Morphological Variation in Australian and Island Populations of Goulds Wattled Bat, Chalinolobus-Gouldii (Gray) (Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae)

Abstract

Univariate and bivariate analyses were used to demonstrate that C. gouldii increases in size from north to south and, to a lesser extent, from west to east. There is little difference between the sexes in most dimensions. Although significant differences exist between animals from localities widely separated geographically, multivariate analyses suggest that C. gouldii once occurred over most of mainland Australia, Tasmania, Norfolk I. and New Caledonia. The species appears to have become extinct or very rare in recent times on Norfolk I.; the possibility of re-introduction is discussed.