| Niangara free-tailed bat | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Chiroptera |
| Family: | Molossidae |
| Genus: | Mops |
| Species: | M. niangarae |
| Binomial name | |
| Mops niangarae J.A. Allen, 1917 | |
The Niangara free-tailed bat or Niangara mops bat (Mops niangarae) is a species of bat in the family Molossidae known only from its holotype. It is endemic to Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its natural habitat is either moist tropical forest or savanna. [1] [2]
The holotype of the bat was collected in Niangara in northeastern DR Congo, near the border with Sudan. The species was initially called a subspecies of both M. trevori and M. congicus.
However, it was retained as an independent species following an assessment that indicated that the holotype's skull significantly differed from skulls of both M. trevori and congicus. The bat's taxonomic relationship with M. trevori is unclear. [1] [3]
The bat is only known to inhabit the DRC. Its area of inhabitation is 893 km2 (345 sq mi). It appears to roost in tree stumps. [1] [4]
Very little is known about the bat's habits, range, and population. Consequently, it is assessed as data-deficient. [1]
The Molossidae, or free-tailed bats, are a family of bats within the order Chiroptera. The Molossidae is the fourth-largest family of bats, containing about 110 species as of 2012. They are generally quite robust, and consist of many strong-flying forms with relatively long and narrow wings with wrinkled lips shared through their genus. Their strong flying forms allows them to fly 60 miles per hour using tail winds and at altitudes over 10,000 feet. This makes them unique among bats, as they are the only bat family that withstands the elevation. They are widespread, being found on every continent except Antarctica. They are typically found in caves, abandoned mines, or tunnels.
Allen's spotted bat is a species of vesper bat in the family Vespertilionidae found in the following countries: the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, and Uganda. It is found in subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.
The Khajuria's leaf-nosed bat, also known as Durga Das's leaf-nosed bat, is a species of bat in the family Hipposideridae. It is endemic to India. Its natural habitat is caves. It is threatened by habitat loss.
The Sierra Leone free-tailed bat is a species of bat in the family Molossidae. It is found in Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Mozambique, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Togo, possibly Central African Republic, possibly Republic of the Congo, and possibly Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.
The Angolan free-tailed bat is a species of bat in the family Molossidae. It is found in Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Its natural habitats are dry and moist savanna, although it is sometimes found at the edges of woodlands.
The Medje free-tailed bat is a species of bat in the family Molossidae. It is found in Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Uganda. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.
The Midas free-tailed bat is a species of bat scientifically classified in the order Chiroptera and the family Molossidae. It is distributed from western Africa to Saudi Arabia and further south. Its natural habitats are dry savanna, moist savanna, woodlands and hot deserts. The more southern are also known to live around large rivers or the swamps. It is threatened by habitat loss.
The dwarf free-tailed bat is a species of bat in the family Molossidae. It is found in Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, and Uganda. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Spurrell's free-tailed bat is a species of bat in the family Molossidae named after Herbert George Flaxman Spurrell. It is found in Cameroon, Central African Republic, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Togo. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forest and subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest. It is threatened by habitat loss.
The Trevor's free-tailed bat is a species of bat in the family Molossidae. It is found in Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Guinea, Nigeria, South Sudan, and Uganda. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and moist savanna. It is threatened by habitat loss.
The Daubenton's free-tailed bat or Daubenton's winged-mouse bat is a species of bat in the family Molossidae. It is found in Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, and Senegal. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and dry savanna. It is threatened by habitat loss.
The Bini free-tailed bat is a species of bat in the family Molossidae. It is found in Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Nigeria, and Uganda. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.
The Congo clawless otter, also known as the Cameroon clawless otter, is a species in the family Mustelidae. It was formerly recognised as a subspecies of the African clawless otter.
Mops is a genus of bats in the family Molossidae. Molecular sequence data indicates that Mops and Chaerephon are not monophyletic taxa. However, the grouping of Chaerephon and Mops was found to be monophyletic when excluding C. jobimena.
Gallagher's free-tailed bat is a free-tailed bat endemic to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Only one individual has ever been documented.
Ozimops kitcheneri, the south-western free-tailed bat, is a species of molossid bat found in Southwest Australia. A small flying mammal, it forages in forests and woodlands for insects.
Mops bakarii is a species of mastiff bat, described in 2008. It is endemic to Pemba Island, which lies in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Tanzania.
Schnitzler's horseshoe bat is a species of bat in the family Rhinolophidae. It is endemic to China.
