Taphozous melanopogon
black-bearded tomb bat

Black bearded tomb bats live in Central India, Indochina, Thailand, Borneo, Burma, and the Philippines. Their range includes Indonesia, Bantam, and West Java, and they are occasionally found in the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Borneo, and Lombok. (Boonsong and McNeely, 1988; Kunz and Pierson, 1994; Lekagul and McNeely, 1988)

Black-bearded tomb bats are found in habitats including rainforests, woodlands, tombs, deserted buildings, rock formations, caverns, cliffs, and arid country plains. They prefer densely sheltered areas. They roost in groups ranging from 200 to 4000 individuals. (Kunz and Pierson, 1994; Lekagul and McNeely, 1988)

The coat of black-bearded tomb bats is quite variable dependent on its particular environment. It ranges from grayish to multi-brown or red variations. Hairs are typically white tipped, turning increasingly more red or brown towards the base. Fur is present on the tail (uropatagium) membrane. No throat sac is present, but a series of pores that open into the throat region is present where the sac would be located. Males have a black beard, which is believed to be seasonal. In the mating season, males produce a thick substance into the beard that is believed to be a form of pheromone to attract mate. The thick tail tapers to a slightly bulbous tip. The wings attach just above the ankles.

These bats are strong fliers that can reach recorded heights of 90 meters.

The dental formula is 1/2 1/1 2/2 3/3. (Kunz and Pierson, 1994; Lekagul and McNeely, 1988)

Little is known about the longevity of these animals, but approximate ages for individuals vary from 5 to 20 years. Infant mortality within this species is particularly high. (Boonsong and McNeely, 1988; Kunz and Pierson, 1994)

Within roosts males have been known to form a protective circle around the female and young. Each male has a particular area, which it occupies; this implies a social hierarchy in the colonies. In some cases there are strictly male or female colonies found in roosts (mainly after the mating season). These bats tend to scream a very piercing, high-pitched noise when being captured, in danger, or injured. (Boonsong and McNeely, 1988)

Home Range

The home range size of these bats has not been reported.

Information on the communication of these animals is not available. However, tactile communication is obviously important between mothers and their offspring. Some vocal and chemical communication probably occur and help mothers to identify their own offspring in the roost.

Taphzous melanopogon feeds primarily on flying insects, although it also sometimes feeds on small fruits. It hunts by echolocation, emitting a "click" or "tic" that can be faintly audible to humans. (Boonsong and McNeely, 1988)

There are not many predators of black bearded tomb bats. However, larger bats, crows, owls and monkeys have been known to prey upon this species.

Black-bearded tomb bats help control insect populations, and those that feed on fruit may pollinate plants or disperse seeds. (Kunz and Pierson, 1994)

In September of 1998, a disease called the Nipah virus that infected bat populations of Malaysia was responsible for the deaths of approximately 105 humans, and over 1 million pigs. Black-bearded tomb bats were believed to be a host, though no cases were found within captured individuals. ("Nipah Virus Infection in Bats (Order Chiroptera) in Peninsular Malaysia", 2001)

These bats may have some economic importance to humans by helping to polinate crops and helping to control insect pests.

Though not endangered, black-bearded tomb bats areprotected by the Zoological Park Organization of Thailand. (Zoological Park Organization of Thailand, 2000)

Black bearded tomb bats are agile creatures. They cling to vertical surfaces, as well as effortlessly crawling up and down porous surfaces like rock walls and cave crevices. (Kunz and Pierson, 1994)