Lissonycteris angolensis (Bocage, 1898)

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Pteropodidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 16-162 : 91-92

52.

Angolan Soft-furred Fruit Bat

Lissonycteris angolensis

French: Lissonyctere dAngola / German: Angola-Samtfellflughund / Spanish: Lisonicterio de Angola

Other common names: Angolan Fruit Bat, Angolan Rousette

Taxonomy. Cynonycteris angolensis Bocage, 1898 ,

Pungo Andongo, north of Cuanza River, Cahata, Quibula, Angola.

Taxonomy of L. angolensis has been problematic. It was formerly included in Rousettus , subgenus Lissonycteris . Based on morphological and behavioral characteristics and molecular phylogenetic analyses, Lissonycteris belongs in the tribe Myonycterini ; in fact, it might be congeneric with Myonycteris . Here, the single species L. angolensis is recognized pending further studies, but some authors have raised subspecies goliath and ruwenzorii to distinct species. Five subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

L.a.angolensisBocage,1898—fromBeninStoWAngola(Wof22°E);alsoBiokoI.

L.a.goliathBergmans,1997—EZimbabweandCMozambique(Eof30°EandSof16°8).

L.a.petraeaBergmans,1997—EthiopianHighlands(Eof34°EandNof6°N).

L.a.ruwenzoriiEisentraut,1965—SouthSudan,DRCongo,Uganda,Rwanda,Burundi,Kenya,Tanzania,NZambia,andNMalawi(Eof22°Eandbetween6°Nand12°S).

L. a. smithii Thomas, 1908 — W Africa, from Senegal and Gambia to Togo (W of 2° E).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 90-140 mm, tail 6-21 mm, ear 15-25 mm, hindfoot 16-25 mm, forearm 68-90 mm; weight 60-87 g. The Angolan Soft-furred Fruit Bat has relatively short muzzle; expansible lips and cheeks; large and brown eyes; and dark brown naked ears, with rounded tips and distinct antitragus. Adult males lack epaulettes; dorsum is generally dark rusty brown to dark golden brown or grayish brown in both sexes (some individuals are darker on head and hindlegs). Pelage is long, soft, dense, mid-dorsally 10 mm on average, and combined with longer hairs, extending along forearm dorsally and ventrally and on uropatagium and hindlegs onto ankles; hairs have pale brown bases and dark brown tips. Venter is slightly paler and grayer than dorsum; throat has ruff of coarse hairs in males extending to upper pectoral area and ending in a curl on each shoulder; in females, this area is less extensive (not reaching shoulders or pectoral area) and covered with sparser and longer hairs; ruff on males becomes sticky during certain periods of the year, possibly due to glandular secretions that are linked to sexual behavior, although thisstill needs to be confirmed because no glands are found in area covered by ruff. Toes are inconspicuously webbed. Wings have claw on second digits, membranes are dark brown (darker wing margins in some individuals), sparsely covered in hairs and attach to back of second toes; uropatagium is V-shaped; and calcaris short. Rostrum is medium in length; braincase is slightly deflected downward; premaxillae are fused; zygomatic arches are moderate; and there are seven thick palatal ridges, of which five are interdental, and ridges 1-3 are not divided. Dental formula is 12/2, C1/1,P 3/3, M 2/3 (x2) = 34. Upper cheekteeth, especially P* and M', are squarish in occlusal view, and P, small or minute. Supernumerary teeth can be present. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 36 and FNa = 66, with twelve pairs of large to small metacentric and submetacentric, four pairs of medium-sized subtelocentric, and one pair of small acrocentric autosomes. X-chromosome is submetacentric, and Y-chromosomeis acrocentric. In other samples, no subtelocentric autosomes were observed, but there were 16 pairs of meta- and submetacentric autosomes.

Habitat. Rainforest, Rainforest Savanna mosaics, Afromontane-Afroalpine, Guinea Savanna, and Zambezian Woodland biotic zones from sea level up to elevations of 2667 m (some reports up to 4000 m). In forest zones, Angolan Soft-furred Fruit Bats are generally found near edges and missing in more central areas. In savanna and woodland zones,it is largely found in relict or riverine forests or nearby wetter areas.

Food and Feeding. The Angolan Soft-furred Fruit Bat forages below the canopy, where it directly lands on soft fruits that are eaten on the spot or carried to a nearby branch; juice is swallowed, and seeds and dry pulp are discarded. Fruit is carried in the mouth and manipulated with hindfeet only. Diet includes fruits of Ficus, Chlorophora , and Milicia (Moraceae) ; Anthocleista (Gentianaceae) ; Solanum (Solanaceae) ; Adenia (Passifloraceae) ; Mangifera indica (Anacardiaceae) ; Psidium guajava and Syzygiumjambos ( Myrtaceae ); and Maesopsis eminii ( Rhamnaceae ).

Breeding. Litter size of the Angolan Soft-furred Fruit Bat is one. Reproductive chronology is uncertain, although polyestry seems highly probable in various localities. In Liberia, females were pregnant in July, and births occurred in September. In Nigeria, pregnant females and one lactating female were found in July. On Bioko Island, females were pregnant in February-March and October-November. In southern Republic of the Congo, near-parturient females were found in May-September and November, and lactating females in January-February and June. Gestation lasts c.4 months. Adult males generally move away from roosts occupied by pregnant and lactating females and only return after lactation ends.

Activity patterns. Angolan Soft-furred Fruit Bats are presumably nocturnal. They are frequently found roosting at cave entrances, old mine adits, and hollow trees and are also found in dense vegetation and under palm leaves.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Angolan Soft-furred Fruit Bats frequently roost in groups of 2-50 individuals, occasionally up to 100, and sometimes only singly.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Angolan Soft-furred Fruit Bat has a wide distribution and presumably large population. It has not declined fast enough to warrant a higher conservation category. No major threats are known, but loss of habitat and overharvesting for food can be important In some areas.

Bibliography. Bergmans (1997), Bergmans, Hutson, Mickleburgh & Monadjem (2017), Denys et al. (2013), Haiduk et al. (1980), Happold, M. (2013k), Koopman (1975), Lanza et al. (2008), Mainoya & Howell (1979), Monadjem, Taylor et al. (2010), Nesi et al. (2013), Peterson et al. (1995), Schutt & Simmons (1998), Seltzer et al. (2013), Van Cakenberghe et al. (2017).

Figures

50. Western Woermann’s Fruit Bat (Megaloglossus azagnyi), 51. Eastern Woermann’s Fruit Bat (Megaloglossus woermanni), 52. Angolan Soft-furred Fruit Bat (Lissonycteris angolensis), 53. Little Collared Fruit Bat (Myonycteris torquata), 54. Sao Tome Collared Fruit Bat (Myonycteris brachycephala), 55. Sierra Leone Collared Fruit Bat (Myonycteris leptodon), 56. Bergmans’s Collared Fruit Bat (Myonycteris relicta), 57. Broad-faced Fruit Bat (Plerotes anchietae), 58. Hammer-headed Fruit Bat (Hypsignathus monstrosus), 59. Franquet’s Epauletted Fruit Bat (Epomops franqueti), 60. Buttikofer’s Epauletted Fruit Bat (Epomops buettikoferi), 61. Veldkamp’s Epauletted Fruit Bat (Nanonycteris veldkampr), 62. Gambian Epauletted Fruit Bat (Epomophorus gambianus), 63. Peters’s Epauletted Fruit Bat (Epomophorus erypturus), 64. Angolan Epauletted Fruit Bat (Epomophorus angolensis), 65. Little Epauletted Fruit Bat (Epomophorus labiatus), 66. Minor Epauletted Fruit Bat (Epomophorus minor), 67. Ansell’s Epauletted Fruit Bat (Epomophorus anselli), 68. Wahlberg's Epauletted Fruit Bat (Epomophorus wahlbergi), 69. Dobson’s Epauletted Fruit Bat (Epomophorus dobsonu), 70. Sanborn’s Epauletted Fruit Bat (Epomophorus grands), 71. Lesser Epauletted Fruit Bat (Epomophorus pusillus), 72. Hayman’s Epauletted Fruit Bat (Epomophorus intermedius)

Subspecies and Distribution. L.a.angolensisBocage,1898—fromBeninStoWAngola(Wof22°E);alsoBiokoI. L.a.goliathBergmans,1997—EZimbabweandCMozambique(Eof30°EandSof16°8). L.a.petraeaBergmans,1997—EthiopianHighlands(Eof34°EandNof6°N). L.a.ruwenzoriiEisentraut,1965—SouthSudan,DRCongo,Uganda,Rwanda,Burundi,Kenya,Tanzania,NZambia,andNMalawi(Eof22°Eandbetween6°Nand12°S). L. a. smithii Thomas, 1908 — W Africa, from Senegal and Gambia to Togo (W of 2° E).