Peters's wrinkle-lipped bat (Mormopterus jugularis), also called Peters's goblin bat, is a species of bat in the family Molossidae, the free-tailed bats. It is endemic to Madagascar, where it is widespread and in some areas abundant. It commonly roosts in human-made structures, sometimes in colonies with other free-tailed bat species.[1] [2] It forages in the open, often in agricultural areas.[1] The bat is sexually dimorphic, with males larger than females.[2]
It was described as a new species in 1865 by German naturalist Wilhelm Peters. Peters placed it in the now-defunct genus Nyctinomus and the subgenus Mormopterus, with the scientific name of Nyctinomus (Mormopterus) jugularis.[3] In his description of the species (in Latin), Peters wrote that it had "fovea jugulari magna", or a large suprasternal notch.[3] This anatomical feature was likely the inspiration for the species name "jugularis."
From head to tail, it is approximately NaNmm long. Its forearm is NaNmm long; its wingspan is NaNmm long; and it weighs NaNg. Its fur is soft and dense, with its back grayish-brown to charcoal in color, and its belly paler. Its snout has a blunt tip, and is slightly upturned. Its ears are large and rounded; the bases of the ears do not touch. It has a well-defined tragus.
It is endemic to Madagascar, where it has been documented from NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) above sea level. It is widespread in the western half of Madagascar, as well as along the southern coast.[4]