Nycteris hispida (Schreber, 1775)

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Nycteridae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 374-386 : 385

9.

Hairy Slitfaced Bat

Nycteris hispida

French: Nyctere hérissé / German: Gemeine Schlitznase / erizado

Other common names: Hairy Long-eared Bat

Taxonomy. Vespertilio hispidus Schreber, 1774 ,

Senegal.

Nycteris hispida belongs to the hispida group. It was previously conspecific with N. aurita . Monotypic.

Distribution. Widely distributed in tropical Africa from Mauritania and Senegal in NW to Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia in NE, S to Angola, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique, with an apparently isolated population in E South Africa.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 40-50 mm, tail 41-56 mm, ear 19-24 mm, hindfoot 9-10 mm, forearm 34-44 mm; weight 6-12 g. The Hairy Slit-faced Batis small, with short rounded wings. Longitudinal cleft runs along top of muzzle, covering noseleaves. Fur is long and flufty, reddish brown to grayish brown dorsally, and slightly lighter ventrally. Ears are long but relatively short fora slit-faced bat. Wing membranes are dark brown and free of hairs. There are no obvious sexual differences in pelage. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 42 and FNa = 78 in Somalia. Echolocation call is multiharmonic and involves a steep FM sweep with peak frequencies at 40 kHz, 60 kHz, and 80 kz.

Habitat. Variety of tropical savanna and forest habitats including miombo woodland with Isoberlinia and Brachystegia (both Fabaceae ), lowland rainforest, forest-savanna mosaic, and agroecosystems such as banana plantations. The Hairy Slit-faced Bat appears to avoid higher elevations and semiarid environments.

Food and Feeding. The Hairy Slitfaced Bat eats various insects including moths.

Breeding. Births of Hairy Slitfaced Bats have been recorded at two times of the year in north-eastern DR Congo (April and September), suggesting seasonal bimodal polyestry. Litter size is one, and young grow to adult size in less than two months.

Activity patterns. The Hairy Slitfaced Bat roosts during the day in sheltered structures including hollow trees, caves, road culverts, and papyrus swamps. It leaves day roosts at dusk and typically foraging close to the ground or over water.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Hairy Slit-faced Bat roosts singly or in small groups of 2-6 individuals, often including a male and female.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List.

Bibliography. Archer (1977), Cockle et al. (1998), Griffiths (1994, 1997), Happold, M. (2013af), Monadjem, Richards & Denys (2016), Monadjem, Schoeman et al. (2010), Monadjem, Taylor et al. (2010), Rosevear (1965), Thomas et al. (1994), Van Cakenberghe & De Vree (1993a), Verschuren (1957).

Figures

1. Bates’s Slit-faced Bat (Nycteris arge), 2. Intermediate Slitfaced Bat (Nycteris intermedia), 3. Dwarf Slit-faced Bat (Nycteris nana), 4. Dja Slitfaced Bat (Nycteris major), 5. Malayan Slit-faced Bat (Nycteris tragata), 6. Javan Slit-faced Bat (Nycteris javanica), 7. Andersen’s Slit-faced Bat (Nycteris aurita), 8. Large Slitfaced Bat (Nycteris grandis), 9. Hairy Slitfaced Bat (Nycteris hispida), 10. Large-eared Slit-faced Bat (Nycteris macrotis), 11. Madagascar Slitfaced Bat (Nycteris madagascariensis), 12. Parisi’s Slitfaced Bat (Nycteris parisii), 13. Wood's Shitfaced Bat (Nycteris wood), 14. Gambian Slitfaced Bat (Nycteris gambiensis), 15. Egyptian Slitfaced Bat (Nycteris thebaica)

Distribution. Widely distributed in tropical Africa from Mauritania and Senegal in NW to Ethiopia , Kenya , and Somalia in NE, S to Angola , Botswana , Zimbabwe , and Mozambique , with an apparently isolated population in E South Africa .