| Mozambican horseshoe bat | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Chiroptera |
| Family: | Rhinolophidae |
| Genus: | Rhinolophus |
| Species: | R. mossambicus |
| Binomial name | |
| Rhinolophus mossambicus Taylor, Stoffberg, Monadjem, Schoeman, Bayliss & Cotterill, 2012 | |
The Mozambican horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus mossambicus) is a species of horseshoe bat found in southern Africa.
It was described as a new species in 2012. The holotype had been collected by A. Monadjem in July 2006 at Niassa Reserve in Mozambique. It was segregated from the Hildebrandt's horseshoe bat (R. hildebrandtii) species complex at the same time as the Smithers's horseshoe bat, Cohen's horseshoe bat, and Rhinolophus mabuensis . Its species name "mossambicus" refers to the country of Mozambique. [2]
Its forearm length is 60–65 mm (2.4–2.6 in). It echolocates at a peak frequency of 35-38 kHz. [2]
Its range includes the African countries of Mozambique and Zimbabwe. It has been documented at a range of elevations from 60–1,000 m (200–3,280 ft) above sea level. [1] It is associated with savanna habitats. [2]
As of 2017, it is evaluated as a least-concern species by the IUCN. Its population trend is, however, projected as decreasing due to threats such as hunting for bushmeat, as well as roost disturbance due to guano mining. [1]
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.
The halcyon horseshoe bat is a species of bat in the family Rhinolophidae. It is found in Cameroon, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, South Sudan, Togo, Uganda, possibly Gabon, and possibly Sierra Leone. Its natural habitats are subtropical and tropical dry and moist lowland forest, moist savanna, caves, and other subterranean habitats.
The Cape horseshoe bat is a species of bat in the family Rhinolophidae. It is endemic to South Africa, and is potentially threatened by habitat loss and disturbance of its roosting sites, although it is present in large enough numbers to be considered of least concern by the IUCN.
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.
Darling's horseshoe bat is a species of bat in the family Rhinolophidae found in Africa. Its natural habitats are dry savanna, caves and other subterranean habitats.
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.
The eloquent horseshoe bat is a species of bat in the family Rhinolophidae. It is found in Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, dry savanna, moist savanna, and caves.
Rüppell's horseshoe bat is a species of bat in the family Rhinolophidae found in Africa. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, savanna, caves and other subterranean habitats. This species is quite common in parts of its range, and no specific threats have been recognised, so the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated its conservation status as being of "least concern".
Hildebrandt's horseshoe bat is a species of bat in the family Rhinolophidae found in Africa. Its natural habitats are savanna, caves and other subterranean habitats.
Lander's horseshoe bat is a species of bat in the family Rhinolophidae found in Africa. Its natural habitats are savanna and caves.
The Bushveld horseshoe bat is a species of bat in the family Rhinolophidae. It is found in Botswana, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Its natural habitats are moist savanna, caves and other subterranean habitats.
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.
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.
Mount Mabu is a mountain in northern Mozambique, famous for its old-growth rain forest. Mount Mabu is approximately 1,700 metres high and the forest covers about 7,000 hectares, or roughly 17,000 acres. While well-known locally, the Mount Mabu forest and its extremely diverse flora and fauna were virtually unknown to science until 2005, when the location was finally visited by a team of researchers from the Mulanje Mountain Conservation Trust (MMCT), along with several ornithologists, and, in 2008, by scientists from Kew Royal Botanic Gardens. The scientific expeditions were only made possible by finding the mountain's location on Google Earth's satellite-view, looking for potentially unknown wildlife hotspots in Africa. Thus, Mount Mabu is frequently referred to as the "Google Forest". It forms part of a proposed ecoregion, to be called the "Southeast Africa Montane Archipelago" (SEAMA).
Cohen's horseshoe bat is a species of bat belonging to the family Rhinolophidae, endemic to South Africa. It was first described in 2012. The species was named after Lientjie Cohen who collected the type specimen in 2004. It was first thought to be a Hildebrandt's horseshoe bat but has since been distinguished as a separate species by its unique echolocation frequencies.
Smithers's horseshoe bat is a species of horseshoe bat found in South Africa and Zimbabwe. It was described as a new species in 2012.
The Damara horseshoe bat, is a species of bat found in Africa.
The Mount Mabu horseshoe bat is a species of horseshoe bat. It is endemic to Mozambique.
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.
