Order: Chiroptera
Family: Vespertilionidae
The family Vespertilionidae is the second largest mammalian family, after the Muridae (Old world rats and mice). It contains 407 species in 49 genera, found throughout the world, except for extreme polar regions and remote islands. The family dates back to the middle Eocene (46 million years ago). The subfamily Nyctophilinae (big-eared bats) is represented in New Guinea by five species placed in two genera: Nyctophilus (represented by four species) and the endemic Pharotis (one species).
Size: Head and body length: 47-50 mm
Tail length: 42-43 mm
Forearm length: 37.5-38.6 mm
Tail length: 42-43 mm
Forearm length: 37.5-38.6 mm
Weight: Unknown
This small dark brown bat is known only from the 45 original specimens (all female), collected in 1890. Its disproportionately large ears are joined at the base. Individuals have a short snout with a complex horseshoe-shaped nose leaf.
Little is known of the ecology of this species. Related species in the genus Nyctophilus spend the daytime sleeping in small caverns, crevices in rocks, tree hollows and under the bark of trees. They appear to be active throughout the year. The collection of such a large number of specimens on a single occasion suggests that a roost, probably a maternity colony, was found. Species of Nyctophilus do not normally roost in such large numbers. The morphology of the species’ ears, skull and teeth, and the known behaviour of related species, suggest that this big-eared bat gleans insects such as beetles from the leaves of plants.
Lowland sclerophyll woodlands. It is not known whether these bats roost in trees or caves.
Known only from Kamali, Central Province, southeastern Papua New Guinea.
Unknown. Possibly extinct.
Declining.
Classified as Critically Endangered (CR B1+2c, C2b) on the 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
The species has not been recorded since the original 45 females were collected in 1890. Since these individuals were collected from a relatively well-known region of Papua New Guinea, researchers fear that the species may have already gone extinct. Any remaining populations may be at risk from habitat loss due to logging, mining and traditional agriculture.
There are no conservation measures in place for this species. The conservation status of the southeastern Papuan rainforests in which the species was found is relatively stable.
Some authors consider this species to have become extinct in 1890. However, a specimen possibly representing P. imogene was apparently collected in 1985 from the crown of a pandanus tree in Rogut Village along the Tuman River (Central Province). Unfortunately no measurements were recorded, and the specimen was destroyed in 1992. If this was indeed a specimen of P. imogene, then the species might perhaps still exist. Further surveys should be conducted near potential roost trees or caves in the Kamali and Tuman River areas of Central Province. If a population is found to have survived then it will require immediate protection.
Bonaccorso, F. J. 1998. Bats of Papua New Guinea. Conservation International. Washington, DC.
Chiroptera Specialist Group. 1996. Pharotis imogene. In: IUCN 2006. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 09 August 2006.
MacPhee, R.D.E. and Flemming, C. 1999. Requiem Æternam. The last five hundred years of mammalian species extinctions. In: R.D.E. MacPhee (ed.). Extinctions in Near Time. Pp.333-371. Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers, New York.
Nowak, R.M. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World. Sixth edition. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore and London.
Wild World, WWF Full Report: Southeastern Papuan Rainforests
Distribution map based on data provided by the IUCN Global Mammal Assessment.
Chiroptera Specialist Group. 1996. Pharotis imogene. In: IUCN 2006. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 09 August 2006.
MacPhee, R.D.E. and Flemming, C. 1999. Requiem Æternam. The last five hundred years of mammalian species extinctions. In: R.D.E. MacPhee (ed.). Extinctions in Near Time. Pp.333-371. Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers, New York.
Nowak, R.M. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World. Sixth edition. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore and London.
Wild World, WWF Full Report: Southeastern Papuan Rainforests
Distribution map based on data provided by the IUCN Global Mammal Assessment.
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