India.

Walston, J. and Bates, P. 2001. The discovery of Wroughton's free-tailed bat Otomops wroughtoni (Chiroptera: Molossidae) in Cambodia. Acta Chiropterologica 3(2): 249-252.

Wilson, D. E., and Reeder, D. M. (eds.). 2005. Mammal Species of the World. Johns Hopkins University Press. Pp 2142. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore and London.

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ARKive
ARKive image - Wroughton's free-tailed bat
ARKive image - Group of Wroughton's free-tailed bats