Christmas Island pipistrelle
| Christmas Island Pipistrelle | |
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Critically endangered (Australian EPBC Act 1999)
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| Species: | P. murrayi
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| Binomial name | |
| Pipistrellus murrayi (Andrews, 1900)
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Pipistrellus tenuis murrayi Koopman 1973, 1993 | |
The Christmas Island Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus murrayi) is a species of vesper bat in the Vespertilionidae family.
It is found only on Christmas Island, Australia. It is a small bat weighing around 3 to 4.5 grams [1] [2]. It has sometimes been considered synonymous with Pipistrellus tenuis[3],[4] however revisions of the genus based on baculum have identified Pipistrellus murrayi as a distinct species [5] [6].
Decline
The Christmas Island Pipistrelle has declined dramatically in the last two decades [7]. It was once one commonly seen throughout the island including in the Settlement [8]. It has disappeared from at least 80% of its range and declined more than 90% in abundance since 1994 [9]. Current projections indicate the species will become extinct by 2010 unless the decline can be halted.
Cause of decline
The cause of the Christmas Island Pipistrelle's decline is unknown. Several potential threats have been suggested: predation or disturbance at roost sites, and disease.[10]. Introduced species such as the Common Wolf Snake,Giant Centipede[2], Yellow Crazy Ant, Black Rat or Feral Cats have all been identified as potential suspects responsible for the decline either through predation or disturbance of the bats. It has also been speculated that an unidentified health threat could be responsible for the decline [11].
References
- ^ Schulz, M., Lumsden, L. 2004. National Recovery Plan for the Christmas Island Pipistrelle Pipistrellus murrayi Department of Environment and Heritage. ISBN 0 642 55012 3 [1]
- ^ van Dyck, S., Strahan, R. (eds)2008. The Mammals of Australia
- ^ Koopman, K.F. 1973. Systematics of Indo-Australian pipistrelles. Periodicum Biologorum 75, 113-116
- ^ Koopman, K.F. 1993. Order Chiroptera. Pp. 137-241. In: Wilson, D.E. & Reeder, D.M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World. A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington.
- ^ Kitchener, D.J., Caputi, N. & Jones, B. 1986. Revision of the Australo-Papuan Pipistrellus and Falsistrellus (Microchiroptera: Vespertilionidae). Records of Western Australian Museum 12, 435-495.
- ^ Hill, J.E. & Harrison, D.L. 1987. The baculum in the Vespertilioninae (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) with a systematic review, a synopsis of Pipistrellus and Eptesicus, and the descriptions of a new genus and subgenus. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Zoology 52, 225-305.
- ^ Lumsden, L., Schulz, M., Ashton, R. and Middleton, D. (2007). Investigation of threats to the Christmas Island Pipistrelle. A report to the Department of the Environment and Water Resources. Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, Department of Sustainability and Environment, Heidelberg, Victoria.
- ^ Tidemann, C. 1985. A study of the status, habitat requirements and management of the two species of bats on Christmas Island (Indian Ocean). Report to Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service, Canberra.
- ^ Lumsden, L., Schulz, M., Ashton, R. and Middleton, D. (2007). Investigation of threats to the Christmas Island Pipistrelle. A report to the Department of the Environment and Water Resources. Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, Department of Sustainability and Environment, Heidelberg, Victoria.
- ^ Lumsden, L., Schulz, M., Ashton, R. and Middleton, D. (2007). Investigation of threats to the Christmas Island Pipistrelle. A report to the Department of the Environment and Water Resources. Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, Department of Sustainability and Environment, Heidelberg, Victoria.
- ^ Lumsden, L., Schulz, M., Ashton, R. and Middleton, D. (2007). Investigation of threats to the Christmas Island Pipistrelle. A report to the Department of the Environment and Water Resources. Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, Department of Sustainability and Environment, Heidelberg, Victoria.