Kerivoula whiteheadi Thomas 1894

312.

Whitehead’s Woolly Bat

Kerivoula whiteheadi

French: Kérivoule de Whitehead / German: Whitehead-Wollfledermaus / Spanish: Querivoula de Whitehead

Taxonomy. Kerwvoula whiteheadi Thomas, 1894,

“ Isabella, N.E. Luzon,” Philippines.

Phylogenetic position of K. whitehead: is uncertain because it has not been included in any genetic studies. Three subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution. K.w.whitehead:Thomas,1894—Philippines(Luzon,Mindoro,Palawan,Panay,Cebu,Bohol,andMindanaoIs).

K.w.bicolorThomas,1904—extremeSThailandandCPeninsularMalaysia.

K. w. pusilla Thomas, 1894 — N Borneo.

Descriptive notes. Head-body c. 39-44 mm, tail 32-42 mm, ear 13-18 mm, hindfoot 7-9 mm, forearm 28-33 mm; weight 3-5-5- 5 g. Fur is dense and woolly. Dorsal pelage is generally dark brown but can be reddish brown (typical on Mindanao); venteris paler (hairs with dark gray bases dorsally and ventrally). Wings of mainland individuals apparently have white tips; membranes and ears are dark. Ears are large and virtually naked, with convex anterior margins, rounded tips, and concavity just below tips on posterior borders; tragus is narrow and tall, with virtually straight anterior margin except for very slight convexity neartip, and has concave posterior margin with small hooked basal lobe. Wings are attached at base of outertoes, and calcaris long. Upper and lower premolars are elongated and oval in cross section, with sharp cusps, and I? is tall and bicuspid.

Habitat. Secondary and disturbed forests, agricultural areas, various grasslands (including cogon grassland on Palawan Island), and montane forests (Philippines) from sea level up to elevations of ¢. 1490 m.

Food and Feeding. Whitehead’s Woolly Bats forage low to the ground and are slow fliers.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. Whitehead’s Woolly Bats roost in foliage, including under large dead leaves.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Whitehead’s Woolly Bats roost in groups of 20-30 individuals in Sabah, Borneo.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. Whitehead’s Woolly Bat is found in various disturbed habitats, butit is fairly difficult to encounter. It does not seem to face any major threats.

Bibliography. Alviola (2000), Esselstyn, Widmann & Heaney (2004), Francis (2008a), Francis, Rosell-Ambal & Tabaranza (2008), Heaney, Balete, Dolar et al. (1998), Heaney, Balete & Rickart (2016), Ingle et al. (1999), Khan et al. (2008), Kingston et al. (2006).