v9i2.240

ISSN: 1800-427X (printed)
eISSN: 1800-427X (online)
DOI:10.47605/tapro.v9i2.240

Submitted date: 30 October 2020
Accepted date: 14 November 2020
Published date: 28 November 2020
Pp. 237–241, Pls. 67–68.

Chocolate pipistrelle (Hypsugo affinis) from Hantana, Sri Lanka, after 87 years

G. Edirisinghe*, S. Akmeemana, S. Yaddehige, D. Gabadage, M. Botejue & T. Surasinghe
*Corresponding author. E-mail: gayan.yza@gmail.com

The Chocolate pipistrelle, Hypsugo affinis, is a comparatively small vesper bat (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) distributed in India, central Nepal, southern China, northeast Myanmar and the central highlands of Sri Lanka; its altitudinal range ascends up to 2,000 m a.s.l. In Sri Lanka, it has only been documented at three localities: West Haputale (~1,400 m), Ohiya (~1,700 m) and Nuwara Eliya (~1,900 m), but has not been recorded in the country since 1933. The National Red List for Sri Lanka listed it as Critically Endangered, although H. affinis is listed as of Least Concern in the IUCN Global Red List because of its wide occurrence across southern Asia. Herein we document the first observation of H. affinis from Sri Lanka after 87 years, including the first photographic evidence and the first roosting site observation.

Section Editor: Burton Lim