Saccolaimus is a genus of the family Emballonuridae,[2] small insectivorous bats with distinctive sheathtails and pouches at the wrist.
The species have been placed with genus Taphozous, in subgenus Taphozous, although an elevation to genus accords with a 1991 revision of Australian emballonurids.[3] The type species is Taphozous saccolaimus, published by Coenraad Jacob Temminck in 1838,[1] elevated as generic combination Saccolaimus saccolaimus in this arrangement. The genus also follows Temminck's description of that species.[2]
A revision by George Dobson in 1876 erected the genus name Taphonycteris, once recognised and later suppressed as a synonym to give priority to Temminck's earlier description.
A key to the genus was provided in its 1991 revision by Christian Chimimba and Darrell Kitchener.[3][2]
The genus Saccolaimus Temminck, 1838 contains the following taxa:[2]
The diversity of this genus in Australia, identified as species S. saccolaimus and S. flaviventris, is poorly resolved and requires re-examination of records.[5]
References
^ abTemminck, C.J. (1838). "Taphozoüs Saccolaimus". Tijdschrift voor Natuurlijke Geschiedenis en Physiologie. 5: 14.