Buettikofer's epauletted fruit bat

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Buettikofer's epauletted fruit bat
Naturalis Biodiversity Center - ZMA.MAM.10866.b ven - Epomops buettikoferi - skin.jpeg
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Chiroptera
Family: Pteropodidae
Genus: Epomops
Species:
E. buettikoferi
Binomial name
Epomops buettikoferi
(Matschie, 1899)
Buettikofer's Epauletted Fruit Bat area.png
Buettikofer's epauletted fruit bat range
Synonyms
  • Epomophorus büttikoferi Matschie, 1899

Buettikofer's epauletted fruit bat (Epomops buettikoferi) is a species of megabat in the family Pteropodidae. It is found in Ivory Coast, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, and Sierra Leone. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, dry savanna, and moist savanna. It is threatened by habitat loss. [1]

Contents

Taxonomy and etymology

It was described as a new species in 1899 by German zoologist Paul Matschie. Matschie placed it in the genus Epomophorus, naming it Epomophorus büttikoferi. The holotype was found in Schlieffelinsville, Liberia, along the Junk River. Matschie named the new species after Dr. Johann Büttikofer, who had conducted several scientific expeditions to Liberia. [2] In 1965, Kuhn published that it was a subspecies of the Franquet's epauletted fruit bat (Epomops franqueti). This was refuted in 1975 by Bergmans, who reported that the Buettikofer's epauletted fruit bat differs significantly from Franquet's epauletted fruit bat in its morphology, warranting that they remain separate species. [3] This conclusion may be challenged again, however, as a 2016 study found that Franquet's epauletted fruit bat and Buettikofer's epauletted fruit bat were indistinguishable on the basis of mitochondrial DNA. The small genetic distance between the two taxa led the authors of the 2016 paper to assert that Epomops is monotypic, consisting of only Franquet's epauletted fruit bat, which is further divided into subspecies E. franqueti franqueti in Central Africa and E. franqueti buettikoferi in West Africa. [4]

Description

Males of this species weigh 164–198 g (0.362–0.437 lb), while females weigh 85–132 g (0.187–0.291 lb). While it is similar in appearance to Franquet's epauletted fruit bat, Buettikofer's epauletted fruit bat can be differentiated by its greater forearm, greater skull length, and longer first molar. Males have a forearm length greater than 91 mm (3.6 in) while females have a forearm length usually exceeding 86 mm (3.4 in). Greatest skull length in males is greater than 51 mm (2.0 in), while greatest skull length in females is greater than 45.8 mm (1.80 in). [3]

Biology

Free-ranging Buettikofer's epaulatted fruit bats feed almost exclusively on fruit. The fruits of the Cape fig and Ficus vallischoudae comprised almost 50% of the diet of a population in Ivory Coast. [5] Little is known about the reproduction of this species. It is possible that there are two breeding seasons per year, as pregnant females have been encountered in January and July. Juvenile individuals have been found in March and August. [3] This hypothesis was supported by research on a population in Liberia, which had two breeding seasons per year. Births occurred in February–March and August–September, coinciding with the biannual wet seasons. [6]

Range and habitat

The Buettikofer's epaulatted fruit bat overlaps with Franquet's epauletted fruit bat in the western part of its range. [3] In its range to the west of Ghana, it is one of the most common species of its family encountered. While usually found in low-lying areas, it has been documented at elevations up to 1,200 m (3,900 ft) above sea level on Mount Nimba. [1]

Conservation

Buettikofer's epauletted fruit bat has been evaluated by the IUCN since 1994. From 1994–2004 it was listed as vulnerable; from 2004–present it has been least concern. It meets the criteria for this designation because its population is probably large and not in rapid decline, it tolerates some habitat degradation, and its range includes protected habitat. While some of its habitat is within protected areas, it can thrive in areas that lack legal protection. It is hunted for bushmeat, though it is unclear what impact this has on its population numbers. [1]

Related Research Articles

Megabat Family of relatively large flying mammals (fruit bats)

Megabats constitute the family Pteropodidae of the order Chiroptera (bats). They are also called fruit bats, Old World fruit bats, or—especially the genera Acerodon and Pteropus—flying foxes. They are the only member of the superfamily Pteropodoidea, which is one of two superfamilies in the suborder Yinpterochiroptera. Internal divisions of Pteropodidae have varied since subfamilies were first proposed in 1917. From three subfamilies in the 1917 classification, six are now recognized, along with various tribes. As of 2018, 197 species of megabat had been described.

Hammer-headed bat A megabat widely distributed in West and Central Africa

The hammer-headed bat, also known as hammer-headed fruit bat and big-lipped bat, is a megabat widely distributed in West and Central Africa. It is the only member of the genus Hypsignathus, which is part of the tribe Epomophorini along with four other genera. It is the largest bat in continental Africa, with wingspans approaching 1 m, or about 3 ft, and males almost twice as heavy as females. Males and females also greatly differ in appearance, making it the most sexually dimorphic bat species in the world. These differences include several adaptations that help males produce and amplify vocalizations: the males' larynges are about three times as large as those of females, and they have large resonating chambers on their faces. Females appear more like a typical megabat, with foxlike faces.

Angolan epauletted fruit bat Species of bat

The Angolan epauletted fruit bat is a species of megabat in the family Pteropodidae. It is found in Angola and Namibia. Its natural habitats are dry savanna and moist savanna. It is threatened by habitat loss.

<i>Epomophorus</i> Genus of bats

Epomophorus is a genus of bat in the family Pteropodidae. They have a distribution throughout Africa.

Peterss epauletted fruit bat Species of bat

The Peters's epauletted fruit bat is a species of megabat in the family Pteropodidae. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Its natural habitat is in riverine or evergreen forest, or moist woodland, where there are fruit-bearing trees.

Gambian epauletted fruit bat Species of bat

The Gambian epauletted fruit bat is a species of megabat in the family Pteropodidae.

Lesser Angolan epauletted fruit bat Species of bat

The lesser Angolan epauletted fruit bat is a species of megabat in the family Pteropodidae. It is found in Angola and Republic of the Congo. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forest, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, dry savanna, and moist savanna. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Ethiopian epauletted fruit bat Species of bat

The Ethiopian epauletted fruit bat is a species of megabat in the family Pteropodidae. It is found in Burundi, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. Its natural habitats are dry savanna and moist savanna. It is threatened by habitat destruction.

East African epauletted fruit bat Species of bat

The East African epauletted fruit bat is a species of megabat in the family Pteropodidae. It is found in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Tanzania, and Uganda. Its natural habitats are dry savanna and rocky areas. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Wahlbergs epauletted fruit bat Species of bat

Wahlberg's epauletted fruit bat is a species of megabat in the family Pteropodidae. It is commonly found across southern Africa.

<i>Epomops</i> Genus of bats

Epomops is a genus of bat in the family Pteropodidae. It contains the following species:

Dobsons epauletted fruit bat Species of bat

Dobson's epauletted fruit bat, or Dobson's fruit bat is a species of megabat in the family Pteropodidae. It is found in Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Zambia. Its natural habitat is dry savanna.

Franquets epauletted fruit bat Species of bat

Franquet's epauletted fruit bat is a species of megabat in the family Pteropodidae, and is one of three different species of epauletted bats. Franquet's epauletted fruit bat has a range of habitats, varying from sub-saharan forest to equatorial tropics.

Peterss dwarf epauletted fruit bat Species of bat

Peters's dwarf epauletted fruit bat is a species of megabat in the family Pteropodidae. It is found in Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, and Zambia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and moist savanna.

Ansells epauletted fruit bat Species of bat

Ansell's epauletted fruit bat is a species of megabat in the family Pteropodidae.

Hepatocystis is a genus of parasites transmitted by midges of the genus Culicoides. Hosts include Old World primates, bats, hippopotamus and squirrels. This genus is not found in the New World. The genus was erected by Levaditi and Schoen, 1932, as Hepatocystes.

Hepatocystis brosseti is a species of parasitic protozoa that infect mammals. They are transmitted by flies of the genus Culicoides

Epomophorinae Subfamily of bats

Epomophorinae is a subfamily of megabat. It was established as a subfamily in 1997. Epomophorine bats are found only in Africa.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Monadjem, A. (2016). "Epomops buettikoferi". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T7907A22116763. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T7907A22116763.en.
  2. ↑ Matschie, P. (1899). Die Fledermäuse des Berliner Museums für Naturkunde. 1. Lieferung. Die Megachiroptera des Berliner Museums für Naturkunde. Museum für Naturkunde in Berlin. pp. 45–46.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Bergmans, W. (1975). "On the differences between sympatric Epomops franqueti (Tomes, 1860) and Epomops buettikoferi (Matschie, 1899), with additional notes on the latter species (Mammalia, Megachiroptera)". Beaufortia. 23 (304): 141–152.
  4. ↑ Hassanin, A.; Nesi, N.; Marin, J.; Kadjo, B.; Pourrut, X.; Leroy, É.; Ruedi, M. (2016). "Comparative phylogeography of African fruit bats (Chiroptera, Pteropodidae) provide new insights into the outbreak of Ebola virus disease in West Africa, 2014–2016". Comptes Rendus Biologies. 339 (11): 517–528. doi: 10.1016/j.crvi.2016.09.005 . PMID   27746072.
  5. ↑ Thomas, D. W. (1984). "Fruit intake and energy budgets of frugivorous bats". Physiological Zoology. 57 (4): 457–467. doi:10.1086/physzool.57.4.30163347.
  6. ↑ Kofron, C. P.; Chapman, A. (1994). "Reproduction and sexual dimorphism of the West African fruit bat, Epomops buettikoferi, in Liberia". African Journal of Ecology. 32 (4): 308–316. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2028.1994.tb00581.x.
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