The Status of Nepal's Mammals: The National Red List Series - IUCN

160) Philetor brachypterus
(Temminck, 1840)
Common Names
Short-winged Pipistrelle Bat (English); Rohuko
Chamero (Nepali)
Synonyms
Vespertilio brachypterus (Temminck, 1840)
Species Description
A small robust bat with short forearms and
proportionally small wings. Pelage is dark brown
all over, muzzle and ears are hairless. Face is short,
ears are broad and short: the anterior margin is
slightly convex, the tip broadly rounded off and the
posterior border with its base running forwards to
finish behind and below the angle of the mouth. The
tragus is fleshy and thickened with an inner margin
straight, outer slightly convex. The basal lobule
is broad and short, being less than one third the
height of the pinna.
Species Ecology
The Short-winged Pipistrelle Bat occurs in montane
forests, roosting in tree hollows and coconut palms.
This species is insectivorous.
Little is known about the reproductive behaviour
of this species.
Conservation Status
Global: Least Concern
National: Vulnerable B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)
Rationale for assessment: The Short-winged
Pipistrelle Bat (Philetor brachypterus) has been
nationally assessed as Vulnerable under criterion
B because it has a restricted distribution with an
extent of occurrence of approximately 8,608 km 2 .
In all areas of its range, this species suffers from
habitat loss and degradation, including
deforestation, conversion of land for agriculture
and disturbances to roosting sites. These threats
continue to cause declines in the quality and extent
of available habitat for this species.
Legal Status
National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 2029
(1973).
National Population Size
There is no information available on the population
size of this species in Nepal.
National Distribution
Districts of Sindhupalchowk (Barabisse), Kathmandu,
Sankhuwasabha, and areas of the eastern mid-hills.
Distribution outside Nepal
Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines.
Main Threats
• Hunting for subsistence
• Habitat loss and degradation due to clearing for
agriculture, removal of old trees and collection
of firewood.
• Disturbances to roosting sites.
Conservation Measures in Place
None.
Conservation Recommendations
i) Conduct surveys using bat detector technology,
indirect signs and direct observations, and
community syrveys using standard protocols in
areas of suitable habitat to establish baseline data
on occupancy and abundance, ecology and threats
to this species.
iii) Implement awareness and education
programmes in areas in which the species occurs
and include community participatory conservation
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