''Ozimops halli'', also referred to as the Cape York free-tailed bat, is a species of

molossid The Molossidae, or free-tailed bats, are a family of bats within the order Chiroptera. The Molossidae is the fourth-largest family of bats, containing about 110 species as of 2012. They are generally quite robust, and consist of many strong-flyi ...

bat found at the

Cape York Peninsula Cape York Peninsula is a large peninsula located in Far North Queensland, Australia. It is the largest unspoiled wilderness in northern Australia.Mittermeier, R.E. et al. (2002). Wilderness: Earth’s last wild places. Mexico City: Agrupación ...

in Australia.

Taxonomy

A species of genus ''

Ozimops ''Ozimops'' is a genus of molossid bats found in Australia, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. Description ''Ozimops'' are small and stout microbats, with forearm measurement ranging from 29 to 41 millimetres and weigh from 6 to 18 grams. The ea ...

'', both taxa emerging in the publication of new species and generic combinations of mostly Australian

bats. Prior to this, an analysis of populations in the regions in 1988 had identified this group as ''Mormopterus'' species 5 (populations S and T)'. Specimens have previously been described as '' Mormopterus ridei'', at least in part, or other uncertainty in paraphyletic groups once referred to as the ''planiceps'' complex. The generic combination of this species was inferred by the elevation of a subgenus to genus ''Ozimops''. The first publication of the species was in 2014, allying it to a subgenus of the group under revision as ''Mormopterus'' (''Ozimops'') ''halli''. The common names also include Cape York free-tailed bat. The

type specimen In biology, a type is a particular wiktionary:en:specimen, specimen (or in some cases a group of specimens) of an organism to which the scientific name of that organism is formally attached. In other words, a type is an example that serves to a ...

, a male, was obtained on 7 November 2006 by four collectors at the Ironbark Dam in the Oyala Thumotang National Park. The

epithet An epithet (, ), also byname, is a descriptive term (word or phrase) known for accompanying or occurring in place of a name and having entered common usage. It has various shades of meaning when applied to seemingly real or fictitious people, di ...

refers to a conservation advocate of bats,

Leslie Hall Leslie Merritt Hall (born November 15, 1981) is an American satire, satirical rapping, rap artist and front-woman for the band Leslie and the LY's. She also operates a "gem sweater museum". She is best known for the YouTube hits like "How We Go O ...

, which the authors gave in honour of his contribution to

chiroptera Bats are mammals of the order Chiroptera.''cheir'', "hand" and πτερόν''pteron'', "wing". With their forelimbs adapted as wings, they are the only mammals capable of true and sustained flight. Bats are more agile in flight than most bir ...

n research.

Description

''Ozimops lumsdenae'' is a larger

microbat Microbats constitute the suborder Microchiroptera within the order Chiroptera ( bats). Bats have long been differentiated into Megachiroptera (megabats) and Microchiroptera, based on their size, the use of echolocation by the Microchiroptera an ...

, insectivorous flying mammals, which is robust in appearance and the second largest of its genus. The length of the forearm is 31 to 35 millimetres and weight is around 9 grams. The colour of the

pelage Fur is a thick growth of hair that covers the skin of mammals. It consists of a combination of oily guard hair on top and thick underfur beneath. The guard hair keeps moisture from reaching the skin; the underfur acts as an insulating blanket ...

is a rich or orange brown, the frequent contrast of front and back related species is indistinct and ''O. halli'' is almost uniform in colour. There is a yellowish hue in hair at the side of the neck. The skin is very dark brown, evident at the snout, ears and the

patagium The patagium (plural: patagia) is a membranous body part that assists an animal in obtaining lift when gliding or flight. The structure is found in extant and extinct groups of flying and gliding animals including bats, birds, some dromaeosaurs ...

across the wings.

Distribution and habitat

The records for ''Ozimops halli'', which number around a dozen, are in separate localities in the north of Queensland. The known records are separated by around 500 kilometres, in a region poorly surveyed for bat populations, and it may be widespread or occur in isolated colonies. The established range is within or nearby to the type location, the conservation area Oyala Thumotang NP. Surveys of the distribution range would be assisted by analysis of the characteristics of the species echolocation call. The species is known from specimens captured by

mist net Mist nets are used by hunters and poachers, but also by ornithologists and chiropterologists to capture wild birds and bats for banding or other research projects. Mist nets are typically made of nylon or polyester mesh suspended between two ...

s laid near bodies of water in open vegetation of

eucalypt Eucalypt is a descriptive name for woody plants with capsule fruiting bodies belonging to seven closely related genera (of the tribe Eucalypteae) found across Australasia: ''Eucalyptus'', ''Corymbia'', ''Angophora'', '' Stockwellia'', ''Allosyn ...

woodlands. They are presumed to inhabit

tree hollow A tree hollow or tree hole is a semi-enclosed cavity which has naturally formed in the trunk or branch of a tree. They are found mainly in old trees, whether living or not. Hollows form in many species of trees, and are a prominent feature of nat ...

s as this is the habit of sympatric species and those in similar habitat.

Ecology

The species may occur with others of the genus ''Ozimops'', it is recorded in sympatry with '' Ozimops ridei'' and probably '' O. lumsdenae''. The

conservation status The conservation status of a group of organisms (for instance, a species) indicates whether the group still exists and how likely the group is to become extinct in the near future. Many factors are taken into account when assessing conservation ...

of ''Ozimops halli'' is data deficient at the entry in the

IUCN redlist The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, also known as the IUCN Red List or Red Data Book, founded in 1964, is the world's most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of biologi ...

, which notes the stability of the population as unknown.

Notes

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q61702674, from2=Q18419319 Mammals described in 2014 Bats of Australia Ozimops Mammals of Queensland