Zulu serotine

Last updated

Zulu serotine
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Chiroptera
Family: Vespertilionidae
Genus: Neoromicia
Species:
N. zuluensis
Binomial name
Neoromicia zuluensis
(Roberts, 1924)
Synonyms [1]
  • Eptesicus zuluensisRoberts, 1924
  • Pipistrellus zuluensis (Roberts, 1924)

The Zulu serotine (Neoromicia zuluensis), also called the Zulu pipistrelle, aloe bat, or aloe serotine, [1] is a species of vesper bat found in Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, South Sudan, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Its natural habitats are dry savanna, moist savanna, and hot deserts.

Contents

Description

The Zulu serotine is a very small microbat, with a head-and body length of about 75 mm (3 in), a forearm length of about 30 mm (1.2 in), a wingspan of about 225 mm (9 in) and a weight of between 3 and 6 g (0.1 and 0.2 oz). The fur is soft and dense, and longer on the rump than elsewhere. The dorsal surface is medium brown, the hairs having brownish-black shafts and medium to pale brown tips, while the ventral surface is a paler, greyish-brown, the hairs having dark grey shafts with paler, greyish-brown tips. The wing membranes are dark, usually without a rear white border, and the tail is totally enclosed in the interfemoral membrane. [2]

Distribution and habitat

This bat has a widespread distribution in eastern and southern Africa. Its range consists of a northern population in Ethiopia, South Sudan, Uganda and Kenya, and a southern population extending from Zambia and the south Democratic Republic of the Congo to Angola, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi and South Africa. [1] In its northern range, it inhabits semi-desert shrubland and grassland, including light woodland and thickets with Acacia and Commiphora . In its southern range, it inhabits wooded savanna, including miombo woodland, and in the drier southwestern part of its range, bushland and shrubland. Its altitudinal range is from 500 to 2,650 m (1,640 to 8,694 ft). [2]

Behaviour

The flight speed of this bat is moderately fast with high manoeuvrability, and it can bank, twist and stall. It is also able to scramble across the ground and take off from it. It feeds by hawking for insects, using echolocation to locate its prey, primarily feeding on moths and beetles. It hunts in glades and around trees, flying between the trunks and among the branches. It has been observed flying over water, but whether it was feeding or sipping water is unclear. It can produce highly concentrated urine and in captivity can survive for several days without water. Breeding seems to take place early in the wet season, with litters of one or two young being produced. It is unknown where this species roosts in the daytime. [2]

Related Research Articles

White-bellied yellow bat Species of bat

The white-bellied yellow bat or white-bellied house bat, is a species of vesper bat in the genus Scotophilus, the house bats. It can be found in Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Ivory Coast, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Mali, Mauritania, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Togo, Uganda, and Zambia. It is found in dry and moist savanna and open woodland. It is a common species with a very wide range, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being of "least concern".

Schrebers yellow bat Species of bat

Schreber's yellow bat or the giant house bat, is a species of vesper bat. It is found in Benin, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, and Zimbabwe. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, dry savanna, and moist savanna. It is an uncommon species and its biology is poorly known. It was first described in 1774 by the German naturalist Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber, who named it Vespertilio nigrita. It was later transferred to the genus Scotophilus, making it Scotophilus nigrita.

Anchietas serotine Species of bat

Anchieta's serotine, formerly known as Anchieta's pipistrelle, is a species of vesper bat. It is found in Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Madagascar. The species inhabits dry savanna and moist savanna habitats.

Cape serotine Species of bat

The Cape serotine is a species of vesper bat occurring in Sub-Saharan Africa. 'Serotine' is from Latin 'serotinus' meaning ‘of the evening'.

Rendalls serotine Species of bat

Rendall's serotine is a species of vesper bat. It is found in Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. Its natural habitats are dry savanna, moist savanna, subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, and subtropical or tropical moist shrubland. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Somali serotine Species of bat

The Somali serotine is a species of vesper bat.

Highveld gerbil Species of rodent

The highveld gerbil is a species of rodent found in Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Eswatini, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Its natural habitats are dry savanna, temperate shrubland, subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, temperate grassland, and temperate desert. This is a common species with a wide range and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated it as being of "least concern" as of 2008.

Hildegardes broad-headed mouse Species of rodent

Hildegarde's broad-headed mouse or Hildegarde's zelotomys, is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found in Central Africa.

<i>Phrynobatrachus acridoides</i> Species of frog

Phrynobatrachus acridoides is a species of frog in the family Phrynobatrachidae. It is widely distributed in the lowlands of eastern Africa, from Kenya and southern Somalia in the north and southward to Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, eastern Zimbabwe, and easternmost South Africa (KwaZulu-Natal). Its range might extend into Swaziland in the south and westward to Uganda and Zambia. This widespread species has also many vernacular names: East African puddle frog, small puddle frog, eastern puddle frog, Zanzibar puddle frog, Zanzibar river frog, Mababe toad-frog, and Cope's toad-frog. It is morphologically and genetically most similar to Phrynobatrachus pakenhami, its sister species. However, the specific name acridoides appears to refer to its superficial similarity to the North American cricket frog Acris gryllus, of no close relation.

Anchietas ridged frog Species of frog

Anchieta's ridged frog or plain grass frog is a species of frog in the family Ptychadenidae. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, possibly Burundi, and possibly Rwanda. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, subtropical or tropical moist montane forest, dry savanna, moist savanna, subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, subtropical or tropical moist shrubland, subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland, rivers, intermittent rivers, freshwater lakes, freshwater marshes, intermittent freshwater marshes, hot deserts, arable land, rural gardens, urban areas, and ponds.

White-browed scrub robin Species of bird

The white-browed scrub robin, also known as the red-backed scrub-robin, is a species of bird in the family Muscicapidae. It is native to sub-Saharan Africa, especially East and southern Africa. Within range, its Turdus-like song is one of the often-heard sounds of the bush. The flitting of the tail is characteristic of this species, but also of some near relatives.

Swamp musk shrew Species of mammal native to African swamps

The swamp musk shrew, or musk shrew, is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It occurs in Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Eswatini, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Its natural habitat is swamps, and it is a common species in suitable habitats, with the International Union for Conservation of Nature listing it as being of "least concern".

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.

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.

Darlings horseshoe bat 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 subterranean habitats.

Rüppells horseshoe bat 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, dry savanna, moist 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".

African giant free-tailed bat Species of bat

The African giant free-tailed bat, or African free-tailed bat is a species of bat in the family Molossidae. It is found in Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, South Sudan, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and possibly South Africa. Its natural habitats are dry savanna and subtropical or tropical dry shrubland.

The Zambezian region is a large biogeographical region in Africa. The Zambezian region includes woodlands, savannas, grasslands, and thickets, extending from east to west in a broad belt across the continent. The Zambezian region lies south of the rainforests of the Guineo-Congolian region. The Zambezian region is bounded by deserts and xeric shrublands on the southwest, the Highveld grasslands of South Africa to the south, and the subtropical Maputaland forests on the southeast.

Neoromicia grandidieri, known by the common names of Dobson's pipistrelle and yellow pipistrelle, is a species of vesper bat found in Africa. It was formerly in the genus Pipistrellus

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Monadjem, A.; Cotterill, F.P.D.; Jacobs, D. (2017). "Neoromicia zuluensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2017: e.T44927A22047251. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T44927A22047251.en . Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 Kingdon, Jonathan; Happold, David; Butynski, Thomas; Hoffmann, Michael; Happold, Meredith; Kalina, Jan (2013). Mammals of Africa. A&C Black. pp. 657–659. ISBN   978-1-4081-8996-2.