14.

Gambian Slitfaced Bat

Nycteris gambiensis

French: Nyctere de Gambie / German: Gambia-Schlitznase / Spanish: Nicterio gambiano

Taxonomy. Petalia gambiensis K. Andersen, 1912,

“Dialacoto, French Gambia [= Senegal].”

Nycteris gambiensis belongs to the thebaica group. It was previously considered conspecific with N. thebaica from which it is not easily distinguished. Monotypic.

Distribution. Widely distributed in W Africa from Senegal to Nigeria, with a single record from SE Cameroon.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 45-50 mm, tail 45-55 mm, ear 24-30 mm, hindfoot 11-13 mm, forearm 35-44 mm; weight 7-9 g. The Gambian Slitfaced Bat is small, with short rounded wings. Longitudinal cleft runs along top of muzzle, covering noseleaves. Fur is long and fluffy, reddish brown to grayish brown dorsally, and only slightly lighter ventrally. Ears are very long. Wing membranes are dark brown and free of hairs. There are no obvious sexual differences in pelage.

Habitat. Various types of forest including Isoberlinia (Fabaceae) woodland.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. The Gambian Slit-faced Bat roosts during the day in hollow trees, caves, and abandoned buildings.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Gambian Slit-faced Bat roosts in small or large groups of up to ¢.50 individuals.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. Due to its wide distribution and flexible habitat requirements, the Gambian Slitfaced Bat is unlikely to become threatened in the near future.

Bibliography. Griffiths (1994, 1997), Happold, M. (2013ad), Kock et al. (2002), Rosevear (1965), Thomas et al. (1994), Van Cakenberghe & De Vree (1998).