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Order: Chiroptera
Family: Molossidae
Gallagher's free-tailed bat belongs to the family Molossidae. This family 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, the West Indies, Africa, Asia and Australasia.
There are 18 species in the genus Chaerephon.
Size:
Total length: 78 mm
Tail length: 30.1 mm
Forearm length: 37.6 mm
Tail length: 30.1 mm
Forearm length: 37.6 mm
Weight: Unknown
Like other members of the free-tailed bat family, this species has a length of “free” tail which extends beyond the uropatagial membrane attached between the hind legs. Its ears are joined by a membrane of skin.
Very little is known about this species. It is thought to be a high-altitude flier, and probably takes a wide variety of small insects, like other molossid bats. Social structure is unknown, but varies widely among other members of this genus, with some species roosting alone, and others occurring in colonies of several thousand in favourable areas.
Species in this genus inhabit open forests, savannahs and agricultural areas, sometimes in the mountains. They roost in hollow trees, crevices and caves.
Found only at one locality in Democratic Republic of Congo, about 100 km south of Kisangani on the Congo River.
Unknown.
Declining.
Classified as Critically Endangered (CR D) on the 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
The species is restricted to a single small area, and is declining as a result of habitat destruction due primarily to logging.
There are no conservation measures in place.
More information about the species is required before effective conservation measures can be implemented. Further surveys to determine population size and range are recommended since it is possible that the species is more broadly distributed than presently believed.
Mickleburgh, S., Hutson, A., Bergmans, W. & Cotterill, F.W. 2004. Chaerephon gallagheri. In: IUCN 2006. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 20 September 2006.
Nowak, R.M. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World. Sixth edition. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore and London.
Distribution map based on data provided by the IUCN Global Mammal Assessment.
Nowak, R.M. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World. Sixth edition. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore and London.
Distribution map based on data provided by the IUCN Global Mammal Assessment.
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