Epomophorus wahlbergi (Sundevall, 1846)

Cakenberghe, Victor Van, Tungaluna, Guy-Crispin Gembu, Akawa, Prescott Musaba, Seamark, Ernest & Verheyen, Erik, 2017, The bats of the Congo and of Rwanda and Burundi revisited (Mammalia: Chiroptera), European Journal of Taxonomy 382 (382), pp. 1-327 : 14

Epomophorus wahlbergi (Sundevall, 1846)

Fig. 5 A–B

Pteropus Wahlbergi Sundevall, 1846 : 118.

* Epomophorus wahlbergi haldemani (Halowell, 1846) : 52.

Bergmans (1988: 134) discussed the status of the two subspecies of E. wahlbergi and concluded that the size variations are of a clinal nature and the recognition of subspecies does not seem to be appropriate, a view which is also followed by Happold (2013c).

The records in Hayman et al. (1966: 24) were primarily from the southern half of the DRC, with two specimens from Rutshuru (Nord-Kivu Province - INPBC V1346 and V1636), and one specimen from Ibembo (Bas-Uélé Province - RMCA 20278). The additional material we report on, is also from the southern part of the DRC, but also from the Nord-Kivu and South-Kivu Provinces, as well as from Burundi and Rwanda. The locality of a further central Congolese specimen (RMCA 18844b from Bokungu in Tshuapa Province) is rather unexpected, as Bergmans (1988: 131) stated that E. wahlbergi is not found moist forests.

Figures

Fig. 5. Distribution maps. A–B. Epomophorus wahlbergi (Sundevall, 1846). C–D. Epomops dobsonii (Bocage, 1889). E–F. Epomops franqueti (Tomes, 1860). A, C, E. Distribution in the CRB area. B, D, F. Pan-African distribution.