Nycteris grandis, Peters, 1865

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Nycteridae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 374-386 : 384

8.

Large Slitfaced Bat

Nycteris grandis

French: Grand Nyctere / German: GrofRe Schlitznase / Spanish: Nicterio grande

Taxonomy. Nycteris grandis Peters, 1865 ,

“ Guinea.”

Nycteris grandis belongs to the hispida group. Taxonomic relationships between forestand savanna-dwelling populations need investigation. Monotypic.

Distribution. Widely distributed in tropical forest belt of Africa extending from Senegal in W to E DR Congo in the FE; there is a separate population restricted to coastal Kenya, Tanzania (including Pemba and Unguja Is in Zanzibar Archipelago), and NE Mozambique, with scattered records from Zambia, S Malawi, N Zimbabwe, and WC Mozambique.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 70-90 mm, tail 60-84 mm, ear 24-35 mm, hindfoot 14-17 mm, forearm 52-65 mm; weight 21-43 g. The Large Slit-faced Bat is mediumsized, with short rounded wings. Longitudinal cleft runs along top of muzzle, covering noseleaves. Fur is long and fluffy, dark reddish brown to dark brown (in forest) or grayish brown (in savanna) dorsally, and slightly lighter ventrally. Ears are very long but relatively short for a slitfaced bat. Wing membranes are dark brown and free of hairs except along margins of forelimbs. There are no obvious sexual differences in pelage.

Habitat. Variety of tropical lowland rainforest habitats including swamp, secondary, and riparian forests. In East Africa, the Large Slit-faced Bat is restricted to coastal forests, and in southern Africa, it occurs in riverine forests in woodlands.

Food and Feeding. The Large Slit-faced Bat is the only carnivorous bat in Africa, feeding on various vertebrates including small mammals (other species of bats) and birds but mainly frogs and fishes (Ptychadena and Tilapia). It also preys on various invertebrates, particularly katydids and crickets. During one study, each bat consumed on average of two frogs per night.

Breeding. Pregnant and lactating Large Slit-faced Bats have been captured at various times of the year in West and Central Africa, but it is not known if breeding is seasonal. In southern Africa, it would appear that young are born during the wet season. Litter size 1s one.

Activity patterns. The Large Slit-faced Bat roosts during the day in sheltered structures including hollow trees, caves, and road culverts. It leaves day roost after sunset. In woodland habitat, it appears to have two distinct foraging strategies: perch-hunting and gleaning prey in flight. It regularly returns to the same dayroost.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Social organization of the Large Slit-faced Bat appears to differ in forests and woodlands; in forests,it typically roosts singly or in pairs, but in woodlands, it can occur in groups of up to several individuals. Individuals forage more than 2 km from roosting sites. Echolocation call is multiharmonic and involves a steep FM sweep.

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

Bibliography. Ansell (1986), Brosset (1966b), Cockle et al. (1998), Fenton, Cumming et al. (1987), Fenton, Gaudet & Leonard (1983), Fenton, Rautenbach et al. (1993), Fenton, Swanepoel et al. (1990), Fenton, Thomas & Sasseen (1981), Griffiths (1994, 1997), Happold, M. (2013ae), Hickey & Dunlop (2000), Kingdon (1974), Monadjem, Richards & Denys (2016), Monadjem, Schoeman et al. (2010), Monadjem, Taylor et al. (2010), Rosevear (1965), Smithers & Wilson (1979), Thomas et al. (1994), Van Cakenberghe & De Vree (1993a), Wolton et al. (1982).

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 forest belt of Africa extending from Senegal in W to E DR Congo in the FE; there is a separate population restricted to coastal Kenya , Tanzania (including Pemba and Unguja Is in Zanzibar Archipelago), and NE Mozambique , with scattered records from Zambia , S Malawi , N Zimbabwe , and WC Mozambique .