African Bat Conservation Species Guide to Bats of Malawi P a g e | 1

Molossidae Free-tailed bats

Chaerephon pumilus Little free-tailed bat

Genus: Chaerephon Family: Molossidae

Description Chaerophon pumilus is a small bat with a greyish-brown to dark brown pelage. The underparts are slightly paler than the upper parts. The wings are long, narrow and light brown coloured. A narrow white or cream band is usually present on the inner flanks where the wings join the body. Typical of the family Molossidae, the tail is not completely enclosed within the tail membrane and the upper lip is wrinkled, giving a bulldog appearance. Mature males have an erectile crest on the top of the head whilst the ears on both sexes are joined by a flap of skin. The interaural and muzzle area contains sebaceous glands secrete odours used in sexual discrimination. Distribution Chaerophon pumilus is a widespread and abundant in the eastern parts of the region, where is has been recorded from KwaZulu-Natal and Swaziland, through the Kruger National Park to Zimbabwe, northern Botswana, Zambia, Malawi, DRC and Mozambique. A geographically isolated population is restricted to Angola and the DRC west of the escarpment. Ecology Diet C. pumilus is an open-air forager. They feed on Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera, Diptera and Blattodea. Reproduction After a 60-day gestation, a single young is born. There is a post-partum oestrus, which allow three births per year in the subregion. A third parturition event in May occurs in Malawi, and it can breed up to five times within a year in equatorial forest habitat. Roosting behaviour This species roosts in small to extremely large groups, which may number in the thousands. Natural roost sites include narrow cracks in rocks and trees. However, the species has taken to roosting in buildings, in particular roofs of houses and other buildings, where individuals often roost in crevices ( e.g. between tiles and underlying plastic lining, rafters and brickwork). Status Least concern African Bat Conservation Species Guide to Bats of Malawi P a g e | 2

Mops niveiventer White-bellied free-tailed bat

Genus: Mops Family: Molossidae

©F. P. D. Cotterill Description Mops niveiventer is a medium-sized bat with a greyish-brown pelage above with a contrasting blackish crown. The underparts are mostly white. A sparse-haired band extends between the shoulders which seperates Mops from Tadarida and most Chaerephon species within the family Molossidae. The wings are long, narrow and light brown coloured. There is usually a narrow white or cream band on the inner flanks where wings join the body. Typical of the family Molossidae, the tail is not completely enclosed within the tail membrane and upper lip is wrinkled, giving a bulldog appearance. Mature adult males have an erectile crest on the top of the head whilst the ears of both sexes are joined by a flap of skin. Distribution Mops niveiventer is restricted to south-central Africa, extending from southern Zambia to Angola and the DRC. It has also been recorded from Mozambique, on the Zambian border and in Malawi. Habitat This species appears to be associated with Brachystegia woodland, where it is sparsely and thinly distributed. Ecology Diet Mops niveiventer is an open-air forager. There is no information on the diet of this species. Reproduction Pregnant females were recorded in October and November. Females give birth to a single young, which is pale-skinned in contrast to the dark-skinned neonates. Roosting behaviour It roosts communally in small groups. Natural roosts sites include narrow cracks in rocks, especially on cliff faces. However, the species has taken to roosting in buildings, in particular roofs of houses. Colonies have also been recorded from attics and cracks in walls of buildings, and in hollow trees. Status Least concern

African Bat Conservation Species Guide to Bats of Malawi P a g e | 3

Mops condylurus Angalon free-tailed bat

Genus: Mops Family: Molossidae

Description Mops condylurus is a medium-sized bat with a greyish-brown pelage above. The underparts are paler than the upper parts, becoming dirty white to white on the belly. A sparse-haired band extends between the shoulders which seperates Mops from Tadarida and most Chaerephon species within the family Molossidae. The wings are long, narrow and light brown coloured. There is usually a narrow white or cream band on the inner flanks where wings join the body. Typical of the family Molossidae, the tail is not completely enclosed within the tail membrane and the upper lip is wrinkled, giving a bulldog appearance. Mature adult males have an erectile crest on the top of the head whilst the ears of both sexes are joined by a flap of skin. The interaural and muzzle area contains sebaceous glands that secrete odours used in sexual discrimination. Distribution Mops condylurus is widespread and abundant in the eastern parts of the region, where it has been recorded from KwaZulu-Natal and Swaziland, through the Kruger National park to Zimbambwe, northern Botswana, Zambia, Malawi, DRC, eastern Angola and Mozambique. Habitat Mops condylurus has adapted extensive thermoregulation and osmoregulation parameters which explain how this species can exploit a wide range of climatic conditions from semi-arid to mesic habitats. Ecology Diet Mops niveiventer is an open-air forager and it feeds mainly on Coleoptera, Hemiptera and Lepidoptera. It often feeds throughout the night, leaving the roost at dusk and returning in a swarm at dawn. Reproduction Females are seasonally polyoestrus with two birth seasons between early September and early May. Gestation is 85 days long. Following the December birth season there is a post-partum oestrus. Roosting behaviour Mops condylurus roosts communally in small to extremely large groups, which may number in the thousands. Natural roost sites include narrow crevices in rock faces and caves, as well as hollow in trees. However, the species has taken to roosting in anthropogenic structures, particularly roofs of houses an in the expansion joints of bridges. Status Least concern

Reference Monadjem. A, T. P. (2010). Bats of Southern and Central Africa: A Biogeographic and Taxonomic Synthesis. Witts University Press.