Chocolate Wattled Bat

About the Chocolate Wattled Bat

The chocolate wattled bat (Chalinolobus morio) is a bat in the family Vespertilionidae. It is found only in Australia, including the island Tasmania, and widespread in southern regions. It is known to reside from sea level to at least 1,570 metres (5,150 ft).

A description of the species was published by John Edward Gray in 1841, assigning it to the genus Scotophilus. There are three synonyms for the species: Chalinolobus australis, Chalinolobus microdon, and Chalinolobus signifer. Taxonomic research on the isolated populations is lacking.

The name of the genus is derived from ancient Greek: chalinos, meaning 'bridle', and lobos, lobe. The specific epithet is also from the greek name Moros, the "son of night". The term 'wattled' refers to a characteristic of its related species, a conspicuous lobe at the head.

A vespertilionid, with a rich and nearly uniform brown colour that resembles milk chocolate. The colour is often lighter at the front of the bat in the isolated populations in the west and centre. The weight range is 8 to 11 grams, the measurement of the forearm is 35 to 42 millimetres.

The 'wattle', present in other Chalinolobus species, is... Wikipedia →