Bats of the World

Distinct from philippinensis, but the exact composition of this species is currently unclear. Two morphologically distinct populations occur on the Cape York peninisula of Australia; see Flannery (1995a, b), Churchill (1998), and Csorba et al. (2003). Flannery (1995a, b) referred the smaller of these forms to the subspecies maros (which he considered to be a senior synonym of alleni and sanborni) and the larger-bodied form to achilles. The only name based on an Australian holotype, robertsi, was treated as a junior synonym of achilles by Flannery (1995b). Flannery (1995a, b) referred all New Guinea populations to maros, but Bonaccorso (1998) referred the New Guinea and Cape York populations to robertsi, while recognizing the Kai Island form, achilles, as a distinct subspecies. Jackson and Groves (2015) followed Churchill (2008) and Reardon et al. (2010) in recognizing robersti as a distinct Australian species, but did not mention the other form, often referred to as the "intermediate" form (see Churchill, 2008; Reardon et al., 2010). Burgin (2019) synonymized robertsi with achilles, which has priority, on the basis of morphology. Burgin (2019) notes that there are two forms of achilles in Queensland that differ in size and echolocation peak frequency (true achilles and the "intermediate" form). Addiitional work is needed to resolve issues surrounding the composition and distribution of philippinesis, achilles, robertsi, and the "intermediate" form.