Benito roundleaf bat

The Benito roundleaf bat (Hipposideros beatus) is a species of bat in the family Hipposideridae found in Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, and Togo. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.[1]

Benito roundleaf bat
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Chiroptera
Family: Hipposideridae
Genus: Hipposideros
Species:
H. beatus
Binomial name
Hipposideros beatus
Benito roundleaf bat range

Taxonomy

The Benito roundleaf bat was described as a new species in 1906 by Danish mammalogist Knud Andersen. The holotype was collected 15 mi (24 km) from the Benito River by American naturalist George Latimer Bates.[2] Two subspecies are recognized: H. b. beatus and H. b. maximus.[3]

Description

It has fine, fluffy, dark brown hair. Its ears are relatively short for a roundleaf bat, at 12–16 mm (0.47–0.63 in). Individuals weigh 6–9.5 g (0.21–0.34 oz) and have forearm lengths of 39–48 mm (1.5–1.9 in).[3]

Biology and ecology

It is monoestrous, with one breeding season per year. Mating occurs in June and July (the end of the first wet season; females give birth in October and November (the middle of the second wet season). The litter size is one offspring.[3]

Range and habitat

The Benito roundleaf bat has been documented in several countries in Africa, mainly in Central Africa. Its range includes: Cameroon, Republic of the Congo, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Sudan, and Togo. It as found at elevations up to 500 m (1,600 ft) above sea level.[1]

Conservation

As of 2017, the Benito roundleaf bat is classified as a least-concern species by the IUCN. It meets the criteria for this classification because it has a wide geographic range; its population is presumably large; and it is unlikely to be experiencing rapid population decline.[1]

References
  1. Monadjem, A.; Juste, J.; Bergmans, W.; Mickleburgh, S.; Hutson, A.M.; Fahr, J. (2017). "Hipposideros beatus". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: e.T10112A22098184. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T10112A22098184.en.
  2. Andersen, K. (1906). "XXXV.—On Hipposiderus caffer, Sund., and its closest Allies; with some notes on H. fuliginosus, Temm". The Annals and Magazine of Natural History; Zoology, Botany, and Geology. 7. 17: 279–280.
  3. Happold, Meredith (2013). Kingdon, J.; Happold, D.; Butynski, T.; Hoffmann, M.; Happold, M.; Kalina, J. (eds.). Mammals of Africa. 4. A&C Black. p. 373–375. ISBN 9781408189962.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.