Ziama horseshoe bat

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Rhinolophus ziama
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Chiroptera
Family: Rhinolophidae
Genus: Rhinolophus
Species:
R. ziama
Binomial name
Rhinolophus ziama
Fahr, Vierhaus, Hütterer & Kock, 2002
Rhinolophus ziama area.png
Range

The Ziama horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus ziama) is a species of bat in the family Rhinolophidae. It was first described in 2002. [2] It is found in Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia. [2] [3] Its natural habitats are subtropical and tropical moist lowland and monstane forests. [1] In 2013, Bat Conservation International listed this species as one of the 35 species of its worldwide priority list of conservation. [4]

Contents

Description

The Ziama horseshoe bat can be distinguished from the Maclaud's horseshoe bat because it is significantly smaller in body size. [2] While it is smaller than Maclaud's horseshoe bat, it is still one of the largest horseshoe bats in Africa. [5] They weigh between 20–24 g (0.71–0.85 oz) as adults. [2] Their forearms are 58–60 mm (2.3–2.4 in). [2] Their ears are 35–37 mm (1.4–1.5 in) long, pointed at the tips, and have 11-12 inner folds. [2] Their noseleafs are 11.5 mm (0.45 in) wide, almost covering their snouts. [5] Their pelage is soft and woolly in texture, with dorsal hairs paler at the base and darker at the tip; ventral hairs are uniformly buffy [2]

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. [6] Members of this group have large ears, and a diminished connection between the sella and lancet. [6]

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. [6] The West African species are larger in size than the East African species, with R. maclaudi as the largest bat of the species group. [2] 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. [7]

Conservation

As of 2002, only four specimens had ever been encountered; all were captured via mist-netting in 1990 and 1992. [2] Three were encountered in the Ziama Massif of Guinea, while the other was captured in Wonegizi Nature Conservation Unit in Liberia. [2] Based on the two known locations of occurrence at the time, the species range was feared to be as small as 32 km2 (12 sq mi) [2] There are concerns that its habitat in Liberia could have been damaged by the Second Liberian Civil War. [2] In 2006, a fifth specimen was captured in Sierra Leone, extending the range of occurrence by 450 km (280 mi). [3] It is one of five species of microbat in Africa listed as endangered by the IUCN. [5]

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.

The dark-brown serotine is a species of vesper bat found in Central and West Africa.

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

The intermediate horseshoe bat is a bat species of the family Rhinolophidae that is very widespread throughout much of the Indian subcontinent, southern and central China and Southeast Asia. It is listed by IUCN as Least Concern as it is considered common where it occurs, without any known major threats.

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

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.

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

Blasius's horseshoe bat is a species of insectivorous bat in the family Rhinolophidae found throughout large parts of the Mediterranean, Middle East and Africa.

<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">Darling's horseshoe bat</span> Species of bat

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.

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

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".

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

The Guinean horseshoe bat is a species of bat in the family Rhinolophidae. It is found in Ivory Coast, Guinea, Liberia, Senegal, and Sierra Leone. Its natural habitats are subtropical and tropical forests, moist savanna, caves, and other subterranean habitats.

<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">Maclaud's horseshoe bat</span> Species of bat

Maclaud's horseshoe bat 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. 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">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">Ruwenzori horseshoe bat</span> Species of bat

The Ruwenzori horseshoe bat is a species of bat in the family Rhinolophidae. It is found in Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and swamps, caves and other subterranean habitats.

Bat Conservation International (BCI) is an international nongovernmental organization working to conserve bats and their habitats through conservation, education, and research efforts.

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 Cooper-Bohannon, R.; Monadjem, A. (2020). "Rhinolophus ziama". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2020: e.T44786A22068674. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T44786A22068674.en . Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 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.
  3. 1 2 Decher, J., Norris, R. W., & Fahr, J. (2010). Small mammal survey in the upper Seli River valley, Sierra Leone. mammalia, 74(2), 163-176.
  4. ↑ "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.
  5. 1 2 3 Kingdon, J., Happold, D., Butynski, T., Hoffmann, M., Happold, M., & Kalina, J. (2013). Mammals of Africa (Vol. 1). A&C Black.
  6. 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.
  7. ↑ 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).
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