Rhinolophus mossambicus, P. J. Taylor et al., 2012

Burgin, Connor, 2019, Rhinolophidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 280-332 : 290

21 . Mozambican Horseshoe Bat

Rhinolophus mossambicus

French: Rhinolophe du Mozambique / German: Mosambik-Hufeisennase / Spanish: Herradura de Mozambique

Taxonomy. Rhinolophus mossambicus P. J. Taylor et al, 2012 ,

“ Niassa Game Reserve (Maputo Camp), northern Mozambique, 12° 10’56”S; 37° 33’ 00”E; elevation 489 m asl .”

Rhinolophus mossambicus is in the fumigatus species group, with specimens previously included in R hildebrandtii , although recent genetic and morphological studies justified its specific status. Rhinolophus mossambicus is sister to the rest of the R hildebrandtii clade. Monotypic.

Distribution. Known from five localities in Mozambique (Chinizuia Forest, Gerhard’s Cave, Gorongosa Caves, Namapa, and Niassa Reserve) and one locality in NW Zimbabwe (Lutope-Ngolangola Confluence); predicted to occur in much of S Africa, possibly incorporating much of Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe.

Descriptive notes. Forearm 60-65 mm. Overall, the Mozambican Horseshoe Bat is similar to other members of the hildebrandtii species group. Dorsal pelage is grayish brown (hairs are unicolored); venter is slightly lighter. There is no orange morph. Males lack axillary tufts. Ears are medium to large in length. Wide horseshoe (13-14- 2 mm) covers muzzle; sella is constricted at its proximal one-third, almost parallel-sided above and with long hairs; and lancet is relatively long. Lower lip has single median groove. Wings and uropatagium are dark grayish brown. Shaft of baculum is wide in dorsal view and horizontal in lateral view, with rounded tip. Skull is large and heavily built, and sagittal crest is very prominent Dental formula is typical of Rhinolophus , but one individual had 11/2, C 1/1, P 1/3, M 3/3 (x2) = 30. P2 is tiny and labially external to tooth row (absent in one individual).

Habitat. Southern savanna biome at elevations of 60—1000 m.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. Call shape is FM/CF/FM, with F component of 35-38 kHz in Mozambique.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCNRed List. Although the Mozambican Horseshoe Bat is currently known from very few specimens, its distribution is relatively large, and it does not seem to have any significant conservation threats.

Bibliography. ACR (2018), Schoeman (2017), Taylor et al. (2012).

Figures

On following pages: 4. Lander's Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus landeri); 5. Guinean Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus guineensis); 6. Blasius's Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus blasii); 7. Peters's Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus lobatus); 8. Swinny's Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus swinnyi); 9. Cape Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus capensis); 10. Gorongosa Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus gorongosae); 11. Roberts's Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus rhodesiae); 12. Bushveld Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus simulato/); 13. Dent's Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus denti); 14. Cameroon Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus alticolus); 15. Mehely's Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus mehelyi); 16. Mediterranean Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus euryale); 17. Hildebrandt's Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus hildebrandtii); 18. Mount Mabu Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus mabuensis); 19. Cohen's Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus cohenae); 20. Smithers's Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus smithersi); 21. Mozambican Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus mossambicus); 22. Rüppell's Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus fumigatus); 23. Eloquent Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus Bloquons).

Distribution. Known from five localities in Mozambique (Chinizuia Forest, Gerhard’s Cave, Gorongosa Caves, Namapa, and Niassa Reserve) and one locality in NW Zimbabwe (Lutope-Ngolangola Confluence); predicted to occur in much of S Africa, possibly incorporating much of Zambia , Malawi , Mozambique , and Zimbabwe .