Epomophorus minor, Dobson, 1880

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Pteropodidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 16-162 : 98-99

66.

Minor Epauletted Fruit Bat

Epomophorus minor

French: Epomophore nain / German: Kleiner Epaulettenflughund / Spanish: Epomdéforo enano

Other common names: Least Epauletted Fruit Bat (minimus)

Taxonomy. Epomophorus minor Dobson, 1880 ,

“ Zanzibar,” Tanzania .

Epomophorus minor is in the gambianus species group. Systematics of small-sized Epomophorus remains unclear. Two alternative hypotheses exist. In one by GC.|. Claessen and F. De Vree in 1991, E. labiatus varies widely with clinal geographical morphometric trends; this name covers all E. labiatus specimens and larger individuals of E. minor , which is then synonymized under E. labiatus , whereas smallest specimens are allocated to newly described E. minimus . In the alternative hypothesis by W. Bergmans in 1988, larger E. labiatus and smaller E. minor are both valid species that overlap slightly in measurements; nevertheless, they can be readily distinguished from each other where they overlap geographically (e.g. Malawi); E. minimus is then a junior synonym of E. minor . Here, the second hypothesis is provisionally adopted, pending further investigation that should include thorough genetic sampling across all of East Africa. Monotypic.

Distribution. From Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, and Somalia, S to SE DR Congo, Tanzania (including Unguja I in Zanzibar Archipelago), and Malawi.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 96-115 mm (tailless), ear 16-20 mm, hindfoot 14- 15 mm, forearm 54-67 mm (males) and 57-66 mm (females); weight 45-55 g. Males average larger than females, with broader muzzle and folded upperlip. Eyes are large; irises are brown. Ears are relatively short, rounded, naked, and brown, with dark rims and anterior and posterior light ear patches. Adult males have white epaulettes. Dorsum is light sandy brown; venter is slightly lighter than dorsum. Wings have claw on second digits, and membranes are light brown and sparsely covered in hair, attaching to second toes. Skull is small for a fruit bat and relatively delicate; condylo-basal length is typically less than 42 mm in males and less than 38 mm in females; rostrum is relatively short and, in profile, flat along with interorbital region; parietal region is rounded and deflected downward; zygomatic width is relatively large, with weak arches; sagittal crest is absent; nuchal crest is weak; and post-dental palate is comparatively flat. There are six thick palatal ridges, of which two are post-dental; fourth is midway between third and fifth in smaller specimens; and fifth ridge can be partially interdental.

Habitat. Woodlands (including miombo woodland), savannas, Somalia-Masai Acacia (Fabaceae) and Commiphora (Burseraceae) deciduous bushland, and arid or semidesert grasslands (and mosaics of these) from sea level up to elevations of 1950 m (preferring lower elevations).

Food and Feeding. The Minor Epauletted Fruit Bat is presumably frugivorous eating soft fruits and nectarivorous.

Breeding. In Malawi, young Minor Epauletted Fruit Bats were reported in January— April and from late October to November, pregnant females in August, lactating females in April, and females with large nipples in February—April and August-December. Males with developing and large testes were recorded in December—January and May. These data suggest bimodal polyestry.

Activity patterns. The Minor Epauletted Fruit Bat is nocturnal. It roosts hanging from palms, branches of mango trees, and banana leaves. It also uses unused human huts.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Minor Epauletted Fruit Bat roosts alone or in small groups. Males and females might roost separately.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The [UCN Red List. The “Least Epauletted Fruit Bat” ( E. minimus ) is considered a conspecific here and is also classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Minor Epauletted Fruit Bat has a wide distribution and large population. It probably is not declining fast enough to be assigned to a higher category. It faces no major threats, but overharvesting for food might threaten some populations.

Bibliography. Allen & Loveridge (1933), Bergmans (1988, 1997), Bergmans & van Strien (2004), Claessen & De Vree (1991), Happold, M. (2013f), Koopman (1975), Monadjem, Taylor et al. (2010), Taylor (2016c¢).

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)

Distribution. From Sudan , South Sudan , Ethiopia , and Somalia , S to SE DR Congo , Tanzania (including Unguja I in Zanzibar Archipelago), and Malawi .