Large Forest Bat

About the Large Forest Bat

The large forest bat (Vespadelus darlingtoni) is a common vesper bat found in southeast Australia, Tasmania, and Lord Howe Island. The first description was published by G. M. Allen in 1933. The specimen described was obtained by Philip Darlington in northern Queensland, another member of a work group for the American Museum of Comparative Zoology, the Harvard Australian Expedition (1931–1932) led by William M. Wheeler.

The fur over the back and front is a dark shade of brown or brownish red, nearly uniform in colour overall, the population in Tasmania may be very dark to black. The hair of this larger species is coarse and long. A triangular shaped feature is seen at the lower point of the mouth. The patagium across the wings is grey-black. The range of length in the forearm is 32 to 39 millimetres, and they weigh 4 to 10 grams.

The species forearm length measures 33 to 37 mm (1.3 to 1.5 in), the head and body combined is 28 to 49 mm (1.1 to 1.9 in) long, tail length is 29 to 38 mm (1.1 to 1.5 in). The sampled weight range of 6.0 to 8.3 g (0.21 to 0.29 oz) gives an average of 7.2 g (0.25 oz). A key to a diagnosis for the species is the proportion of... Wikipedia →