Maclaud's horseshoe bat

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Maclaud's horseshoe bat
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Chiroptera
Family: Rhinolophidae
Genus: Rhinolophus
Species:
R. maclaudi
Binomial name
Rhinolophus maclaudi
Pousargues, 1897
Maclaud's Horseshoe Bat area.png
Maclaud's horseshoe bat range

Maclaud's horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus maclaudi) is a species of bat in the family Rhinolophidae. It is endemic to Guinea. Its natural habitats are moist savanna, caves and other subterranean habitats. It is one of five African microbat species to be listed as endangered by the IUCN. [2] In 2013, Bat Conservation International listed this species as one of the 35 species of its worldwide priority list of conservation. [3] It is threatened by habitat loss.

Contents

Description

They are a light chestnut in color. [4] This species has a noseleaf characterized by a forward-slanting sella that has heart-shaped, basal lobes that almost obscure the nostrils. [5] There is a deep indentation between the sella and the lancet. [5] The skulls of this species are slender in appearance, but with heavy snouts. [5] The space between the pterygoid bones of the skull is unusually deep and barrel-like. [5] Their forearms are 64–69 mm (2.5–2.7 in) long. [2] Their ears are 40–46 mm (1.6–1.8 in) long, with 10-12 internal folds. [2] Their leafnoses are 15–16 mm (0.59–0.63 in) wide. [2] Males and females are non-dimorphic in body mass, with adult individuals weighing 30–33 g (1.1–1.2 oz). [5]

History

Until 2007, this species was known from only nine specimens collected from four locations. [5] The holotype was collected in 1896, with the remaining eight specimens collected between 1954 and 1968. [5] The species was photographed for the first time in 2007, and had not been sighted the previous 40 years. [6] Altogether in 2007, 16 individuals were discovered in several caves in the Guinea Highlands. [6]

Range and habitat

This species has only been found in Guinea, within a 360 km2 (139 sq mi) range. [5] Most of the specimens detected so far have been in the Guinean forest-savanna mosaic ecoregion, but the holotype was collected on Conakry Island, which is in the coastal plains ecoregion. [5] The 16 bats discovered in 2007 showed that their range might be larger than previously thought, but still endemic to Guinea. [6] Recently, detections have been concentrated in the Fouta Djallon Plateau. [7] These detections represent a 215 km (134 mi) expansion to the north of previous distribution maps. [7]

Behavior

These bats use caves for roosts during the day, although at least one individual was found inside a house. [8] They roost singly or form small colonies, consisting of up to six individuals. [5] They are found in caves also occupied by Angolan rousette bats, Large-eared slit-faced bats, Guinean horseshoe bats, Rüppell's horseshoe bats, Dent's horseshoe bat, Jones's roundleaf bats, and Noack's roundleaf bats. [5]

R. maclaudi group

As the genus Rhinolophus is quite speciose, it is split into groups. Maclaud's horseshoe bat is the identifier of one of these groups, called the maclaudi group, which currently consists of six species, three of which were not described before 2003. [9] Members of this group have large ears, and a diminished connection between the sella and lancet. [9]

R. maclaudi and R. ziama are considered the two West African taxa, while the other four species are found further east around the Albertine Rift. [9] The West African species are larger in size than the East African species, with R. maclaudi as the largest bat of the species group. [5] As these species are very similar morphologically, it was previously thought that R. hilli and R. ruwenzorii were the same taxon, and that the taxon was a subspecies of the Maclaud's horseshoe bat. [10]

Conservation

Maclaud's horseshoe bat is threatened by bushmeat consumption. The species is regularly eaten, at serious threat to its survival. [11] While the Maclaud's horseshoe bat's meat is not exported from the country, there is likely trade within Guinea of its meat. [11] Cave-dwelling bats are hunted approximately twice a year for "special occasions," and the caves of Maclaud's horseshoe bats are increasingly exploited. [5] [11] Guineans were banned from eating bat meat in 2014 over concerns of spreading Ebola. [12] Many West African countries eased restrictions on bushmeat in 2016, as the World Health Organization declared that Ebola is no longer an international health emergency. However, Guinea has yet to lift the ban. [13] The Fouta Djallon Plateau, where the bats were most recently encountered, likely has a low level of bushmeat exploitation, based on interviews with local people. [7] Bats in the genus Rhinolophus are considered particularly susceptible to disturbance, so threats likely include habitat degradation via logging and mining. [14] [1] In 2014, Bat Conservation International was awarded a grant from the Disney Conservation Fund for a proposal to protect their roosts and educate people of Guinea about the threats facing the species. [15]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Horseshoe bat</span> Family of mammals

Horseshoe bats are bats in the family Rhinolophidae. In addition to the single living genus, Rhinolophus, which has about 106 species, the extinct genus Palaeonycteris has been recognized. Horseshoe bats are closely related to the Old World leaf-nosed bats, family Hipposideridae, which have sometimes been included in Rhinolophidae. The horseshoe bats are divided into six subgenera and many species groups. The most recent common ancestor of all horseshoe bats lived 34–40 million years ago, though it is unclear where the geographic roots of the family are, and attempts to determine its biogeography have been indecisive. Their taxonomy is complex, as genetic evidence shows the likely existence of many cryptic species, as well as species recognized as distinct that may have little genetic divergence from previously recognized taxa. They are found in the Old World, mostly in tropical or subtropical areas, including Africa, Asia, Europe, and Oceania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greater horseshoe bat</span> Species of bat

The greater horseshoe bat is an insectivorous bat of the genus Rhinolophus. Its distribution covers Europe, Northern Africa, Central Asia and Eastern Asia. It is the largest of the horseshoe bats in Europe and is thus easily distinguished from other species. The species is sedentary, typically travelling up to 30 kilometres (19 mi) between the winter and summer roosts, with the longest recorded movement being 180 km (110 mi). The frequencies used by this bat species for echolocation lie between 69–83 kHz, have most energy at 81 kHz and have an average duration of 37.4 ms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jones's roundleaf bat</span> Species of bat

Jones's roundleaf bat is a species of bat in the family Hipposideridae. It is endemic to southern West Africa. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forest, savanna, subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland, rocky areas, and caves and other subterranean habitats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Acuminate horseshoe bat</span> Species of bat

The acuminate horseshoe bat is a species of bat in the family Rhinolophidae. It is found in Southeast Asia. It lives in forests and urban areas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geoffroy's horseshoe bat</span> Species of bat

Geoffroy's horseshoe bat is a species of bat in the family Rhinolophidae found in Africa. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation, caves and other subterranean habitats, and hot deserts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andaman horseshoe bat</span> Species of bat

The Andaman horseshoe bat is a species of bat in the family Rhinolophidae. It is endemic to the Andaman Islands. During the day, it roosts in caves, but may also choose tree hollows.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Convex horseshoe bat</span> Species of bat

The convex horseshoe bat is a species of bat in the family Rhinolophidae. It is found in Malaysia and Laos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dent's horseshoe bat</span> Species of bat

Dent's horseshoe bat is a species of bat in the family Rhinolophidae. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. The bat's natural habitats are dry savannah country and it roosts in caves and other subterranean habitats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mediterranean horseshoe bat</span> Species of bat

The Mediterranean horseshoe bat is a species of insectivorous bat in the family Rhinolophidae. It is found in the Mediterranean region and Balkan peninsula, as well as parts of Italy.

<i>Rhinolophus hilli</i> Species of bat

Rhinolophus hilli, Hill's horseshoe bat, is a species of bat in the family Rhinolophidae. It is endemic to Rwanda. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, caves, and subterranean habitats. In 2013, Bat Conservation International listed this species as one of the 35 species of its worldwide priority list of conservation. It is threatened by habitat loss.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hills' horseshoe bat</span> Species of bat

The Hills' horseshoe bat is a species of bat in the family Rhinolophidae. It is found in Cameroon, Guinea, Liberia, and Nigeria. Its natural habitats are subtropical and tropical moist lowland and montane forest, caves and other subterranean habitats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Smaller horseshoe bat</span> Species of bat

The smaller horseshoe bat is a species of bat in the family Rhinolophidae. It is found in Australia and Papua New Guinea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mehely's horseshoe bat</span> Species of bat

Mehely's horseshoe bat is a species of insectivorous bat in the family Rhinolophidae found in Southern Europe and parts of the Middle East. It is distributed in a narrow band around the Mediterranean Sea from North-Western Africa across Portugal, Spain, the Balearics, southern France, Sardinia, Sicily and the Balkan Peninsula to Asia Minor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swinny's horseshoe bat</span> Species of bat

Swinny's horseshoe bat is a species of bat in the family Rhinolophidae. In English, R. swinnyi is commonly referred to as Swinny's horseshoe bat. In Afrikaans, it is commonly referred to as Swinny se saalneusvlermuis. This species belongs to the African clade. R. swinnyi was discovered by an African collector H. H. Swinny. They have been recorded in Angola, Republic of the Congo, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Malawi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ziama horseshoe bat</span> Species of bat

The Ziama horseshoe bat is a species of bat in the family Rhinolophidae. It was first described in 2002. It is found in Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia. Its natural habitats are subtropical and tropical moist lowland and monstane forests. In 2013, Bat Conservation International listed this species as one of the 35 species of its worldwide priority list of conservation.

The Bornean woolly horseshoe bat or Proconsul's horseshoe bat is an endangered species of horseshoe bat found on Borneo. Though it was discovered in 1959, it was not recognized as a distinct species until 2013.

Rhinolophus xinanzhongguoensis, the wedge-sellaed horseshoe bat or southwestern China horseshoe bat, is a species of horseshoe bat from China.

Willard's horseshoe bat is a newly described species of bat in the family Rhinolophidae. It is endemic to a small area in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is listed as endangered by the IUCN Red List.

The Kahuzi horseshoe bat is a species of bat in the family Rhinolophidae, which is found in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is named after Mount Kahuzi.

References

  1. 1 2 Shapiro, J.; Cooper-Bohannon, R.; Fahr, J. (2019). "Rhinolophus maclaudi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2019: e.T19549A21978925. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T19549A21978925.en . Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Kingdon, J., Happold, D., Butynski, T., Hoffmann, M., Happold, M., & Kalina, J. (2013). Mammals of Africa (Vol. 1). A&C Black.
  3. ↑ "Annual Report 2013-2014" (PDF). batcon.org. Bat Conservation International. August 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 7, 2017. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  4. ↑ Hill, J. E. (1942). A new bat of the Rhinolophus philippinensis group from Mount Ruwenzori, Africa. American Museum of Natural History.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Fahr, J., Vierhaus, H., Hutterer, R., & Kock, D. (2002). A revision of the Rhinolophus maclaudi species group with the description of a new species from West Africa (Chiroptera: Rhinolophidae). Myotis, 40, 95-126.
  6. 1 2 3 de Pastino, Blake (June 22, 2007). "Bizarre Horseshoe Bat Photographed for First Time". National Geographic. Archived from the original on June 25, 2007. Retrieved May 3, 2017.
  7. 1 2 3 Weber, N., Fahr, J. (2007). Survey of endemic and globally threatened bat species in the Fouta Djallon Plateau for conservation priorities in Guinea. University of Ulm.
  8. ↑ Aellen, V. (1973): Un Rhinolophus nouveau d’Afrique Centrale. – Period. biol. 75(1): 101-105.
  9. 1 2 3 Peterhans, J. C. K., Fahr, J., Huhndorf, M. H., Kaleme, P., Plumptre, A. J., Marks, B. D., & Kizungu, R. (2013). Bats (Chiroptera) from the Albertine Rift, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, with the description of two new species of the Rhinolophus maclaudi group. Bonn Zool Bull, 62, 186-202.
  10. ↑ Smith, J. D., & Hood, C. S. (1980). Additional material of Rhinolophus ruwenzorii Hill, 1942, with comments on its natural history and taxonomic status. In Proceedings of the Fifth International Bat Research Conference,(eds. DE Wilson & AL Gardner) (pp. 163-171).
  11. 1 2 3 Mickleburgh, S., Waylen, K., & Racey, P. (2009). Bats as bushmeat: a global review. Oryx, 43(02), 217-234.
  12. ↑ "Guinea orders ban on eating bat meat as West Africa's first Ebola outbreak spreads to capital". The Telegraph. London. Reuters. March 29, 2014. Retrieved May 3, 2017.
  13. ↑ Zon, Hilaire; Petesch, Carley (September 21, 2016). "Post-Ebola, West Africans flock back to bushmeat, with risk". Associated Press. Retrieved May 3, 2017.
  14. ↑ Hutson, A. M., & Mickleburgh, S. P. (2001). Microchiropteran bats: global status survey and conservation action plan (Vol. 56). IUCN.
  15. ↑ "2014 Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund Annual Conservation Grants" (PDF). thewaltdisneycompany.com. Disney. 2014. Retrieved May 4, 2017.
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