Indonesian tomb bat

Indonesian tomb bat
Conservation status
Data Deficient  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Chiroptera
Family:	Emballonuridae
Genus:	Taphozous
Species:	T. achates
Binomial name
Taphozous achates Thomas, 1915
Indonesian tomb bat range

The Indonesian tomb bat (Taphozous achates) is a species of sac-winged bat in the family Emballonuridae.^[2] It is found only in Indonesia.

Taxonomy

The Indonesian tomb bat was described as a new species in 1915 by British mammalogist Oldfield Thomas. The holotype had been collected on the Indonesian island of Savu in 1896 by British naturalist Alfred Hart Everett.^[3] The inspiration for the species name "achates" is the character of Achates from a Latin epic poem, The Aeneid. Oldfield Thomas frequently employed names from mythology and the Classics when naming new species of mammal.^[4]

Description

In many characteristics it is similar to the black-bearded tomb bat, though it can be differentiated by its conspicuously larger skull. Individuals have a forearm length of approximately 62 mm (2.4 in).^[3]

References

1. Hutson, A.M.; Schlitter, D.; Kingston, T. (2016). "Taphozous achates". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T21453A22111549. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T21453A22111549.en. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
2. Simmons, N.B. (2005). "Order Chiroptera". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 382–383. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
3. Thomas, O. (1915). "Notes on Taphozous and Saccolaimus". The Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. 24: 60–61.
4. Beolens, B.; Watkins, M.; Grayson, M. (2009). The Eponym Dictionary of Mammals. Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 2. ISBN 978-0-8018-9533-3.