Mops congicus, J. A. Allen, 1917

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Molossidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 598-672 : 654

81.

Congo Free-tailed Bat

Mops congicus

French: Tadaride de Medje / German: Kongo-Bulldogfledermaus / Spanish: Mops del Congo

Other common names: Medje Free-tailed Bat, Medje Greater Free-tailed Bat, Medje Mops Bat

Taxonomy. Mops congicusJ. A. Allen, 1917 ,

“Medje, Belgian Congo [= DR Congo].”

Mops congicus previously included M. trevori as a subspecies. Monotypic.

Distribution. Patchily in C Africa from S Cameroon E into N DR Congo and W Uganda.

Descriptive notes. Head-body c.91-94 mm, tail 39-58 mm, ear 21-28 mm, hindfoot 13-17 mm, forearm 54-58 mm; weight 42-64 g. Fur is short, quite sparse becoming absent on rump and flanks, brown to almost black above, with isolated, pale hairs; variable below, with a strong wash of gray, brown or rusty, resulting in a mottled appearance, with no contrasting mid-ventral markings or flank-stripe. Upper lip has 7-8 well-defined wrinkles on each side and many spoon-hairs. Ears are blackish, thick, and leathery, not reaching snout when laid forward. There is a pronounced and well-defined dark patch behind and below the ear, more developed than in Trevor's Free-tailed Bat ( M. trevori ). Inner margins of ears are joined across forehead by a thick interaural band with strong cartilaginous pocket-like support; it is unknown whether or not this contains an interaural crest. Tragus is minute, and concealed by antitragus, which is large and rounded dorsally, with a rather straight anterior edge. Wings are blackish brown. Anterior palate is closed and basisphenoid pits are deep and well developed. As is typical for Mops , cusps on M? are V-shaped rather than N-shaped—i.e. with third ridge being much reduced.

Habitat. Lowland rainforest, coastal forest, and rainforest-savanna mosaic vegetation.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. Pregnant females have been recorded in September in north-eastern DR Congo and in March in western Uganda. Where noted, pregnant females had a single embryo.

Activity patterns. Congo Free-tailed Bats are nocturnal and, based on the finding of the type series, roost in hollow trees.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Based on the type series, Congo Free-tailed Bats roost communally.

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

Bibliography. ACR (2017), Kingdon (1974), Lang & Chapin (1917b), Monadjem, Fahr, Hutson et al. (2017¢), Peterson (1972).

Figures

14. Bonda Mastiff Bat (Molossus currentium), 15. Fenton’s Masuft Bat (Molossus fentoni), 17. Pallas’s Mastiff Bat (Molossus molossus), 18. Miller’s Mastiff Bat (Molossus pretiosus), 19. Black Mastiff Bat (Molossus rufus)

Distribution. Patchily in C Africa from S Cameroon E into N DR Congo and W Uganda .