Geoffroy's horseshoe bat

Geoffroy's horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus clivosus) 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, subterranean habitats (other than caves), and hot deserts.

Geoffroy's horseshoe bat
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Chiroptera
Family: Rhinolophidae
Genus: Rhinolophus
Species:
R. clivosus
Binomial name
Rhinolophus clivosus
Geoffroy's horseshoe bat range

Taxonomy

Geoffroy's horseshoe bat was described as a new species in 1828 by German scientist Philipp Jakob Cretzschmar.[2] The holotype was collected in Mohila, Saudi Arabia.[3] In 2012, Rhinolophus clivosus was split into an additional species with the recognition of Rhinolophus horaceki.[4] Further division may occur, as the same 2012 studynoted five distinct genetic lineages within R. clivosus.[1]

Description

It is considered medium-sized for an African horseshoe bat, with forearm lengths of 42–59 mm (1.7–2.3 in) and weights of 10–25 g (0.35–0.88 oz).[3]

Biology and ecology

It has one breeding season each year. Gestation length is around 3.5 months, after which one offspring is born. Differing levels of sociality have been observed. In Algeria, individuals roost alone or in small groups less than 50 individuals. In southern Africa and Malawi, however, groups of up to 10,000 individuals have been documented roosting together in a colony. Roosts are typically mixed sex, as females do not form maternity colonies to raise young.[3]

Range

Geoffroy's horseshoe bat occurs widely throughout Africa, with its range extending into the Arabian Peninsula. It is found in a variety of habitats, including desert, savanna woodland, Mediterranean shrubland, and grassland.[1]

References
  1. Monadjem, A.; Taylor, P.J.; Jacobs, D.; Kock, D.; Amr, Z.S.S.; Cotterill, F. (2017). "Rhinolophus clivosus". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T19531A21980500. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T19531A21980500.en.
  2. Cretzschmar, P. J. (1828). "Säugethiere". Atlas zu der Reise im nördlichen Afrika [Atlas of the journey in northern Africa] (in German). pp. 47–48.
  3. Bernard, R. T. F.; Happold, M. (2013). Kingdon, J.; Happold, D.; Butynski, T.; Hoffmann, M.; Happold, M.; Kalina, J. (eds.). Mammals of Africa. 4. A&C Black. pp. 316–318. ISBN 9781408189962.
  4. Benda, P.; Vallo, P. (2012). "New look on the geographical variation in Rhinolophus clivosus with description of a new horseshoe bat species from Cyrenaica, Libya". Vespertilio. 16: 69–96. S2CID 85814849.
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