Bamboo bat

Tylonycteris pachypus

SUBFAMILY

Vespertilioninae

TAXONOMY

Tylonycteris pachypus (Temminck, 1840), Java, Indonesia.

OTHER COMMON NAMES

English: Club-footed bat, lesser flat-headed bat.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Adults range from 1.6 to 2.4 in (4–6 cm) in length, 0.09–0.21 oz (2.5–6 g) in weight, and 0.8–1.2 in (2–3 cm) in forearm length. One of the smallest bats, the bamboo bat is brown to reddish dorsally, slightly lighter ventrally, and has a flattened head.

DISTRIBUTION

Southeast Asia from India to southern China and into Indonesia.

HABITAT

Bamboo forests.

BEHAVIOR

Most notably, these bats are able to climb into and actually roost in internodal hollows of the large bamboo, Gigantochloa scortechinii. Their flattened skulls combined with small overall body size provide access to the tiny openings in the hollow stem joints, and pads on their thumbs and feet help them cling to the sides of the stems. Males may travel alone, with a few other males, or in transient harems of one male, several females, and numerous young.

FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET

Termites appears to be a preferred food item.

REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY

Young are born in February to May. Gestation lasts about three months. Litter size is typically two altricial young per female. The young are weaned at about a month-and-a-half. Females and males become sexually mature their first year. Most likely polygynous.

CONSERVATION STATUS

Not threatened.

SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS

Assist in controlling termite populations.