(Gray, 1838)
Coromandel Pipistrelle; Indian Pipistrelle; Little Indian bat
External characters (Table 93)
This is a small pipistrelle with an average forearm length of 30.0mm (25.5-34.3 mm) (Pco3). Externally, it is often difficult to distinguish this species from P. tenuis (Pco1), occasionally even in localities where both occur together. In general, P. coromandra averages larger, but there are significant overlaps in all external measurements. Pelage colour varies between individuals. Generally it is a uniform brown on the dorsal surface, ranging from chestnut to dark clove brown. The ventral surface is conspicuously paler, with beige brown or cinnamon brown tips to the hairs, depending on the individual; the hair roots are dark (Pco2). The ears and membranes are mid- to dark brown and essentially naked, although there are some hairs on the interfemoral membrane adjacent to the body and the tail, above and below. The baculum has a straight or slightly sinuous shaft, with a distinctly bifid tip and with the basal lobes deflected ventrally (Fig. 205).
Cranial characters
The skull has an average condylo-canine length of 11.2 mm (10.6-11.9 mm). Skull size is midway between the larger P. javanicus babu (12.4 mm, 11.9-13.1 mm) and the smaller P. tenuis mimus (10.2 mm, 9.3-10.7 mm). The rostrum and palate average broader than those of P. pipistrellus aladdin . They are more elongated than those of P. t. mimus . The braincase is comparable to that of P. j. babu but smaller and more flattened posteriorly; it exceeds that of P. t. mimus in size. The dorsal profile is almost straight from the nares to the anterior part of the braincase which is equal or slightly subequal in height to the lambda. The coronoid process of each half mandible is more robust than that of P. pipistrellus .
Dentition
- Upper toothrow length (C-M3) averages 4.4 mm (3.9-4.6 mm). The dentition is essentially similar to that of P. javanicus babu but less robust. The first upper incisor (I2) is bicuspidate; the secondary cusp is occasionally small or absent but is usually half the height of the anterior cusp. The second incisor (I3) is well developed, with a larger principal cusp and a smaller lateral accessory cusp, I3 usually exceeds the secondary cusp of I2 in height; it is separated from the upper canine by a narrow diastema. The upper canine has a secondary cusp and a distinct cingular cusp posteriorly. The first upper premolar (PM2) is intruded from the toothrow; it is equal in crown area to I2. The canine and second premolar (PM4) are not in contact but are closely adjacent.
- The first lower premolar (pm2) is slightly extruded from the toothrow; it is half to three-quarters the crown area of the second (pm4).
Variation
Specimens from throughout the Indian subcontinent are currently referred to the nominate race P. c. coromandra . However, Corbet and Hill, 1992 suggest those from north-west Pakistan may be prove to be subspecifically distinct being closely similar to specimens from Afghanistan. These individuals are characterised by a greyer pelage and larger cranial measurements. Gaisler, 1970a in his description of specimens from eastern Afghanistan included the name P. c. afghanus n. ssp. but did not formally recognise the population as a distinct subspecies. The availability of this name is discussed by Corbet and Hill, 1992.