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Bat Diversity in the Simandou Mountain Range of Guinea, with the Description of a New White-Winged Vespertilionid
Abstract
Tropical West Africa has a high diversity of bats, which are relatively poorly studied. In this baseline biodiversity assessment of bats in the Simandou Mountain Range of southeastern Guinea (Guinea Forestière), 312 individual bats belonging to 26 species were captured, four of which represent new species records for the country. Combined with the results of a previous survey, 35 bat species have been recorded at Simandou to date, including a new species (Neoromicia sp. nov.), which we describe here, and an additional species potentially new to science. A neotype for Neoromicia tenuipinnis is designated. We present an annotated checklist of the bats at Simandou and neighbouring sites, including some pertinent field notes on their habitat requirements and conservation status. Furthermore, we discuss the estimated maximum species richness and show that Simandou supports one of the most diverse bat
communities in tropical Africa. Finally, we outline conservation concerns with respect to bats in the face of the iron ore extraction activities at Simandou.
... Unfortunately, they are rarely taken into account in the management of protected areas and in biological inventories of these environments (Bakwo et al., 2014) [9] . Chiropterans have been the subject of a few scattered studies in Côte d'Ivoire (De Vree, 1971;Bergmans et al., 1974;Thomas, 1983;Brosset, 1985;Koné, 1996;Lim and Van Coeverden De Groot, 1997;Gordon, 2001;Fahr and Ebigbo, 2003;Niamien et al., 2010Niamien et al., , 2015Bitty et al., 2013;Kadjo, 2015) [10,11,12,5,13,14,2] . On the other hand, the sites surveyed to study them remain limited and are mainly protected areas. ...
... On the other hand, the sites surveyed to study them remain limited and are mainly protected areas. These include the Lamto Reserve in the preforest savannah zone (Bergmans et al., 1974;Thomas, 1983) [11,12] , the Taï National Park (Gordon, 2001;Henry et al., 2004;Koné, 1996) [15,16,17] and Azagny (Nesi et al., 2013) [18] in the evergreen forest zone, the Comoé and Mont Sangbé National Parks in the Sudanian savannah zone (Fahr and Ebigbo, 2003) [12] , the Mont Nimba Integrated Reserve in the mountain forest zone (Brosset, 1985;Denys et al., 2013;Monadjem et al., 2013Monadjem et al., , 2016Simmons et al., 2021) [18,19,20,21,22] and the breeding colonies of the African straw bats (Eidolon helvum) in the Plateau-Abidjan commune (Niamien et al., 2010(Niamien et al., , 2015(Niamien et al., , 2017 [5,13,23] . Studies carried out in the Taï and Comoé National Parks and those from other sources estimate the species richness of chiropterans in Côte d'Ivoire to be between 42 and 87 species in these richest massifs in Côte d'Ivoire (Brosset, 1985;Fahr and Kalko, 2010;Kadjo, 2015) [18,24,2] . ...
... On the other hand, the sites surveyed to study them remain limited and are mainly protected areas. These include the Lamto Reserve in the preforest savannah zone (Bergmans et al., 1974;Thomas, 1983) [11,12] , the Taï National Park (Gordon, 2001;Henry et al., 2004;Koné, 1996) [15,16,17] and Azagny (Nesi et al., 2013) [18] in the evergreen forest zone, the Comoé and Mont Sangbé National Parks in the Sudanian savannah zone (Fahr and Ebigbo, 2003) [12] , the Mont Nimba Integrated Reserve in the mountain forest zone (Brosset, 1985;Denys et al., 2013;Monadjem et al., 2013Monadjem et al., , 2016Simmons et al., 2021) [18,19,20,21,22] and the breeding colonies of the African straw bats (Eidolon helvum) in the Plateau-Abidjan commune (Niamien et al., 2010(Niamien et al., , 2015(Niamien et al., , 2017 [5,13,23] . Studies carried out in the Taï and Comoé National Parks and those from other sources estimate the species richness of chiropterans in Côte d'Ivoire to be between 42 and 87 species in these richest massifs in Côte d'Ivoire (Brosset, 1985;Fahr and Kalko, 2010;Kadjo, 2015) [18,24,2] . ...
... However, based on two 4-week surveys in 2010 and 2011, this total was increased to ten taxa, with four of them new to science (Monadjem et al., 2013), representing an underestimate of 40% at a relatively well-surveyed site (Brosset, 1984(Brosset, , 2003. Of the four unnamed taxa, three have now been formally described: Neoromicia roseveari Monadjem et al., 2013, Neoromicia isabella Decher, Hutterer & Monadjem, 2015, and Parahypsugo happoldorum Hutterer et al., 2019(Monadjem et al., 2013Decher et al., 2015;Hutterer et al., 2019). The fourth taxon, Pipistrellus sp. ...
... Recent molecular studies of African species have generally recovered two of the three clades, namely Hypsugo and Pipistrellus, but the monophyly of Neoromicia is not certain (Roehrs et al., 2010;Goodman et al., 2012;Monadjem et al., 2013;Decher et al., 2015;Hutterer et al., 2019). Furthermore, the African "Hypsugo" clade has been shown to be generically and morphologically distinct from the Eurasian species of this genus, and has therefore been placed in Parahypsugo (Hutterer et al., 2019). ...
... cf. grandidieri (Decher et al., 2015). This species is known from only two localities, both in upland rainforest, on the border zone between Liberia and Guinea (Monadjem et al., 2013;Decher et al., 2015). ...
Pipistrelloid bats are among the most poorly known bats in Africa, a status no doubt exacerbated by their small size, drab brown fur and general similarity in external morphology. The systematic relationships of these bats have been a matter of debate for decades, and despite some recent molecular studies, much confusion remains. Adding to the confusion has been the recent discovery of numerous new species. Using two mitochondrial genes, we present a phylogeny for this group that supports the existence of three main clades in Africa: Pipistrellus, Neoromicia and the recently described Parahypsugo. However, the basal branches of the tree are poorly supported. Using an integrative taxonomic approach, we describe a new species of Pipistrellus sp. nov. from West Africa, which has been cited as Pipistrellus cf. grandidieri in the literature. We demonstrate that it is not closely related to Pipistrellus grandidieri from East Africa, but instead is sister to Pipistrellus hesperidus. Furthermore, the species Pi. grandidieri appears to be embedded in the newly described genus Parahypsugo, and is therefore better placed in that genus than in Pipistrellus. This has important taxonomic implications, because a new subgenus (Afropipistrellus) described for Pi. grandidieri predates Parahypsugo and should therefore be used for the entire “Parahypsugo” clade. The Upper Guinea rainforest zone, and particularly the upland areas in the south-eastern Guinea—northern Liberia border region may represent a global hotspot for pipistrelloid bats and should receive increased conservation focus as a result.
... The high diversity of pipistrelle-like bats in Africa has been overshadowed by the ambiguity of species relationships and further complicated by the local or regional focus of previous analyses (Monadjem et al., 2013;Goodman et al., 2015Goodman et al., , 2017. For example, in the past decade, two new species have been described in the genus Neoromicia Roberts, 1926(Monadjem et al., 2013Decher et al., 2015), a third in Pipistrellus Kaup, 1829 (Monadjem et al., 2020a) and a fourth in Parahypsugo Hutterer et al., 2019, all from the Upper Guinea forest zone of West Africa. The phylogenetic relationships of pipistrelle-like bats in this region have been investigated with mitochondrial DNA markers, and a new genus (Parahypsugo) was recognized based on genetic and morphological characters (Hutterer & Kerbis Peterhans, 2019;Monadjem et al., 2020a). ...
... Included species: Pseudoromicia brunnea (Thomas, 1880); Pseudoromicia isabella (Decher, Hutterer & Monadjem, 2015); Pseudoromicia rendalli (Thomas, 1889); Pseudoromicia roseveari (Monadjem et al., 2013); Pseudoromicia tenuipinnis (Peters, 1872); and two newly described species (see below). ...
... Its closest known relative is Pse. roseveari, recently described from Mount Nimba and with a limited distribution in the borderland zone between Liberia and Guinea (Monadjem et al., 2013;Decher et al., 2015;Mamba et al., in press), some 4700 km to the west. Whether either species occurs in the vast tropical rainforests between these two sites is unknown and deserves investigation. ...
Vespertilionidae (class Mammalia) constitutes the largest family of bats, with ~500 described species. Nonetheless, the systematic relationships within this family are poorly known, especially among the pipistrelle-like bats of the tribes Vespertilionini and Pipistrellini. Perhaps as a result of their drab pelage and lack of obvious morphological characters, the genus and species limits of pipistrelle-like bats remain poorly resolved, particularly in Africa, where more than one-fifth of all vesper bat species occur. Further exacerbating the problem is the accelerating description of new species within these groups. In this study, we attempt to resolve the systematic relationships among the pipistrelle-like bats of sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar and provide a more stable framework for future systematic efforts. Our systematic inferences are based on extensive genetic and morphological sampling of > 400 individuals covering all named genera and the majority of described African pipistrelle-like bat species, focusing on previously unstudied samples of East African bats. Our study corroborates previous work by identifying three African genera in Pipistrellini (Pipistrellus, Scotoecus and Vansonia), none of which is endemic to Africa. However, the situation is more complex in Vespertilionini. With broad taxonomic sampling, we confirm that the genus Neoromicia is paraphyletic, a situation that we resolve by assigning the species of Neoromicia to four genera. Neoromicia is here restricted to Neoromicia zuluensis and allied taxa. Some erstwhile Neoromicia species are transferred into an expanded Laephotis, which now includes both long-eared and short-eared forms. We also erect two new genera, one comprising a group of mostly forest-associated species (many of which have white wings) and the other for the genetically and morphologically unique banana bat. All four of these genera, as recognized here, are genetically distinct, have distinctive bacular morphologies and can be grouped by cranial morphometrics. We also demonstrate that the genus Nycticeinops, until now considered monospecific, includes both Afropipistrellus and the recently named Parahypsugo, thus representing the fifth African genus in Vespertilionini. A sixth genus, Hypsugo, is mostly extra-limital to sub-Saharan Africa. Finally, we describe three new species of pipistrelle-like bats from Kenya and Uganda, uncovered during the course of systematic bat surveys in the region. Such surveys are greatly needed across tropical Africa to uncover further bat diversity.
... The high diversity of pipistrelle-like bats in Africa has been overshadowed by the ambiguity of species relationships and further complicated by the local or regional focus of previous analyses (Monadjem et al., 2013;Goodman et al., 2015Goodman et al., , 2017. For example, in the past decade, two new species have been described in the genus Neoromicia Roberts, 1926(Monadjem et al., 2013Decher et al., 2015), a third in Pipistrellus Kaup, 1829 (Monadjem et al., 2020a) and a fourth in Parahypsugo Hutterer et al., 2019, all from the Upper Guinea forest zone of West Africa. The phylogenetic relationships of pipistrelle-like bats in this region have been investigated with mitochondrial DNA markers, and a new genus (Parahypsugo) was recognized based on genetic and morphological characters (Hutterer & Kerbis Peterhans, 2019;Monadjem et al., 2020a). ...
... Included species: Pseudoromicia brunnea (Thomas, 1880); Pseudoromicia isabella (Decher, Hutterer & Monadjem, 2015); Pseudoromicia rendalli (Thomas, 1889); Pseudoromicia roseveari (Monadjem et al., 2013); Pseudoromicia tenuipinnis (Peters, 1872); and two newly described species (see below). ...
... Its closest known relative is Pse. roseveari, recently described from Mount Nimba and with a limited distribution in the borderland zone between Liberia and Guinea (Monadjem et al., 2013;Decher et al., 2015;Mamba et al., in press), some 4700 km to the west. Whether either species occurs in the vast tropical rainforests between these two sites is unknown and deserves investigation. ...
Vespertilionidae (class Mammalia) constitutes the largest family of bats, with ~500 described species. Nonetheless, the systematic relationships within this family are poorly known, especially among the pipistrelle-like bats of the tribes Vespertilionini and Pipistrellini. Perhaps as a result of their drab pelage and lack of obvious morphological characters, the genus and species limits of pipistrelle-like bats remain poorly resolved, particularly in Africa, where more than one-fifth of all vesper bat species occur. Further exacerbating the problem is the accelerating description of new species within these groups. In this study, we attempt to resolve the systematic relationships among the pipistrelle-like bats of sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar and provide a more stable framework for future systematic efforts. Our systematic inferences are based on extensive genetic and morphological sampling of > 400 individuals covering all named genera and the majority of described African pipistrelle-like bat species, focusing on previously unstudied samples of East African bats. Our study corroborates previous work by identifying three African genera in Pipistrellini (Pipistrellus, Scotoecus and Vansonia), none of which is endemic to Africa. However, the situation is more complex in Vespertilionini. With broad taxonomic sampling, we confirm that the genus Neoromicia is paraphyletic, a situation that we resolve by assigning the species of Neoromicia to four genera. Neoromicia is here restricted to Neoromicia zuluensis and allied taxa. Some erstwhile Neoromicia species are transferred into an expanded Laephotis, which now includes both long-eared and short-eared forms. We also erect two new genera, one comprising a group of mostly forest-associated species (many of which have white wings) and the other for the genetically and morphologically unique banana bat. All four of these genera, as recognized here, are genetically distinct, have distinctive bacular morphologies and can be grouped by cranial morphometrics. We also demonstrate that the genus Nycticeinops, until now considered monospecific, includes both Afropipistrellus and the recently named Parahypsugo, thus representing the fifth African genus in Vespertilionini. A sixth genus, Hypsugo, is mostly extra-limital to sub-Saharan Africa. Finally, we describe three new species of pipistrelle-like bats from Kenya and Uganda, uncovered during the course of systematic bat surveys in the region. Such surveys are greatly needed across tropical Africa to uncover further bat diversity. ADDITIONAL KEYWORDS: Africa-alpha taxonomy-genus revision-Mammalia-mitochondrial DNA-new genera-new species.
... However, based on two 4-week surveys in 2010 and 2011, this total was increased to ten taxa, with four of them new to science (Monadjem et al., 2013), representing an underestimate of 40% at a relatively well-surveyed site (Brosset, 1984(Brosset, , 2003. Of the four unnamed taxa, three have now been formally described: Neoromicia roseveari Monadjem et al., 2013, Neoromicia isabella Decher, Hutterer & Monadjem, 2015, and Parahypsugo happoldorum Hutterer et al., 2019(Monadjem et al., 2013Decher et al., 2015;Hutterer et al., 2019). The fourth taxon, Pipistrellus sp. ...
... Recent molecular studies of African species have generally recovered two of the three clades, namely Hypsugo and Pipistrellus, but the monophyly of Neoromicia is not certain (Roehrs et al., 2010;Goodman et al., 2012;Monadjem et al., 2013;Decher et al., 2015;Hutterer et al., 2019). Furthermore, the African "Hypsugo" clade has been shown to be generically and morphologically distinct from the Eurasian species of this genus, and has therefore been placed in Parahypsugo (Hutterer et al., 2019). ...
... cf. grandidieri (Decher et al., 2015). This species is known from only two localities, both in upland rainforest, on the border zone between Liberia and Guinea (Monadjem et al., 2013;Decher et al., 2015). ...
Pipistrelloid bats are among the most poorly known bats in Africa, a status no doubt exacerbated by their small size, drab brown fur and general similarity in external morphology. The systematic relationships of these bats have been a matter of debate for decades, and despite some recent molecular studies, much confusion remains. Adding to the confusion has been the recent discovery of numerous new species. Using two mitochondrial genes, we present a phylogeny for this group that supports the existence of three main clades in Africa: Pipistrellus, Neoromicia and the recently described Parahypsugo. However, the basal branches of the tree are poorly supported. Using an integrative taxonomic approach, we describe a new species of Pipistrellus sp. nov. from West Africa, which has been cited as Pipistrellus cf. grandidieri in the literature. We demonstrate that it is not closely related to Pipistrellus grandidieri from East Africa, but instead is sister to Pipistrellus hesperidus. Furthermore, the species Pi. grandidieri appears to be embedded in the newly described genus Parahypsugo, and is therefore better placed in that genus than in Pipistrellus. This has important taxonomic implications, because a new subgenus (Afropipistrellus) described for Pi. grandidieri predates Parahypsugo and should therefore be used for the entire "Parahypsugo" clade. The Upper Guinea rainforest zone, and particularly the upland areas in the southeastern Guinea-northern Liberia border region may represent a global hotspot for pipistrelloid bats and should receive increased conservation focus as a result.
... This species was the least numerous of four species of Rhinolophus and Hipposideros recorded roosting in caves and mine adits at 1,500 m asl at Mt Nimba, Guinea (Monadjem, unpublished data), although other surveys in the area have found R. guineensis at higher relative abundances (Monadjem et al. 2016). Studies generally capture few individuals (<10) (Decher et al. 2010, Decher et al. 2015, although Denys et al. (2013) found 41 individuals from two different sites on the Guinean side of Mt. Nimba. ...
... This species has been recorded from montane tropical moist forest, and to a lesser extent from moist savanna (Koopman 1989, Koopman et al. 1995, Grubb et al. 1998, Weber and Fahr 2007, Denys et al. 2013, Monadjem et al. 2016 or high-elevation grasslands (Decher et al. 2010, Denys et al. 2013, Monadjem et al. 2016). It appears to use riverine forests and forested ravines (Decher et al. 2010, Decher et al. 2015. Animals are usually found roosting in caves or mine adits, however, two were found in hollow trees (Böhme and Hutterer 1978, Grubb et al. 1998, Weber and Fahr 2007, Monadjem et al. 2016). ...
... Animals are usually found roosting in caves or mine adits, however, two were found in hollow trees (Böhme and Hutterer 1978, Grubb et al. 1998, Weber and Fahr 2007, Monadjem et al. 2016). In the Simandou Mountains of Guinea, this species was captured near large boulders, which it may have been using to roost (Decher et al. 2015). Pregnant females have been found in March and December. ...
... Another reason for the accelerated rate of spe cies descriptions in Africa is renewed interest in surveying poorly known locations, such as in the Con ser vation International's Rapid Assessment Program (Hoke et al., 2007), as well as for environmental impact assessments for large developments, including mining and hydroelectric schemes. For example, a diverse pipistrelloid (Vespertilionidae) community at Mount Nimba in Liberia, West Africa, was uncovered associated with environmental impact assessment surveys, including the identification of three hitherto undescribed new species and a new genus (Monadjem et al., 2013a;Decher et al., 2015;Hutterer et al., 2019). ...
... Based on this assumption, this taxon is known from just three localities: Mount Nimba (and surrounding uplands), Liberia; Wonegizi Mountains, Liberia; and Mount Béro, Guinea (Wolton et al., 1982;Koopman et al., 1995;Fahr et al., 2006;Monadjem et al., 2016). The closest locality for M. inflatus s.s. is at least 2,000 km away in eastern Nigeria (Happold, 2013b), and no other large Miniopterus specimens have been collected in the intermediate area, despite extensive surveys in a number of localities e.g., Thaï and Comoé National Parks in Côte d'Ivoire (Fahr and Kalko, 2011), the Simandou Range in eastern Guinea (Decher et al., 2015), the Fouta Djallon mount ains in central Guinea (Weber and Fahr, 2007) or anywhere in Ghana or Sierra Leone (Grubb et al., 1998;Happold, 2013bHappold, , 2013c. Therefore, M. nimbae is probably an endemic to the upland areas of northern Liberia and south-eastern Guinea, and may be shown to also occur in the upland area of western Côte d'Ivoire at and around Mount Nimba. ...
... It has been recorded from Mount Nimba, which straddles Liberia, Guinea and Côte d'Ivoire, and is one of the most speciose regions in Africa for bats (Herkt et al., 2016) with 59 species recorded there to date (Monadjem, et al., 2016), including one, H. lamottei, endemic to this mountain (Mona djem et al., 2013c). Furthermore, three new species have been described from this region in the past decade, all of which occur at Mount Nimba, namely Neoromicia roseveari (Monadjem et al., 2013b), N. isabella (Decher et al., 2015), and Parahypsugo hap poldorum (Hutterer et al., 2019); the last named species is also in a newly described genus. Therefore, not only is Mount Nimba species-rich in bats, it has also been overlooked in terms of biodiversity surveys. ...
The phylogenetic relationships and species limits within the chiropteran family Miniopteridae are poorly known in mainland Africa. Recent systematic studies in Madagascar have shown that this is a species-rich family, yet only eight species are currently recognized or hypothesized for continental Africa. Based on partial cytochrome b sequences and morphometric analysis, we describe a new species of Miniopterus that is endemic to a restricted, montane region of Liberia and Guinea. Furthermore, the taxonomic status of the West African Miniopterus schreibersii villiersi is resolved and shown to be a distinct species, M. villiersi, that is not closely related to M. schreibersii. Finally, the species M. inflatus is revealed to be paraphyletic, with the central African rainforest populations apparently not closely related to the savanna forms in eastern and southern Africa. Based on the results of this study, the number of Miniopterus species in Africa has increased from eight to 11, with more cryptic species likely to be discovered.
... In two recent studies of bats of the West African rainforest in Liberia and Guinea Decher et al., 2016), new specimens referred to Hypsugo were reported. Some were allocated to H. crassulus bellieri (De Vree, 1972), but one was left unidentified. ...
... Eleven new Cyt-b and one new COI sequences were generated. To compare the results with previous studies on the genera Neoromicia, Hypsugo and Pipistrellus, 17 COI sequences from Decher et al. (2016) and 14 COI sequences from were used and COI/Cyt-b sequences for 28 additional specimens were downloaded from GenBank, including two molossid bat species (genus Tadarida) serving as outgroup (Fig. 1). Collecting data, taxonomy, voucher numbers and GenBank accessions are given in Appendix I. ...
... Tropical Africa from Guinea in the west to Sudan and Somalia in the east, and south to Congo, DRC, Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya (Patterson and Webala, 2012;Bates et al., 2013;Monadjem et al., 2013;Decher et al., 2016;Van Cakenberghe et al., 2017). This genus is probably widely distributed in the rainforest zone of Africa, and occurs from 70 m to over 2,200 m a.s.l. ...
We describe a new species of vespertilionid bat from Guinea and Liberia, West Africa. In this context we evaluate previously described taxa from West Africa assigned to Pipistrellus, Neoromicia, and Hypsugo. Based on genetics, morphology and ecology we conclude that the taxon Pipistrellus eisentrauti bellieri should be elevated to species level, and that the taxa bellieri, crassulus, eisentrauti plus the new species form a monophyletic clade for which a new genus name is proposed. The new genus occurs in forested regions south of the Sahara from Senegal to Ethiopia and Somalia, from where further taxa remain to be described.
... Data on species distribution and ecology is disproportionately scarce compared to countries further east in the hotspot such as Ghana (Luiselli et al. 2019), in particular for small mammals. The most comprehensive review of Sierra Leone mammals is an annotated checklist of Grubb et al. (1998) and only one survey of bats and terrestrial small mammals has been published since then (Decher et al. 2010). As per this study, 58 species of bats, 10 species of shrews and 40 species of rodents (excluding squirrels) were known to occur in the country. ...
... Bumbuna II is located along the Seli River, approximately 25 km south-southwest of Kabala, the capital of Koinadugu District (Fig. 1) and 32 km upstream of the existing Bumbuna Phase I dam. It includes a section of the river of approximately 25 km, meandering in an east-west direction, and the transmission line connecting the Bumbuna Phase I area (hereafter: Bumbuna I; Decher et al. 2010) and Bumbuna II. The projected reservoir area covers a surface of 115 km . ...
... Echolocation frequencies were well above 60 kHz (Table 5; Happold 2013b), which excludes the morphologically similar M. gigas that is known to use lower frequencies up to 56 kHz. The striped leaf-nosed bat or M. gigas was also observed in Bumbuna I, but the individual was not clearly identified (Decher et al. 2010). Macronycteris vittatus is listed as "Near Threatened" on the IUCN Red List (IUCN 2019). ...
Sierra Leone is situated at the western edge of the Upper Guinean Forests in West Africa, a recognised biodiversity hotspot which is increasingly threatened by habitat degradation and loss through anthropogenic impacts. The small mammal fauna of Sierra Leone is poorly documented, although bats and rodents account for the majority of mammalian diversity. Based on morphological, genetic and echolocation data, we recorded 30 bat (Chiroptera), three shrew (Soricomorpha) and eleven rodent (Rodentia) species at the Seli River in the north of the country in 2014 and 2016, during a baseline study for the Bumbuna Phase II hydroelectric project. In 2016, 15 bat species were additionally documented at the western fringe of the Loma Mountains, a recently established national park and biodiversity offset for the Bumbuna Phase I dam. Three bat species were recorded for the first time in Sierra Leone, raising the total number for the country to 61. Further, two bat species are threatened and endemic to the Upper Guinean Forest and several taxa of small mammals are poorly known or represent undescribed species. Overall, the habitats of the project area supported a species-rich small mammal fauna including species of global conservation concern. Suitable mitigation measures and/or offsets are necessary to maintain biodiversity and ecosystems in a region that is under high human pressure.
... This IUCN Habitat 1967/1968197519771982 study 1 -These two distinct species have not yet been named and were not distinguished in previous surveys (see Monadjem et al., 2013b for further details); 2 -This probably represents a distinct species Miniopterus villiersi restricted to West Africa (Fahr et al., 2006); 3 -This species was mentioned by Fahr (2013e) from the Liberian side of Mt Nimba; 4 -This may represent a distinct species Mops leonis (Monadjem and Fahr, 2007). 5 -This may represent a distinct species Rhinolophus alticolus (Monadjem and Fahr, 2007); 6 -This may represent a distinct species Pipistrellus bellieri (Fahr, 2013c); 7 -This represents a new species that is currently being described (R. Hutterer, personal communication); 8 -This represents a recently described species (Decher et al., 2015); 9 -This taxon may be conspecific with Pipistrellus grandidieri, which is currently only known from East Africa (Thorn et al., 2007); 10 -Published records of Pipistrellus kuhlii and P. rusticus from Mount Nimba have been reassigned to P. hesperidus (Monadjem and Fahr, 2007); 11 -The record by Wolton et al. (1982) was originally published as Scotophilus dinganii but reassigned to S. nux by Monadjem and Fahr (2007) paths of bats such as rivers and streams, swampy areas, paths through forest or at the ecotone between savanna and forest. They were also placed at the entrance of mine adits. ...
... The results of this study support this, as this species was only recorded in old growth forest. In a recent molecular study, Decher et al. (2015) showed that this species groups with other members of the genus Hypsugo, corroborating the results of a karyological study (Volleth et al., 2001). We have therefore assigned this species to Hypsugo. ...
... It was referred to as Neoromicia sp. 1 by Monadjem et al. (2013a) due to the absence of an enlarged anterior premolar in the upper jaw. Decher et al. (2015) reported on four new specimens collected in the Simandou Range, confirming its specific distinction, and suggested that it belongs in the genus Hy psugo. The species is currently being described (R. Hut terer, personal comunication). ...
Mount Nimba, covering 674 km2, straddles Liberia, Guinea and Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) in West Africa and is situated in thetransition zone between the tropical forest zone to the south and moist woodlands to the north. Mount Nimba supports an exceptional biodiversity, with a number of endemic plants, invertebrates and vertebrates restricted to the massif, including the bat Hipposideros lamottei. Previous surveys suggested a high bat richness of 41 species associated with the mountain. During a series of surveys conducted in 2008–2012, we found that the bat diversity in this region far surpasses earlier figures and currently is 59 species. At least one bat species is entirely restricted to the mountain, with several other near-endemics or Upper Guinea forest endemics. Three species are listed as threatened by the IUCN, including one Critically Endangered. Furthermore, the conservation statuses of nine taxa have yet to be evaluated by the IUCN, several of which are recently described species and are likely to be threatened. This study highlights the irreplaceability of Mount Nimba for the conservation of bat diversity on the African continent, and draws attention to its protection.
... Our karyotyped specimen from Ivory Coast showed 99.2% COI sequence identity with a specimen from Guinea previously classified as N. cf. somalica (Decher et al., 2015). However, the specimen from Guinea had much darker brown fur than the more palish brown or sandy colouration typically observed in N. somalica (Decher et al., 2015). ...
... somalica (Decher et al., 2015). However, the specimen from Guinea had much darker brown fur than the more palish brown or sandy colouration typically observed in N. somalica (Decher et al., 2015). This suggests that this specimen and our individual with a choco late brown fur both represent N. guineensis. ...
Phylogenetic relationships and species delimitation in African Vespertilionini have been a long-standing subject of debate and are still controversial, although recent molecular analyses have shed light onto some of these issues. In this study we employed a comparative cytogenetics approach for the delineation of chromosomal homology and for the detection of shared chromosomal characters, which were then used to support proposed phylogenetic relationships. Here, we present karyotype analyses of five African Vespertilionini, Laephotis kirinyaga (2n = 32), Neoromicia guineensis (2n = 26), Pseudoromicia brunnea (2n = 36), Nycticeinops happoldorum (2n = 24), and Nycticeinops schlieffenii (2n = 34), which were complemented by mitochondrial DNA sequence analysis for species classification of all our specimens. Our cytogenetic analyses revealed that three derived Robertsonian fusion chromosomes, 7/11, 8/9, and 10/12, characterize the karyotypes of four African Vespertilionini genera, i.e. Laephotis, Neoromicia, Afronycteris, and Pseudoromicia, for which we propose to constitute a new subtribe, Laephotina. A rare chromosomal rearrangement, an X-autosome translocation, was found in the studied N. guineensis female. The genus Nycticeinops is characterized by a high intrageneric karyotype diversity. In only two of all four analyzed species, i.e. N. happoldorum and N. crassulus, a common chromosomal feature, the fusion product 1/13 was detected. Further, for the recently described East African serotine, L. kirinyaga, we present the second record for West Africa. The cytochrome b sequence of our N. guineensis specimen from Ivory Coast showed 4% divergence to that of its closest relative, N. somalica from Kenya.
Key words: Nycticeinops macrocephalus, Nycticeinops eisentrauti, chromosomal homology, COI, RAG2
... Previous analyses of African pipistrelle-like bats have documented genetic diversity but more modest morphological differentiation that have resulted in unstable taxonomic arrangements and poorly understood systematic relationships. These unresolved relationships have obscured true bat diversity in many regions (Decher et al., 2015;Hutterer et al., 2019;Monadjem et al., 2020). Recent work by Monadjem, Richards, et al. (2021), Monadjem, Demos, et al. (2021), reviewing nearly all the known sub-Saharan pipistrelle-like bats in the tribes Vespertilionini and Pipistrellini, elucidated the systematic relationships of many bat clades within these tribes. ...
... As currently understood (Juste et al., 2023;Monadjem, Demos, et al., 2021), Pseudoromicia is hypothesized to contain nine species: P. brunnea (Thomas, 1880), P. isabella (Decher, Hutterer, & Monadjem et al., 2016[in Decher et al., 2015), P. kityoi (Monadjem, Kerbis, Peterhans, Nalikka, Waswa, Demos, & Patterson, 2021[in Monadjem, Richards, et al., 2021)), P. nyanza (Monadjem, Patterson, Webala, & Demos, 2021[in Monadjem, Richards, et al., 2021)), P. rendalli (Thomas, 1889), P. roseveari ( (Monadjem, Richards, Taylor, & Stoffberg, 2013)), P. tenuipinnis (Peters, 1872), an undescribed species from Tanzania (Monadjem, Demos, et al., 2021), and a newly described oceanic island species, P. sp., from Principe Isl. (Juste et al., 2023). ...
The Cameroon Volcanic Line, which divides the Congo Basin fauna from the West African fauna, is a known area of high endemism for various taxa, but the region’s bat fauna has received little attention. We review variation in morphological and molecular (mitochondrial Cytochrome b) characters in the Tropical African vespertilionid bat genus Pseudoromicia. Assessment of this variation indicates the existence of a new species of Pseudoromicia, from the Mbam Minkom Massif in the Centre Region of Cameroon. The new species is diagnosable by sequence data and is morphologically similar to its putative sister taxon, P. kityoi, from Uganda. Although we suggest that it be assigned to the IUCN category of Data Deficient, there should be some concern as to the conservation status of this species: the Mbam Minkom Massif ecosystem is threatened due to lack of legal conservation frameworks and exposure to increasing human pressure. The new species is in a clade with P. roseveari and P. kityoi. These three species may be relicts of a single widespread species originating in the West African “white-winged” group of Pseudoromicia that then spread east across the tropical moist broadleaf forest into East Africa, and are now restricted to a few upland rainforest patches in West Africa (P. roseveari), in outliers of the Cameroon Volcanic Line region (Pseudoromicia sp.), and the Lake Victoria area (P. kityoi). The smaller, white-winged species are hypothesized to be ancestral, with one extant putative species (P. rendalli) also extending into East and southern Africa (Van Cakenberghe & Happold, 2013 Van Cakenberghe, V., & Happold, M. (2013). Pipistrellus rendalli, Rendall’s Pipistrelle. In M. Happold & D. Happold, (Eds.), Mammals of Africa. Volume IV. Hedgehogs, shrews and bats (pp. 645–647). Bloomsbury Publishing. [Google Scholar]). The larger, dark-winged taxa likely dispersed to East Africa and subsequently back to West Africa (e.g., Pseudoromicia sp., P. roseveari). Our data illustrate the potential importance of the Dahomey Gap and climatic changes in the evolution of this group of species.
http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:30929BAA-4043-422D-B209-16CAB826043E
... Recent molecular approaches focusing on the Vespertilionidae (e.g., Hoofer and Van Den Bussche 2003;Koubínová et al. 2013), and particularly a series of recent papers focusing on the African pipistrelle-like bats (Monadjem et al. 2013;Decher et al. 2015;Monadjem et al. 2021aMonadjem et al. , 2021b, have established a stable taxonomic reorganization of these forms and their systematics at a supra-specific level. These studies, using molecular markers summarized in Monadjem et al. (2021a), suggest: (1) a sister relationship between the groups Neoromicia, Nycticeinops, and Hypsugo; (2) the split of the former genus Neoromicia into four differentiated genera (Neoromicia, Laephotis, Pseudoromicia, and Afronycteris); and (3) the description of several new species within these new genera, also supported by the shape of skulls and bacula. ...
... Similarly, other new pipistrelle-like bats have been recently described and taxonomically assigned. These include P. roseveari (Monadjem et al. 2013), P. isabella (Decher et al. 2015), Pipistrellus dhofarensis (Benda et al. 2016), Nycticeinops happoldorum (Hutterer et al. 2019), Pipistrellus simandouensis (Monadjem et al. 2021b); and, in Madagascar, Pipistrellus raceyi (Bates et al. 2006), and Laephotis robertsi (Goodman et al. 2012). The fact that the new systematics has incorporated all these new taxa without requiring further adjustments suggests that the African vespertilionid bats are currently organized in a robust and lasting taxonomic arrangement. ...
We describe a population of pipistrelle-like bats from Príncipe Island (Gulf of Guinea, Western Central Africa) as a new species based on the molecular and morphological characteristics of six specimens collected more than 30 years ago. The description of this new species was not possible until the traditionally entangled systematics of the whole pipistrelle group was clarified in recent years with the inclusion of molecular techniques and adequate species sampling. In this new taxonomic framework, the new species was clearly included within the dark-winged group of the recently described genus Pseudoromicia. The pipistrelles from Príncipe Island present a moderately inflated skull in lateral view with inner upper incisors that are moderately bicuspids and a baculum distinctly long with expanded tips. Besides these morphological characters, the new bat species is distinguished by its dwarfism, being the smallest species recognized within the genus. The ecology and conservation status of this endemic island species are unknown and field studies are urgently needed to evaluate the situation and conservation threats to this new species in its natural habitat.
... For instance, mist net studies of the bat fauna of Mount Nimba, Liberia, in the 1960s and 1970s recorded 29 species (Monadjem et al., 2016). More recent, multiple surveys employing both mist nets and harp traps and with the description of many new species (Monadjem et al., 2013a(Monadjem et al., , 2013b(Monadjem et al., , 2020Decher et al., 2015;Hutterer et al., 2019), have brought the cumulative number of bat species to 59, although multiple habitats are included in their survey. Therefore, we expect that the combination of molecular techniques that allow for the relatively easy identification of cryptic species and intensive surveys that deploy complementary trapping and acoustic sampling techniques across multiple habitats will uncover additional hidden diversity, likely raising the number of bats from our study area. ...
... This contrast reflects the bias due to using mist nets over a long survey period at Tai, versus our more limited use of the technique. We also report higher richness than other forest sites at Simandou, Guinea (Decher et al., 2015), Okomu National Park, Nigeria (Tanshi et al., 2019), and Mount Cameroon (Mongombe et al., 2020) where mist nets were predominantly used. However, similar survey efforts within forest-savanna mosaic systems show higher species richness (Fahr and Kalko, 2011). ...
... Our capture results are similar to findings of other comparable surveys reported elsewhere in West Africa (Decher et al. 2015;Fahr & Ebigbo 2003). Decher et al. (2015) reported 312 individuals of 26 species belonging to eight families, whereas Fahr & Ebigbo (2003) reported 276 bats of 21 species belonging to six families. ...
... Our capture results are similar to findings of other comparable surveys reported elsewhere in West Africa (Decher et al. 2015;Fahr & Ebigbo 2003). Decher et al. (2015) reported 312 individuals of 26 species belonging to eight families, whereas Fahr & Ebigbo (2003) reported 276 bats of 21 species belonging to six families. On the other hand, surveys with fewer captures report fewer bat species (Angelici et al. 2000;Decher & Fahr 2007;Monadjem, Fahr & Allee 2007;Denys et al. 2013). ...
Knowledge of the bat fauna in Nigeria is limited due to use of outdated collection techniques, and infrequent sampling effort. To advance knowledge of bat diversity in the country, a survey of bats from three localities:—Emu, Okomu National Park (ONP), and Ososo—in southern Nigeria was conducted using mist nets set at canopy and at ground level from February–September 2011. During 28 capture nights involving a total of 202.7 mist net/nights, 239 individuals belonging to 27 bat species in eight families (Emballonuridae, Hipposideridae, Megadermatidae, Molossidae, Nycteridae, Pteropodidae, Rhinolophidae, and Vespertilionidae) were recorded. A total of 130, 64, 45 individuals of 8, 13 and 11 species were recorded from Emu, Okomu, and Ososo, respectively. Two new country records, Casinycteris campomaanensis and Chaerephon aloysiisabaudiae, both collected from Okomu National Park, are reported for Nigeria. Whereas the former species was collected in a canopy high stacked mist net setup, the latter was collected in a ground level mist net, demonstrating the value of employing contemporary and complementary sampling techniques especially in such understudied regions of Africa.
... Malaysia is based on long-term intensive use of harp traps and mist netting surveys to capture high-flying frugivorous and insectivorous bats (Kingston et al., 2003;Kingston et al., 2006). Although intense multi-method sampling with rigorous harp trapping is limited across Africa , Afrotropical forest bat assemblages are suggested to be more diverse than previously believed (Decher et al., 2015;, and equatorial forest-savanna mosaic assemblages in West Africa report 57 and 60 species at Comoe National Park and Mt Nimba, respectively Monadjem et al., 2016). Yet, equatable contemporary comparisons based on comparable sampling data across Paleotropical regions are lacking. ...
Bat species commonly comprise at least 50% of tropical mammalian assemblages, but Afrotropical bat faunas have been little studied leading to perceptions that they are depauperate. Here, we compare alpha taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity of insectivorous bats belonging to the narrow‐space foraging ensemble from a bat diversity hotspot in Nigeria to species‐rich sites in Indonesia and Malaysia, using previously published data. The Nigerian site is protected unlogged forests at Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary and Cross River National Park. For comparison, we targeted similar unlogged forest sites in Southeast Asia: Indonesia—Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park Forest in Sumatra; and Kakenauwe Forest Reserve on Buton Island, Sulawesi; and another in Malaysia—Krau Wildlife Reserve. All sites were sampled using comparable methods, with an emphasis on harp traps that effectively capture the forest‐interior ensembles. We also compare regional beta diversity of bat assemblages in ecoregions using occurrence data (literature, unpublished records, and online natural history collections) from the Lower Guinean Forest and the Malay Peninsula. We demonstrate comparable alpha taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity of narrow‐space bats among sites in Nigeria and Indonesia, but greater diversity in Malaysia. Turnover and overall beta diversity of bats among ecoregions was comparable between the Lower Guinean Forest and the Malay Peninsula, but nestedness was higher in the latter. Our results reiterate the value of harp traps in generating bat survey data that allows equatable comparisons of “mist net avoiders” in the Paleotropical forest understory. Our findings have implications for regional and local bat conservation.
... The discovery of Myotis nimbaensis brings the known number of bat species in the Nimba Mountains to 62 species (Monadjem et al., 2016. Five new species of bats have been described from the region in the last decade: M. nimbaensis (this study), Neoromicia roseveari , N. isabella (Decher et al., 2015), Parahypsugo happoldorum (Hutterer et al., 2019), and Miniopteris nimbae . Two species are endemic to the mountain range (Myotis nimbaensis and Hipposideros lamottei) and two more are highly restricted regional highland endemics (Hipposideros marisae and Rhinolophus ziama; Monadjem et al., 2016). ...
The genus Myotis is a diverse group of vespertilionid bats found on nearly every continent. One clade in this group, the subgenus Chrysopteron, is characterized by reddish to yellowish fur and, in some cases, visually striking dichromatic wing pigmentation. Here, we describe a new dichromatic species of Myotis (Chrysopteron) from the Nimba Mountains in Guinea. The new species is superficially similar to Myotis welwitschii, but phylogenetic analyses based on cytochrome b data indicated that it is actually more closely related to M. tricolor. Discovery of this new taxon increases the number of Myotis species known from mainland Africa to 11 species, although patterns of molecular divergence suggest that cryptic species in the Chrysopteron clade remain to be described. This discovery also highlights the critical importance of the Nimba Mountains as a center of bat diversity and endemism in sub-Saharan Africa.
... 3.1.6.6 Pseudoromicia roseveari (Monadjem et al. 2013) Seven individuals were captured, two males and one female from Kpoda (Guinea), a single female from Luyeama (Liberia), and two males and a female from Obeyammai (Liberia). This recently described species, has been previously recorded from the Liberian side of Mt Nimba (Monadjem et al. 2013b), and in north-eastern Guinea (Decher et al. 2015). The species is currently only known from the Upper Guinea rainforest zone. ...
The Upper Guinea rainforest zone in West Africa is considered a biodiversity hotspot and contains important habitats for threatened and endemic mammals, yet this region remains poorly known particularly for small mammals. The aim of this study was to survey small mammals in a Liberian and Guinean cross-border conservation area, the Ziama-Wonegizi-Wologizi landscape. We recorded a total of 52 small mammal species, including 26 bats, 15 rodents, 10 shrews, one otter-shrew, of which one rodent species was new to science (Colomys sp. nov.). We also documented the first country records of the bats Chaerephon aloysiisabaudiae, Pseudoromicia brunnea and Pipistrellus inexspectatus from Guinea, and the shrews Crocidura douceti and Crocidura grandiceps from Liberia. Furthermore, we recorded the recently described bat Nyc-ticeinops happoldorum from Wologizi and Ziama, and we documented the presence of Micropotamogale lamottei at Wologizi, which represents the fourth known locality for this globally threatened species. Finally, the forests of Wologizi and Ziama support numerous threatened species. The results of our survey demonstrate the importance of this region for small mammals and support the creation of a transboundary protected area that will encompass the entire forest landscape.
... Goodman et al., 2010;Ralph et al., 2015), Pteropodidae (Nesi et al., 2013;Hassanin et al., 2015), Rhinolophidae (Benda & Vallo, 2012;Taylor et al., 2012;Kerbis Peterhans et al., 2013) and Vespertilionidae (e.g. Monadjem et al., 2013b;Brooks & Bickham, 2014;Decher et al., 2015;Goodman et al., 2017;Hassanin et al., 2017). ...
Examination of historical and recent collections of small Rhinolophus bats revealed cryptic taxonomic diversity within southern African populations previously referred to as R. swinnyi Gough, 1908 and R. landeri Martin, 1832. Specimens from Mozambique morphologically referable to R. swinnyi were phylogenetically unrelated to topotypic R. swinnyi from the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa based on cytochrome b sequences and showed distinctive echolocation, baculum and noseleaf characters. Due to their genetic similarity to a previously reported molecular operational taxonomic unit (OTU) from north-eastern South Africa, Zimbabwe and Zambia, we recognize the available synonym (R. rhodesiae Roberts, 1946) to denote this distinct evolutionary species. This new taxon is genetically identical to R. simulator K. Andersen, 1904 based on mtDNA and nuclear DNA sequences but can easily be distinguished on morphological and acoustic grounds. We attribute this genetic similarity to historical introgression, a frequently documented phenomenon in bats. An additional genetically distinct and diminutive taxon in the swinnyi s.l. group (named herein, R. gorongosae sp. nov.) is described from Gorongosa National Park, central Mozambique. Specimens from Mozambique referable based on morphology to R. landeri were distinct from topotypic landeri from West Africa based on mtDNA sequences, and acoustic, noseleaf and baculum characters. This Mozambique population is assigned to the available synonym R. lobatus Peters, 1952.
... dISTRIBUTIoN. Tropical Africa from Guinea in the west to Sudan and Somalia in the east, and south to Congo, DRC, Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya(PATTERSoN & WEBAlA 2012, BATES et al. 2013, moNAdjEm et al. 2013, dEcHER et al. 2016, VAN cAKENBERgHE et al. 2017). This genus is probably widely distributed in the rainforest zone of Africa.Parahypsugo macrocephalus sp. ...
A new species of the vespertilionid bat genus Parahypsugo is described from Central Africa, increasing the number of species of the genus at least to five. The new taxon occurs in montane forests of Rwanda and eastern DR Congo and is larger than any other of the four known species. In skull measurements , it is the largest species of the genus.
... For certain groups ( particularly the pipistrelloid genera of Neoromicia, Hypsugo and Pipistrellus) additional voucher specimens were collected. This was necessitated by the fact that these species are virtually impossible to identify correctly in the field and in fact several new species have been described to science from the Mount Nimba region based on our collections [12,39,40]. Identification was based on Monadjem et al. [13]. ...
Bats play important ecological roles in tropical systems, yet how these communities are structured is still poorly understood. Our study explores the structure of African bat communities using morphological characters to define the morphospace occupied by these bats and stable isotope analysis to define their dietary niche breadth. We compared two communities, one in rainforest (Liberia) and one in savannah (South Africa), and asked whether the greater richness in the rainforest was due to more species 'packing' into the same morphospace and trophic space than bats from the savannah, or some other arrangement. In the rainforest, bats occupied a larger area in morphospace and species packing was higher than in the savannah; although this difference disappeared when comparing insectivorous bats only. There were also differences in morphospace occupied by different foraging groups (aerial, edge, clutter and fruitbat). Stable isotope analysis revealed that the range of δ¹³C values was almost double in rainforest than in savannah indicating a greater range of utilization of basal C3 and C4 resources in the former site, covering primary productivity from both these sources. The ranges in δ¹⁵N, however, were similar between the two habitats suggesting a similar number of trophic levels. Niche breadth, as defined by either standard ellipse area or convex hull, was greater for the bat community in rainforest than in savannah, with all four foraging groups having larger niche breadths in the former than the latter. The higher inter-species morphospace and niche breadth in forest bats suggest that species packing is not necessarily competitive. By employing morphometrics and stable isotope analysis, we have shown that the rainforest bat community packs more species in morphospace and uses a larger niche breadth than the one in savannah.
... The iron-rich soils of some mountainous massifs in this region have encouraged mining projects that have in turn spurred the completion of some bat surveys (Fahr et al., 2006). On the other hand, the discovery of an exceptionally diverse bat fauna in some forested areas such as Mount Nimba or Ziama, have also led scientists to deepen the study of this group (Brosset 2003, Decher et al 2015, Monadjem et al 2016. Finally, the Ebola outbreak that took place in 2014 led to some bat sampling work in this region, especially in the Meliandou area (Guekedou prefecture) where the rst cases were recorded ( Sáez et al., 2015). ...
Current knowledge about the bat fauna from the Republic of Guinea is still poor and corresponds mainly to forested highlands of the Nzérékoré region (Guinée forestière). A total of 65 species have been recorded for the country so far. This work provides records and some data on the ecology of bats captured during a bat sampling carried out in 2017 in the Guéckédou prefecture, in order to determine if they contained Non-retroviral integrated RNA viruses (NIRVs) from Zaire Ebolavirus (EBOV) in its genome. A total of 82 specimens were captured in 8 sampling points during 5 sampling nights. A first species identification was made in the field but a wing membrane biopsy was taken for a later genetic confirmation of the species. Eleven species could be identified with confidence (> 95%). Three of these species (Rhinolophus fumigatus, Hippossideros abae and Chaerephon nigeriae) are recorded for the first time in the Republic of Guinea. A fourth possible new bat species, Neoromicia sp., could not be confirmed at species level due to have shown an identity level only at 93% with the closest species Neoromicia brunneus in the cytochrome b marker used.
... Only two records of G. egeria were previously known in the South West region of Cameroon (forest zone). The works of Decher et al. (2016) signal the presence of H. fuliginosus in the Mountainous chains of Simandou in Guinea. ...
The present study reports on a bat inventory in the Mpem and Djim National Park (Mammalia
Chiroptera), in the Centre region of Cameroon. Fourteen sites were surveyed from July 2016
to January 2017. A total of 166 bats were captured. This included 14 species, 11 genera, and
five families. All species are globally ranked as “Least Concern” except Glauconycteris egeria,
a Data Deficient species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List
of threatened species. Micropteropus pusillus and Lissonycteris angolensis were recorded
from previous surveys in all the ten regions of the country encompassing five agroecological
zones. Out of the fourteen species, ten species are known to occur both in the forest and the
savanna, while four are reported only from the forest. This study provides baseline data about
Chiropteran fauna of this protected area.
... Only two records of G. egeria were previously known in the South West region of Cameroon (forest zone). The works of Decher et al. (2016) signal the presence of H. fuliginosus in the Mountainous chains of Simandou in Guinea. ...
The present study reports on a bat inventory in the Mpem and Djim National Park (Mammalia Chiroptera), in the Centre region of Cameroon. Fourteen sites were surveyed from July 2016 to January 2017. A total of 166 bats were captured. This included 14 species, 11 genera, and five families. All species are globally ranked as “Least Concern” except Glauconycteris egeria, a Data Deficient species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of threatened species. Micropteropus pusillus and Lissonycteris angolensis were recorded from previous surveys in all the ten regions of the country encompassing five agroecological zones. Out of the fourteen species, ten species are known to occur both in the forest and the savanna, while four are reported only from the forest. This study provides baseline data about Chiropteran fauna of this protected area.
... Goodman et al., 2010;Ralph et al., 2015), Pteropodidae (Nesi et al., 2013;Hassanin et al., 2015), Rhinolophidae (Benda & Vallo, 2012;Taylor et al., 2012;Kerbis Peterhans et al., 2013) and Vespertilionidae (e.g. Monadjem et al., 2013b;Brooks & Bickham, 2014;Decher et al., 2015;Goodman et al., 2017;Hassanin et al., 2017). ...
... Just like Gembu (2012), our results suggest that small mammals are represented generally with numerous species in Equatorial forest; populations are composed of a numerically dominant species represented by a very large number of individuals and others represented by individuals who are in a much lower density. Several studies carried out in other African countries reported a large number of insect-eating bats in Ethiopia and Guinea (Kruskop & Lavrenchenko, 2008;Decher et al., 2015) but this is not the case of the current survey. The disproportion between the captured fruit bats and insectivorous bats can be explained by the fact that the former, due to the peculiarities of their biology, are on the whole easy to capture in the mist nets. ...
... Just like Gembu (2012), our results suggest that small mammals are represented generally with numerous species in Equatorial forest; populations are composed of a numerically dominant species represented by a very large number of individuals and others represented by individuals who are in a much lower density. Several studies carried out in other African countries reported a large number of insect-eating bats in Ethiopia and Guinea (Kruskop & Lavrenchenko, 2008;Decher et al., 2015) but this is not the case of the current survey. The disproportion between the captured fruit bats and insectivorous bats can be explained by the fact that the former, due to the peculiarities of their biology, are on the whole easy to capture in the mist nets. ...
As part of biodiversity monitoring in the Kisangani Forest Region, a survey of bats was conducted in three
protected areas, specifically Lomami, Yangambi and Epulu. In this pilot study, a total of 201 specimens were
collected using Japanese nets of different lengths (6, 9 and 12 m long) and a height of 2 m with a mesh size
of 2 × 2 cm to capture bats. Captured specimens were identified using determination keys appropriate for the
study area. The results of inventories in the three sites revealed that 201 specimens of captured bats belong to
2 sub-orders, 4 families, 9 genera and 12 species. The most abundant species were Epomops franqueti, Megaloglossus
woermannii and Myotis bocagii. The following species, Epomops franqueti, Megaloglossus woermanii,
Casinycteris argynnis, and Hipposideros caffer were found at all three sites. Based on the Shannon
Index, it was observed that the Lomami site has a higher specific diversity than the two other areas (Yangambi
and Epulu) 1.74 against 1.51 and 1.42 respectively.
... Different combinations of characters have recently been used for the description of previously unknown vespertilionids from the Afro-Malagasy region (e.g. Decher et al. 2015;Goodman et al. 2012Goodman et al. , 2015Monadjem et al. 2013). Even in light of problems of paraphyly and resolving the phylogeny of this family (e.g. ...
The taxonomy of sub-Saharan small insectivore bats of the family Vespertilionidae is unresolved and currently five named species of the genus Neoromicia are recognized from southern Africa, with N. melckorum considered a synonym of N. capensis. Since several years, the name “N. cf. melckorum” has been used in the literature to designate an apparently undescribed and moderately large bodied vespertilionid bat known from different localities in southern and southeastern Africa. Using new data from molecular genetics, bacular morphology, and cranio-dental characters, we conclude that N. melckorum sensu stricto is indeed nested within N. capensis and obtain the needed evidence to formally describe “N. cf. melckorum”, named herein as N. stanleyi sp. nov. On the basis of molecular and bacular evidence, N. stanleyi is found in Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Zambia, and using a combination of other characters is presumed to occur in northern South Africa and Malawi. Bayesian and maximum likelihood analyses based on 12S rRNA sequences indicate that it belongs to a clade containing four species of Neoromicia (N. capensis, N. malagasyensis, N. matroka, and N. robertsi) and Laephotis. Neoromicia stanleyi shows at least 3.2% nucleotide divergence from its closest relatives. It is larger in cranial characters than other members of the capensis group occurring in the southern portion of Africa, and a number of bacular characters distinguish N. stanleyi from N. capensis.
... Forearm length and cranial dimensions of this specimen were measured using a mechanical calliper as described in Vallo et al. (2011Vallo et al. ( , 2013 for morphological comparison with published data on S. nucella. Seven specimens of the morphologically similar African forest species S. nux (see Robbins 1983) originating from the 2003 and 2015 surveys in Ghana, and one from a baseline study at Simandou Guinea in 2008 (Decher et al. 2015) were also included into the analysis (Table 1). Total genomic DNA was extracted from ethanolpreserved tissue samples (muscle or patagium) using commercial kits and the complete cytb and a fragment of zfy were PCR amplified, sequenced, and aligned as previously described (Vallo et al. 2011(Vallo et al. , 2013. ...
Evolutionary parallelism complicates taxonomy of the bat genus Scotophilus. This implies the necessity for a careful examination of morphologically similar species. Robbins’ – or “nutlet” – house bat Scotophilus nucella is an insufficiently known taxon of the African rainforest zone based on just a handful of recorded specimens previously included in the nut-coloured house bat S. nux. Because its phylogenetic relationship to S. nux and other congeneric species is unknown, it was assessed using analysis of DNA sequences of single mitochondrial and nuclear genes. Based on the mitochondrial cytochrome b sequences, S. nucella was placed in sister position to S. nux. A genetic divergence of 7.8-9.4 % between them supports the recognition of S. nucella as a distinct species. Analysis of partial sequences of the nuclear zinc finger protein gene on the Y-chromosome corroborated the sister relationship of S. nucella and S. nux, while showing sufficient differences to consider them as two species. Mitochondrial genetic diversity in S. nucella was low, whereas S. nux showed a rather complex genetic structure over a large geographic area, despite limited sampling. The origin of the forest group of Scotophilus could be dated to the Miocene-Pliocene transition and the split leading to the contemporary species S. nucella and S. nux to the Pliocene-Pleistocene transition. Both time periods are characterized by an arid climate that led to the retreat of forest environment, which likely promoted speciation in forest refugia. Mid-Pleistocene diversification in S. nux led to a separate lineage from Guinea, West Africa, for which a subspecific status may be considered, as it differs 3.4-4.5 % from other African populations.
In this study, we collected 226 shrew specimens originating from 16 localities on the Guinean and Liberian sides of Mount Nimba. We surveyed all major vegetation zones from 400 to 1600 m above sea level (asl), including forest and savannah habitats. We recorded 11 species, whose identifications were confirmed by genetic analyses and classical morphometrics. Furthermore, we provide cytogenetic data for five of these species. The shrew community at Mount Nimba is composed of a mix of both savannah- and forest-dependent species, which is related to the peculiar position of Mount Nimba situated at the transition between lowland rainforest to the south and Guinean woodlands to the north. We recorded 11 species of shrews in syntopy in lowland rainforest, seven in edaphic savannah and mountain forest, and five in high-altitude savannah at 1600 m asl. Based on morphometric analyses, we show that these syntopic species separate along a size axis, allowing species to occupy different ecological niches, which we speculate allows them to access different food resources. We also highlight that Crocidura theresaeHeim de Balsac, 1968 from Mount Nimba has a different karyotype from that described in Côte d'Ivoire. Finally, we develop a novel identification key for shrews from Mount Nimba using external characters and standard body measurements, allowing it to be used in the field on live specimens. In total 12 shrew species are now known from Mount Nimba, which highlights its exceptional position as a tropical African biodiversity hotspot. © Publications scientifiques du Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris.
The vespertilionid genus Falsistrellus currently contains three Asian (F. affinis, F. petersi and F. mordax) and two Australian (F. tasmaniensis and F. mackenziei) species. The Australian species are characterised with distinct external and craniodental traits, whereas the Asian taxa morphologically more closely resemble Hypsugo and the published
molecular biological studies also suggested their close phylogenetic affinities. Herewith we provide sequence data of mitochondrial and nuclear genes for both Australian species for the first time, which, together with the combined cranial, dental, and multivariate statistical evidences provide a solid basis to place Asian members of Falsistrellus into Hypsugo and restrict Falsistrellus s. str. to Australia. The phylogenetic reconstructions also revealed the presence of a
well-supported ‘Australian clade’ within the Vespertilionini radiation, containing three genera, Falsistrellus, Chalinolobus and Vespadelus, endemic to the Australasian zoogeographical region.
Bats belonging to the subfamily Vespertilioninae are diverse and cosmopolitan, but their systematic arrangement remains a challenge. Previous molecular surveys suggested new and unexpected relationships of some members compared to more traditional, morphology-based classifications, and revealed the existence of taxonomically undefined lineages. We describe here a new genus and species corresponding to an enigmatic lineage that was previously identified within the genus Eptesicus in the Indomalayan Region. Phylogenetic reconstructions based on mitochondrial and nuclear genes relate the new taxon to Tylonycteris and Philetor, and show that specimens associated with this new genus represent 2 genetically distinct species. Although little is known about their ecology, locations of capture and wing morphology suggest that members of this new genus are tree-dwelling, open-space aerial insect predators. The new species has only been documented from Yok Don National Park in Vietnam, so its conservation status is uncertain until more surveying methods target the bat fauna of the dipterocarp forest in Southeast Asia.
The paper presents results of a first attempt to survey bats of the Alatish National Park (north-western
Ethiopia). Twenty-one bat species belonging to eight families and twelve genera were documented
for the first time in the Park, at least two bat species (Hipposideros abae, Pipistrellus nanulus) were
found new for the fauna of Ethiopia. The Alatish National Park is an area of high conservation value due
to its high bat species diversity and a complex structure of the fauna including elements with various
zoogeographic affinities.
Although much biological research depends upon species diagnoses, taxonomic expertise is collapsing. We are convinced that the sole prospect for a sustainable identification capability lies in the construction of systems that employ DNA sequences as taxon 'barcodes'. We establish that the mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) can serve as the core of a global bioidentification system for animals. First, we demonstrate that COI profiles, derived from the low-density sampling of higher taxonomic categories, ordinarily assign newly analysed taxa to the appropriate phylum or order. Second, we demonstrate that species-level assignments can be obtained by creating comprehensive COI profiles. A model COI profile, based upon the analysis of a single individual from each of 200 closely allied species of lepidopterans, was 100% successful in correctly identifying subsequent specimens. When fully developed, a COI identification system will provide a reliable, cost-effective and accessible solution to the current problem of species identification. Its assembly will also generate important new insights into the diversification of life and the rules of molecular evolution.
Guidelines for use of wild mammal species are updated from the American Society of Mammalogists (ASM) 2007 publication. These revised guidelines cover current professional techniques and regulations involving mammals used in research and teaching. They incorporate additional resources, summaries of procedures, and reporting requirements not contained in earlier publications. Included are details on marking, housing, trapping, and collecting mammals. It is recommended that institutional animal care and use committees (IACUCs), regulatory agencies, and investigators use these guidelines as a resource for protocols involving wild mammals. These guidelines were prepared and approved by the ASM, working with experienced professional veterinarians and IACUCs, whose collective expertise provides a broad and comprehensive understanding of the biology of nondomesticated mammals in their natural environments. The most current version of these guidelines and any subsequent modifications are available at the ASM Animal Care and Use Committee page of the ASM Web site (http://mammalsociety.org/committees/index.asp).
In July–August, 2012, a small collection of bats was made in the Republic of Congo. These 24 specimens represent 14 species, of which eight (belonging to the Hipposideridae, Vespertilionidae and Miniopteridae), are new records for the country. The current paper briefly describes the specimens, illustrates diagnostic characters to assist with future identifications, and provides insights into their taxonomy. In addition, it reviews the literature records and provides distribution data for all 43 bat species, which are included now on the country's faunal checklist. Published collecting localities for bats in Congo are mapped and discussed both in terms of their geographical distribution and in relation to the variety of habitats that have been sampled in the past. Based on the literature, predictions are made about how many species of bat may be present in Congo. Recommendations are made for future bat research and conservation in the country.
When animals move, their tracks may be strongly influenced by the motion of air or water, and this may affect the speed, energetics and prospects of the journey. Flying organisms, such as bats, may thus benefit from modifying their flight in response to the wind vector. Yet, practical difficulties have so far limited the understanding of this response for free-ranging bats. We tracked nine straw-coloured fruit bats (Eidolon helvum) that flew 42.5 ± 17.5 km (mean ± s.d.) to and from their roost near Accra, Ghana. Following detailed atmospheric simulations, we found that bats compensated for wind drift, as predicted under constant winds, and decreased their airspeed in response to tailwind assistance such that their groundspeed remained nearly constant. In addition, bats increased their airspeed with increasing crosswind speed. Overall, bats modulated their airspeed in relation to wind speed at different wind directions in a manner predicted by a two-dimensional optimal movement model. We conclude that sophisticated behavioural mechanisms to minimize the cost of transport under various wind conditions have evolved in bats. The bats' response to the wind is similar to that reported for migratory birds and insects, suggesting convergent evolution of flight behaviours in volant organisms.
Several species complexes exist within the African representatives of the genus Hipposideros and the relationships between these taxa are not yet well understood. We present evidence showing that at least seven species of Hipposideros co-occur at Mount Nimba at the northern boundary of the Upper Guinean forest zone. The species H. lamottei has been misdiagnosed previously, partly as a result of errors in published measurements. This taxon is currently known only from high-altitude grasslands in northern (Guinean) Mount Nimba. Cytochrome b sequences and echolocation calls of this species, as well as for H. marisae, are presented for the first time. Also, at least two different species groups, previously lumped in H. ruber, co-exist syntopically here. Mount Nimba apparently represents a diversity hotspot for species of Hipposideros in West Africa, and as a result may be an important site for their conservation.
The earth is now subject to climate change and habitat deterioration on unprecedented scales. Monitoring climate change and habitat loss alone is insufficient if we are to understand the effects of these factors on complex biological communities. It is therefore important to identify bioindicator taxa that show measurable responses to climate change and habitat loss and that reflect wider-scale impacts on the biota of interest. We argue that bats have enormous potential as bioindicators: they show taxonomic stability, trends in their populations can be monitored, short- and long-term effects on populations can be measured and they are distributed widely around the globe. Because insectivorous bats occupy high trophic levels, they are sensitive to accumulations of pesticides and other toxins, and changes in their abundance may reflect changes in populations of arthropod prey species. Bats provide several ecosystem services, and hence reflect the status of the plant populations on which they feed and pollinate as well as the productivity of insect communities. Bat populations are affected by a wide range of stressors that affect many other taxa. In particular, changes in bat numbers or activity can be related to climate change (including extremes of drought, heat, cold and precipitation, cyclones and sea level rise), deterioration of water quality, agricultural intensification, loss and fragmentation of forests, fatalities at wind turbines, disease, pesticide use and overhunting. There is an urgent need to implement a global network for monitoring bat populations so their role as bioindicators can be used to its full potential.
Nanonycteris veldkampi is a migrant to Nimba. Six species were kept in the laboratory to allow observations on food handling and settling behaviour, nightly food consumption and through-put times, and temporal patterns of activity. Particular attention was paid to the behaviour of the rare Scotonycteris ophiodon.-from Authors
New bats were recorded from various habitats on the Guinean side of Mount Nimba during two surveys in 2008 and coupled with a cytotaxonomic survey. A total of 152 specimens comprising 15 species in 12 genera from five families were collected,
of which 13 individuals were karyotyped. The most numerous species was Rhinolophus guineensis followed by four fruit bats (Epomops buettikoferi, Lissonycteris angolensis, Roussettus aegyptiacus, Nanonycteris veldkampii). We confirm the presence of
Hipposideros lamottei in the mine adits at 1500 m as well as the exceptional diversity of this habitat. First standard karyotypes are provided for Epomops buettikoferi and Nanonycteris intermedia. We also document for the first time karyotypes for West
African populations of Mops thersites, Lissonycteris angolensis and Roussettus aegyptiacus, and cytogenetical comparisons with the existing literature are provided. We add five new species to the list of Guinean Nimba and two to the whole Nimba list
(including Liberian side), which now stands at 42 species. This confirms the importance of Mount Nimba as a hotspot of diversity and the necessity to protect it.
The Weddell seal (Leptonychotes weddelli) in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica, has a large repertoire of underwater vocalizations (12 calls with 34 types) ranging from short pulses to long frequency-modulated sweeps. Individual vocalizations were projected under water to seals at breeding colonies to investigate their functions. Responses were affected by the time of day, length of experiment, and composition of the colony. Specific vocalizations were given in response to particular playbacks. The duration of responses changed for different types of playbacks, but the number of elements per series did not. Only functions for vocalizations associated with breeding were assigned.
Phylogenetic analyses of bacular and chromosomal GTG-band characters verify the suggestion that Eptesicus hottentotus (A. Smith, 1833) is the only true Eptesicus Rafinesque, 1820 of the six southern African species (capensis, cf. melckorum, rendalli, somalicus and zuluensis) formerly classified as Eptesicus. GTG-banded chromosomes studied in rendalli, zuluensis and capensis confirm the affiliation of all of them to the genus Neoromicia; these species were previously placed in the Pipistrellus Kaup, 1829, subgenus Neoromicia based on bacular morphology. For karyological reasons, the elevation of the subgenus Neoromicia to generic rank is established by the presence of three Robertsonian fusion chromosomes (7/11, 8/9, 10/12) as distinguishing characters. The move of Hypsugo nanus and cf. melckorum to the genus Neoromicia is indicated by chromosomal analysis and bacular morphology, respectively. The close phylogenetic relationship between Pipistrellus cf. kuhlii and P. rusticus is shown by a shared Robertsonian fusion element (11/12).
Using molecular genetics, male sexual organ morphology (baculum), and cranio-dental characters we describe a new spe-cies of the genus Neoromicia from Madagascar, N. robertsi sp. nov. It is presumed to be endemic to the island and is known from three specimens taken in montane areas of the eastern central region. The new species shows 1.0 % and 2.8% divergence in the 12S rRNA and 16S rRNA genes, respectively, from its nearest congener and is notably larger in cranio-dental measurements than other members of the genus occurring on Madagascar. This new species was previously iden-tified as N. melckorum, which is considered a junior synonym of southern African N. capensis. Neoromicia malagasyen-sis, an endemic to central western Madagascar, is the sister species to N. robertsi and the two are best considered vicariant species. Specimens provisionally assigned to N. malagasyensis, but notably smaller in baculum and skull size, and with different baculum morphology, probably represent another unknown species from the island. Given the apparent rarity of N. robertsi compared with other Malagasy members of this genus living in the eastern portion of Madagascar, it is con-sidered a taxon of conservation concern.
Two mitochondrial lineages of bats that are morphologically attributed to Hipposideros ruber have been shown to occur sympatrically in southeastern Senegal. We studied genetic diversity in these bats in the Niokolo Koba National Park using sequences of mitochondrial cytochrome b gene to determine the taxonomic status of the two genetic forms, and included skull morphology for comparison. Detailed multidimensional analysis of skull measurements indicated slight morphological differences between the two genetic forms. Exploration of peak frequency of the constant-frequency echolocation signals in a local population of Hipposideros aff. ruber was not available for both groups. Phylogenetic comparison with other available West African representatives of H. aff. ruber revealed paraphyletic relationship of the two Senegalese forms, with the less abundant form from Senegal forming a monophyletic group with that from Benin. Based on genetic divergence and sympatric occurrence, the two forms from Senegal might represent cryptic species. However, absence of nuclear gene flow between them is yet to be investigated to demonstrate their reproductive isolation.
The tribe Myonycterini comprises five fruit bat species of the family Pteropodidae, which are endemic to tropical Africa. Previous studies have produced conflicting results about their interspecific relationships. Here, we performed a comparative phylogeographic analysis based on 148 complete cytochrome b gene sequences from the three species distributed in West Africa and Central Africa (Myonycteris torquata, Lissonycteris angolensis and Megaloglossus woermanni). In addition, we investigated phylogenetic relationships within the tribe Myonycterini, using a matrix including 29 terminal taxa and 7235 nucleotide characters, corresponding to an alignment of two mitochondrial genes and seven nuclear introns. Our phylogenetic analyses confirmed that the genus Megaloglossus belongs to the tribe Myonycterini. Further, the genus Rousettus is paraphyletic, with R. lanosus, sometimes placed in the subgenus Stenonycteris, being the sister-group of the tribes Myonycterini and Epomophorini. Our phylogeographic results showed that populations of Myonycteris torquata and Megaloglossus woermanni from the Upper Guinea Forest are highly divergent from those of the Congo Basin Forest. Based on our molecular data, we recommended several taxonomic changes. First, Stenonycteris should be recognized as a separate genus from Rousettus and composed of S. lanosus. This genus should be elevated to a new tribe, Stenonycterini, within the subfamily Epomophorinae. This result shows that the evolution of lingual echolocation was more complicated than previously accepted. Second, the genus Lissonycteris is synonymised with Myonycteris. Third, the populations from West Africa formerly included in Myonycteris torquata and Megaloglossus woermanni are now placed in two distinct species, respectively, Myonycteris leptodon and Megaloglossus azagnyi sp. nov. Our molecular dating estimates show that the three phases of taxonomic diversification detected within the tribe Myonycterini can be related to three distinct decreases in tree cover vegetation, at 6.5-6, 2.7-2.5, and 1.8-1.6Ma. Our results suggest that the high nucleotide distance between Ebolavirus Côte d'Ivoire and Ebolavirus Zaire can be correlated with the Plio/Pleistocene divergence between their putative reservoir host species, i.e., Myonycteris leptodon and Myonycteris torquata, respectively.
This paper presents the results of a mammal survey conducted between 1995 and 1997 in the newly established National Park of Upper Niger in the Republic of Guinea, West Africa. Ninety-four species of mammals were recorded in the park area and its environs; 19 of these species were newly recorded or confirmed for Guinea. The fauna of the park includes about 50% of the known mammalian diversity of the country. Among the species found are West African endemics such as the Gambian mongoose Mungos
gambianus. The park, although situated in the Guinea savannah belt, includes some remnant forest, which harbours tropical forest mammals such as Thomas's galago Galagoides cf. thomasi, hump-nosed mouse Hybomys
planifrons, soft-furred rat Praomys
rostratus and flying squirrel Anomalurops sp.. This National Park is a high priority area for the conservation of the vertebrate diversity of West Africa.
Flying foxes (Pteropodidae) are key seed dispersers on the African continent, yet their migratory behavior is largely unknown. Here, we studied the movement ecology of the straw-colored fruit bat, Eidolon helvum, and other fruit bats by analyzing stable isotope ratios in fur collected from museum specimens. In a triple-isotope approach based on samples of two ecologically similar non-migratory pteropodids, we first confirmed that a stable isotope approach is capable of delineating between geographically distinct locations in Sub-Saharan Africa. A discriminant function analysis assigned 84% of individuals correctly to their capture site. Further, we assessed how well hydrogen stable isotope ratios (d 2 H) of fur keratin collected from non-migratory species (n = 191 individuals) records variation in d 2 H of precipitation water in sub-Saharan Africa. Overall, we found positive, negative and no correlations within the six studied species. We then developed a reduced major axis regression equation based on individual data of non-migratory species to predict where potentially migratory E. helvum (n = 88) would come from based on their keratin d 2 H. Across non-migratory species, d 2 H of keratin and local water correlated positively. Based on the isoscape origin model, 22% of E. helvum were migratory, i.e. individuals had migrated over at least 250 km prior to their capture. Migratory individuals came from locations at a median distance of about 860 km from the collection site, four even from distances of at least 2,000 km. Ground-truthing of our isoscape origin model based on keratin d 2 H of extant E. helvum (n = 76) supported a high predictive power of assigning the provenance of African flying foxes. Our study highlights that stable isotope ratios can be used to explain the migratory behavior of flying foxes, even on the isotopically relatively homogenous African continent, and with material collected by museums many decades or more than a century ago.
A phylogeny is presented for the western Palaearctic representatives of the weevil subfamily Cryptorhynchinae using a combination of phenotypic and genotypic characters. This phylogeny is the first for the extremely species-rich Cryptorhynchinae to use molecular data (mitochondrial CO1 and 16S as well as nuclear ribosomal 28S). The results of this study show the need for molecular tools within this morphologically cryptic group of weevils and provide a scaffold based on which genus assignment can be tested. The present study mostly corroborates the current subdivision into genera (but many of the subgeneric groups are questioned). Three new genera are described: Montanacalles gen. nov. (type species: Kyklioacalles nevadaensis Stüben, 2001), Coloracalles gen. nov. (type species: Acalles humerosus Fairmaire, 1862) and Elliptacalles gen. nov. (type species: Acalles longus Desbrochers, 1892). Relevant external characters and the male genitalia of all discussed taxa are illustrated. Three species are transferred to different genera: Kyklioacalles aubei (Boheman, 1837) (formerly: Acalles), Ruteria major (Solari A. & F., 1907) and Ruteria minosi (Bahr & Bayer, 2005) (both formerly Echinodera).
The Afrotropical leaf-nosed bat Hipposideros caffer has been traditionally regarded as a complex of populations, currently pertaining to two recognized cryptic species, H. caffer and H. ruber. Extent of distribution and morphological variation of these bats has raised concerns over whether the current perception of the complex reflects true phylogenetic relationships and taxonomic diversity. Our phylogenetic analysis of nucleotide sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene challenged the hypothesis of two cryptic species. Instead of the two reciprocally monophyletic lineages expected, corresponding to the two species, we recovered four distinct lineages with deep internal divergences. Two sister clades within a lineage of bats of H. caffer represent respectively the nominotypical form H. c. caffer, restricted to Southern Africa, and H. c. tephrus, inhabiting the Maghreb, West Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. Geographical isolation and deep genetic divergence suggest species status of both the forms. Another lineage comprises specimens of both morphotypes from West and East Africa. It probably represents a distinct species but its taxonomic assignation remains obscure. A Central African lineage of H. ruber comprises two sister clades, which become sympatric in Cameroon. Their status has to be clarified with additional evidence, since nuclear gene flow might be taking place. A further divergent lineage with H. ruber morphotype, most probably representing another distinct species, is restricted to West Africa. Although all three genetic forms of H. ruber may correspond to named taxa, their proper taxonomic assignation has to be assessed by comparison with type material.
With only five protected areas dedicated to the conservation of biodiversity (two national parks, one strict nature reserve
and two faunal reserves), Guinea has one of the smallest protected area networks in West Africa. As a result, two of the five
ecoregions of the country and six of the 14 globally threatened large and medium-sized mammals occurring in Guinea are not
found in the national protected area network. To identify areas with high biodiversity that could be included in the national
protected area network, we used the Key Biodiversity Areas (KBA) methodology. We devised a scoring system to rank the identified
KBAs according to their relative conservation significance. We identified a total of 16 KBAs throughout the country. Their
proclamation as protected areas would result in the protection of all ecoregions and all but one of Guinea’s globally threatened
large and medium-sized mammals. Twelve of the 16 KBAs have the legal status of classified forest, a status that should facilitate
the change into formal biodiversity protected areas (IUCN category I–IV). Our analysis indicates that even if only the two
areas with the highest conservation significance score, the Ziama and Diécké forests, become formal protected areas, this
would provide protection to both the western Guinean lowland forests, one of the most threatened ecoregions in Africa, and
to 11 of the 14 threatened large and medium-sized mammals occurring in Guinea.
A recent collection of bats from The Gambia presented in this publication comprises 17 species, four of which (Lissonycteris angolensis, Pipistrellus (P.) rusticus, P. (Neoromicia) guineensis, and Scotoecus hirundo) represent new records for The Gambia, raising the total number of known species from 27 to 31. Notes on taxonomy, distribution, ecology and biology are presented.
We report on the results of a bat survey of the Pic de Fon, Simandou Range, southeastern Guinea. This bat survey was part of a larger Rapid Assessment Program (RAP) study conducted by Conservation International in an area currently explored for iron-ore mining by an international company. We document a speciose bat assemblage characterised by forest species, including bats such as Epomops buettikoferi, Rhinolophus guineensis and Hipposideros jonesi that are endemic to Upper Guinea or West Africa. The sympatric occurence of three species of Kerivoula is noteworthy, with K. phalaena representing the first record for Guinea. Moreover, three individuals of Welwitsch's Mouse-eared bat, Myotis welwitschii, were captured during the survey. This is the first record for West Africa and represents a range extension of minimally 3400 km to the northwest from the nearest known localities. We review the distribution of this species in Africa and conclude that the species shows a paramontane distribution pattern (sensu Koopman, 1983). We also report M. welwitschii for the first time from Burundi. Our results of the RAP survey as well as the occurrence of bat species that are endemic to the Upper Guinea Highlands highlight the outstanding regional importance of the montane habitats of West Africa in general, and of the Simandou Range in particular for the conservation of bats in Africa.
The present catalogue documents all the chiropteran type specimens found in the collections of the Zoological Museum of the Humboldt-University, Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin (ZMB). Due to insufficient labeling at the time of receipt and description, many types have until now remained unrecognized, labelled with synonymous or incorrect names. From more than 13,000 specimens examined, we identified 540 types (86 holotypes, 249 syntypes, 22 lectotypes, 168 paratypes or paralectotypes, 5 of ambiguous status, 10 missing). These types belong to 218 described bat species, of which 116 are currently accepted (valid) species names. Lectotypes were designated for the original descriptions of Chil-onycteris Boothi, Chiroderma villosum, Molossus ferox, Phyllorhina bicornis, Phyllostomus spiculatus, Rhinolophus capensis, Vespertilio Bocagii, Vespertilio Schreibersii and Vesperus cubanus.
This volume covers a numerous but hitherto poorly-documented portion of the mammal fauna of Uganda, and presents a definitive reference to identification and distribution of species, and to research on them within that country. It covers all known Chiroptera (bats), Soricidae (shrews), Chrysochloridae (golden-moles), Macroscelididae (elephant-shrews), Leporidae (hares), and the single species each of Erinaceidae (hedgehog) and Potamogalidae (otter-tenrec). It complements Delany's (1975) treatment of Uganda rodents (which now needs much updating). The project began with identification of a year's collection (Donald A. Smith Collection, DAS) from Uganda taken by the senior author's friend Donald A. Smith of Ottawa; mostly of rodents, bats, and shrews, recently donated to Royal Ontario Museum. In the decades since, collections from over 15 major institutions in North America and Europe have been studied and analyzed. We are grateful for the initial contribution of Jonathan Baranga. Also chapters on the 4 Uganda species of elephant-shrews and 3 of leporids owe much to previous studies by Gordon Corbet (BMNH) and John Flux respectively. Sources of specimens from each locality, and references to them are given. We list the museums and their hosting staff, and those whose correspondence aided us. Over the whole project, good friends Donald Smith, Allan Brooks + of Miracle Beach, B.C., (who often provided literature from his library), Murray Johnson + of Tacoma, WA, and specially Dieter Kock (SMF), Karl Koopman + (AMNH), and John Hill + (BMNH) gave needed encouragement. Robert Wilihnganz helped with computer problems (+ deceased). A total of 95 species of bats were identified by us from Uganda specimens and 3 more are considered valid records although Uganda specimens have not been located: 2 species from the late Robert Hayman (BMNH), and 1 from John Williams (NMK). We welcome details of several rare and newly discovered Uganda bats in a chapter by Robert Kityo, Julian Kerbis Peterhans, Michael Huhndorf, and Rainer Hutterer. 33 species of shrews were identified in museums, including description of a new species (see chapter by Julian Kerbis Peterhans and Rainer Hutterer). One given Type locality is corrected from Uganda to Kenya, another may be changed from D. R. Congo to Uganda. It is hoped that these records will be of considerable use not only to zoologists, but also to medical, agricultural, forestry, and conservation workers.
In this paper we describe new or additional records of four species of shrews (Soricidae), nine species of bats (Hipposideridae, Vespertilionidae, Molossidae), and one species of rodent (Muridae) from Ghana. These records add to our knowledge of the distribution of small mammals in Ghana especially those occurring on the Accra Plains. A Zoogeographic explanation for these distributional data is sought in the context of the Dahomey Gap phenomenon.
The seasonal movements of Eidolon helvum, Myonycteris torquata and Nanonycteris veldkampi were studied. During the dry season, E. helvum roosts in at least one large colony (c500 000 individuals) in the southern forest zone of Ivory Coast. Following the birth of young in February, males and females move into the savanna zones, and the progressive establishment and decline of colonies along a S-N axis indicates that E. helvum migrates at least to the Niger River basin by the middle of the wet season (July). During the dry season, both M. torquata and N. veldkampi are absent from savanna sites, but are common in the forest zone. With the onset of the rainy season in March, catch rates of both species increase first at a southern Guinea savanna site and subsequently at a savanna site 400km to the north, indicating that both species migrate at least to the southern Sudanese savanna zone during this season. Both sexes of N. veldkampi migrate, but the migration of M. torquata is restricted to the immature male cohorts. The high amplitude of the seasonal fluctuations in fruit abundance at savanna sites creates a wet-season surplus of food which results in low intra- and inter-specific competition levels at these sites relative to the forest zone. This may provide the conditions leading to the observed annual migrations.-Author
The basis of this book is the application of aspects of bat biology to the study of their community ecology. Firstly, introductory chapters examine reasons for studying bat communities and offer an overview of bat systematics and biology. Further sections bring together information on: methodological problems; examples of bat communities from around the world; resource limitation and competition in bat communities; patterns in species richness, taxonomic and trophic diversity, morphological diversity, packing, and biomass and abundance; and finally correlations of these patterns with other well-known empirical or theoretical patterns suggesting underlying process sequences. -J.W.Cooper
"Measuring Biological Diversity assumes no specialist mathematical knowledge and includes worked examples and links to web-based software. It will be essential reading for all students, researchers, and managers who need to measure biological diversity."--BOOK JACKET.
Significance
Understanding the evolution of malaria parasites and their phylogenetic context is key to understanding this important human disease. We report an unexpected high diversity of malaria parasite genera in bats from West African forest ecosystems. Two lineages are closely related to Plasmodium parasites from rodents, which are common laboratory model systems, and the results are consistent with switches between these hosts over their evolutionary history. Bats are considered important reservoir hosts for many pathogens, particularly viruses, and have unusually high immunological tolerances. The abundant malaria parasite infections are consistent with this exceptional immunology and suggest that in bats the parasites repeatedly evolved life cycles away from disease-causing replication in red blood cells to less pathogenic propagation in liver tissue.
The taxonomy of some African vespertilionid bats of uncertain status is studied. Analysis of the original description of Vesperugo flavescens Seabra 1900 and subsequent examination and discussion of a syntype specimen of V flavescens disclose discrepancies leading to the conclusion that it is a nomen dubium. V flavescens is furthermore preoccupied by Nannugo pipistrellus var. flavescens Koch 1865. The holotype of Vesperugo grandidieri Dobson 1876 is examined, its species characters, especially of its skull and dentition, clearly established, and the taxon is removed from the synonymy of Neoromicia capensis (Smith 1829) as a well-defined species, Pipistrellus (sensu lato) grandidieri, that differs from any subgenus recently associated with that genus. Eptesicus capensis angolensis Hill 1937 is considered to be conspecific with R grandidieri, the former representing a subspecies in south-central and west-central Africa.
273 Cheiroptères, répartis en 18 espèces, ont été récoltés dans la région du Mont Nimba Liberia, Afrique occidentale, vers la limite nord de la forêt, à des altitudes de 500 à 1 350 m. La majorité (90%) des captures élaient représentées par des Pteropidae, par suite de l'usage intensif de filets de nylon. Myonycteris torquata leptodon est, de loin, l'espèce la plus abondante. Une liste de récoltes et d'observations écologiques est suivie d'une tentative de synthèse de certains problèmes généraux: répartition des espèces, biotopes, reproduction, associations, migrations, facteurs anthropiques. 5 espèces nouvelles sont signalées pour le Liberia.
La prospection des prairies d'altitude du Mont Nimba (zone guinéenne) a permis la capture de 4 Rhinolophidés nouveaux pour cette région, ce qui porte à 39 le nombre d'especes de Chiroptères connus du Mont Nimba. Description d'une espèce nouvelle, Hipposideros lamottei.
The pipistrelloid bats (genera Hypsugo, Neoromicia, and Pipistrellus) of Africa have been poorly studied, partly as a result of problems associated with species identification. This paper examines the diversity of pipistrelloid bats from Mount Nimba, a biodiversity hotspot in the Upper Guinean rainforest zone. Traditional morphometrics, the structure of the baculum, and sequences of the cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene were used to identify taxa. Species richness was exceptionally high and included at least ten taxa identifiable on molecular grounds. Of these, existing names could be assigned to six taxa. A seventh taxon was described as a species new to science, Neoromicia roseveari sp. nov., and was distinguished on molecular grounds, craniodental morphology, and baculum structure. The remaining taxa may refer to as-yet undescribed species but we lacked sufficient material to formally describe them here. The high species richness of pipistrelloid bats on Mount Nimba may be associated with the transition zone from lowland rainforest to moist savannah. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London
We studied the movements and foraging behaviour of Epomophorus gambianus and Rousettus aegyptiacus during the dry season in Rhodesia. The nightly activity of both species was concentrated in the riparian forest where they fed on the fruits of Diospyros senensis. Epomophorus gambianus roosted during the day high in the thick canopy of Trichelia emetica or Kigelia africana along the river banks and began foraging, each one in a preferred D. senensis shrub, before 1845 hrs. Rousettus aegyptiacus arrived in the study area approximately one hour later and appeared to forage in groups. The temporal separation of the feeding times of the two species of bats may provide a basis for the partitioning of a single species food resource.
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