# Large forest bat

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{{short description|Species of mammal}}
{{Speciesbox
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name="iucn status November 2022">{{cite iucn |author=Lumsden, L.F. |author2=Reardon, T.B. |author3=Armstrong, K.N. |date=2021 |title=''Vespadelus darlingtoni'' |volume=2021 |article-number=e.T7920A209532370 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T7920A209532370.en |access-date=23 November 2022}}</ref>
| taxon = Vespadelus darlingtoni
| authority = [G.M. Allen](/source/Glover_Morrill_Allen), 1933<ref name="Allen1933" />
| synonyms = {{Species list
|Eptesicus darlingtoni|G.M. Allen, 1933
|Eptesicus sagittula| McKean et al., 1978<ref name="McKean1978" />}}
}}

The '''large forest bat''' ('''''Vespadelus darlingtoni''''') is a common [vesper bat](/source/vesper_bat) found in southeast Australia, [Tasmania](/source/Tasmania), and [Lord Howe Island](/source/Lord_Howe_Island).

== Taxonomy ==
The first description was published by [G. M. Allen](/source/Glover_Morrill_Allen) in 1933. The specimen described was obtained by [Philip Darlington](/source/Philip_Darlington) in northern Queensland, another member of a work group for the American Museum of Comparative Zoology, the [Harvard Australian Expedition (1931–1932)](/source/Harvard_Australian_Expedition_(1931%E2%80%931932)) led by [William M. Wheeler](/source/William_Morton_Wheeler).<ref name="Allen1933" />

== Description ==
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.<ref name="Richards2012" /><ref name="Menkhorst2011" /> The hair of this larger species is coarse and long. A triangular shaped feature is seen at the lower point of the mouth.<ref name="Menkhorst2011" /> The [patagium](/source/patagium) across the wings is grey-black.<ref name="Menkhorst2011" /> The range of length in the forearm is 32 to 39 millimetres, and they weigh 4 to 10 grams.<ref name="Richards2012" />

The species forearm length measures {{cvt|33|to|37|mm}}, the head and body combined is {{cvt|28|to|49|mm}} long, tail length is {{cvt|29|to|38|mm}}. The sampled weight range of {{cvt|6.0|to|8.3|g}} gives an average of {{cvt|7.2|g}}. A key to a diagnosis for the species is the proportion of the [phalanx bone](/source/phalanx_bone)s in the third finger, the ratio of the third to second phalanges is greater than 0.84. The length of the penis is small and it has as an angular bend, the tip is not enlarged. The larger size of the ''Vespadelus darlingtoni'' distinguishes it from others of the genus, the forearm length being greater than {{cvt|33|mm}}, in particular the similar species ''[V. pumilus](/source/Vespadelus_pumilus)'' (eastern forest bat). The richly coloured chocolate wattled species ''[Chalinolobus morio](/source/Chalinolobus_morio)'' is separable by the absence of that species lobe at the lower lip and raised fur between the eyes.<ref name="Menkhorst2011" />

A single birth during November and December is usual for the species.<ref name="Menkhorst2011" />

== Distribution and habitat ==
Found in Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania, Queensland, South Australia and a volcanic outcrop, [Lord Howe Island](/source/Lord_Howe_Island), to the east of Australia.<ref name="iucn status November 2022" /> The species is also recorded at [Flinders](/source/Flinders_Island) and [Kangaroo Island](/source/Kangaroo_Island).<ref name="Menkhorst2011" /> The species occurs at elevations up to 1600 [metres asl](/source/Metres_above_sea_level), the highest record is from New South Wales.<ref name="iucn status November 2022" /> They occur at all elevations in the southern regions, but the range to the north is restricted to the cooler environs at higher altitudes.<ref name="iucn status November 2022" />

''Vespadelus darlingtoni'' is common around the eastern headwaters of the Murray and Murrumbidgee rivers, favouring woodland and other habitat in the agricultural regions.<ref name="Richards2012" /> The habitat is associated with the [Great Dividing Range](/source/Great_Dividing_Range).<ref name="Menkhorst2011" />

The species is common and widely distributed, and not known to be declining in population. No threats are known, and the distribution range includes conservation areas that are inhabited by the species. It is found in dry and wet [eucalypt](/source/eucalypt) forest, rainforest, and at sub-alpine to alpine habitats. ''Vespadelus darlingtoni'' is observed in small reserves of woodland of rural areas and present at the urbanised landscape. They roost in the [hollows of trees](/source/Tree_hollow) with up to sixty others of the species.<ref name="iucn status November 2022" /> The population at Lord Howe is the only species of bat confirmed to living on the island. Reports of a second larger species also existing there seemed to be confirmed when a new species, ''[Nyctophilus howensis](/source/Nyctophilus_howensis)'', was described using the skull of a recently deceased individual.<ref name="Richards2012" />

==References==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="Menkhorst2011">{{cite book |last1=Menkhorst |first1=P.W. |last2=Knight |first2=F. |author-link1=Peter Menkhorst |author2-link=Frank Knight |title=A field guide to the mammals of Australia |date=2011 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=Melbourne |isbn=978-0-19-557395-4 |page=146 |edition=3rd}}</ref>

<ref name="Richards2012">{{cite book |last1=Richards |first1=G.C. |last2=Hall |first2=L.S. |last3=Parish |first3=S. (photography) |title=A natural history of Australian bats: working the night shift |date=2012 |publisher=CSIRO Pub |isbn=978-0-643-10374-0 |pages=21, 24, 25, 26, 33, 35, 38, 173}}</ref>

<ref name="McKean1978">{{cite journal|doi=10.1071/ZO9780529|title=A taxonomic appraisal of Eptesicus (Chiroptera: Mammalia) in Australia|journal=Australian Journal of Zoology |volume=26 |issue=3 |page=529|year=1978|last1=McKean|first1=JL|last2=Richards|first2=GC|last3=Price|first3=WJ}}</ref>
<ref name="Allen1933">{{cite journal |last1=Allen |first1=Glover M. |title=Two New Bats from Australia |journal=Journal of Mammalogy |date=May 1933 |volume=14 |issue=2 |pages=149–151 |doi=10.2307/1374021|jstor=1374021 }}</ref>
}}

{{Vespertilionidae|V.|V.}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q303159}}

Category:Bats of Australia
Category:Mammals of Tasmania
Category:Vespadelus
Category:Mammals of South Australia
Category:Mammals of New South Wales
Category:Mammals of Queensland
Category:Mammals of Victoria (state)
Category:Mammals described in 1933
Category:Taxonomy articles created by Polbot
Category:Taxa named by Glover Morrill Allen
Category:Fauna of Lord Howe Island

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Large forest bat](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Large_forest_bat) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Large_forest_bat?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.