Thomas’s Big-eared Bat Pharotis imogene
Critically Endangered
Locations: Papua New Guinea
Almost nothing is known about the ecology of Thomas’s Big Eared Bat, however given their long ears and rudimentary noseleaf they are likely to be similar in ecology to Nyctophilus, using passive listening and low amplitude broadband echolocation calls to glean insects from vegetation. They roost communally or sometimes as individuals, probably in trees (Bonaccorso 1998). Roosting and foraging habitat is likely to be within lowland sclerophyll woodland and woodland with rainforest patches. The individual captured near Oio was trapped in rainforest near the boundary between extensive rainforest to the north and a large expanse of grassland, and was within 12 km of the coast (Hughes et al. 2014).
DYK that #bats are essential to #rainforests? They pollinate plant and control insects. Thomas’s Big-eared Bats are critically #endangered in #PapuaNewGuinea due to #palmoil #deforestation. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife
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This bat species is threatened by loss of woodland and forest habitat in general, especially in lowland regions near the coast.
IUCN Red List
Further Information
Armstrong, K.D., Aplin, K. & Broken-brow, J. 2020. Pharotis imogene. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T16887A22114175. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T16887A22114175.en. Downloaded on 26 January 2021.
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