Status and distribution of the Pemba flying fox Pteropus voeltzkowi - Entwistle, A. C.; Corp, N. (Oryx, 1997)
The Pemba flying fox Pteropus voeltzkowi is a fruit bat endemic to the island of Pemba, off Tanzania. A total of 41 reported roosting areas were visited in June and July 1995, and 19 occupied roosts were located, most of them in the west of the island, and on small islets off the west and south of Pemba. Roosts were situated in primary forest, secondary forest (overgrown clove plantations), traditional graveyards and mangrove areas. A range of sizes and species of trees were used as roosts. The minimum population of P. voeltzkowi was estimated to be between 4600 and 5500 individuals. In total 94 per cent of the population was located at 10 roost sites. Larger colonies were associated with roosts located in forests, which together supported 75 per cent of the total bat population. Colonies were of mixed sex, but no young or obviously pregnant females were observed. Major threats to this species appeared to be hunting and deforestation (both logging and clearing for agriculture) and P. voeltzkowi is considered to be endangered.
Keywords: Chiroptera; conservation; day roosts; distribution; East Africa; ecology; endemic; habitat preferences; Indian Ocean; Mammalia; Pemba; Pteropodidae; Pteropus voeltzkowi; roosting behaviour; Tanzania; Vegetation

A stereological comparison of villous and microvillous surfaces in small intestines of frugivorous and entomophagous bats: Species, inter-individual and craniocaudal differences - Makanya, A. N.; Maina, J. N.; Mayhew, T. M.; Tschanz, S. A.; Burri, P. H. (J. Exp. Biol., 1997)
The extents of functional surfaces (villi, microvilli) have been estimated at different longitudinal sites, and in the entire small intestine, for three species of bats belonging to two feeding groups: insect- and fruit-eaters. In all species, surface areas and other structural quantities tended to be greatest at more cranial sites and to decline caudally. The entomophagous bat (Miniopterus inflatus) had a mean body mass (coefficient of variation) of 8.9 g (5%) and a mean intestinal length of 20 cm (6%). The surface area of the basic intestinal tube (primary mucosa) was 9.1 cm-2 (10%) but this was amplified to 48 cm-2 (13%) by villi and to 0.13 m-2 (20%) by microvilli. The total number of microvilli per intestine was 4 times 10-11 (20%). The average microvillus had a diameter of 89 nm (10%), a length of 1.1 mu-m (22%) and a membrane surface area of 0.32 mu-m-2 (31%). In two species of fruit bats (Epomophorus wahlbergi and Lissonycteris angolensis), body masses were greater and intestines longer, the values being 76.0 g (28%) and 76.9 g (4%), and 73 cm (16%) and 72 cm (7%), respectively. Surface areas were also greater, amounting to 76 cm-2 (26%) and 45 cm-2 (8%) for the primary mucosa, 547 cm-2 (29%) and 314 cm-2 (16%) for villi and 2.7 m-2 (23%) and 1.5 m-2 (18%) for microvilli. An increase in the number of microvilli, 33 times 10-11 (19%) and 15 times 10-11 (24%) per intestine, contributed to the more extensive surface area but there were concomitant changes in the dimensions of microvilli. Mean diameters were 94 nm (8%) and III nm (4%), and mean lengths were 2.8 mu-m (12%) and 2.9 mu-m (10%), respectively. Thus, an increase in the surface area of the average microvillus to 0.83 gm-2 (12%) and 1.02 mu-2 (11%) also contributed to the greater total surface area of microvilli. The lifestyle-related differences in total microvillous surface areas persisted when structural quantities were normalised for the differences in body masses. The values for total microvillous surface area were 148 cm-2 g-1 (20%) in the entomophagous bat, 355 cm-2 g-1 (20%) in E. wahlbergi and 192 cm-2 g-1 (17%) in L. angolensis. This was true despite the fact that the insecteater possessed a greater length of intestine per unit of body mass: 22 mm g-1 (8%) versus 9-10 mm g-1 (9-10%) for the fruit-eaters.
Keywords: Chiroptera; digestive tract; East Africa; Epomophorus wahlbergi; histology; Kakamega; Kenya; Lissonycteris angolensis; Miniopteridae; Miniopterus inflatus; Nairobi; Naivasha; Pteropodidae; ultrastructure

Systematics, Distribution, and Zoogeography of Mammals of Tunisia - Gharaibeh, B. M. (Ph.D. Thesis, 1997)
The taxonomic identity of each species of mammals that occurs in the Republic of Tunisia, North Africa has been determined to the subspecific level. History of names was followed and descriptions of types were studied to better provide opinions on the nomenclature and minimize the confusion existing in the literature concerning the taxonomic identity of many Tunisian species. Keys to distinguish related taxa were constructed and maps depicting the distribution of species within the borders of Tunisia and in the whole North African region were drawn. These maps show original records obtained during this study as well records reported in the literature. Furthermore, the available natural history information on the Tunisian mammal fauna and background information on the vegetation, rainfall, topography, and land forms of the country were presented.Chromosomal G-band data for Meriones shawi from Tunisia, hitherto unavailable, was used to reexamine proposed chromosomal homologies and update the phylogenetic tree of Family Gerbillidae. G-banded chromosomal complement for Jaculus orientalis was reported. Notable differences in pelage color were seen between populations of the North African elephant shrew, Elephantulus rozeti in northern and southern Tunisia. However, no disjunction was seen in morphometric measurements analyzed using principal components analysis (PCA).Differences in pelage color between 5 populations of Gerbillus campestris are discussed. Two populations of this gerbil, one on the Island of Djerba and the other around Medenine deserve systematic studies using molecular data or multivariate analyses of morphometric measurements. Differences in pelage color, mandibular foramina number, color of foot pad hair and other characters between 2 populations of Jaculus jaculus were also noted and further investigation of the taxonomic status recommended.Zoogeographical analyses of the mammalian faunal elements in Tunisia and the whole area were made. Two groups of bats were recognized. Bat fauna that invaded Tunisia from the north, and one that invaded from the south. Land mammals were in three groups: strictly Mediterranean zone, widely-distributed Mediterranean, and Saharan mammals. Species richness in quadrates 1° latitude X 1° longitude spanning Tunisia was discussed. The species richness provided evidence to areas of high biodiversity. Areas that deserve conservation are Djebel Zaghouan, Ghardimaou, Tamerza-Kasserine, and Dahar-Djeffara plain. Finally, conclusions and recommendations for future mammalian studies in the area were suggested.
Keywords: Artiodactyla; biogeography; Carnivora; Chiroptera; chromosomes; cytogenetics; distribution; Erinaceomorpha; Hipposideridae; karyotypes; Lagomorpha; Macroscelidea; Mammalia; Miniopteridae; Molossidae; North Africa; Rhinolophidae; Rhinopomatidae; Rodentia; Soricidae; systematics; Tunisia; Vespertilionidae

Taxonomic report of small mammals from Côte-d’Ivoire - Lim, B. K.; van Coeverden de Groot, P. J. (J. Afr. Zool., 1997)
Based primarily on fieldwork in rainforest of southwestern Côte-d’Ivoire supplemented with incidental collections from savanna areas, we report taxonomic, distributional, and reproductive information for 36 species of small mammals. As indicated by literature references, all 17 species collected from Parc National du Mont Peko represent the first records from this area with three species (Hipposideros beatus, H. caffer, and Pipistrellus nanulus) representing the first documented occurrence for the country. Although Parc National de Ta{\"ı has been well studied, seven of nine species of bats are the first records for this area. Of the 17 species with appropriate data, 14 species had evidence of reproductive activity during February, the end of the dry season. Small mammals play an important role in the ecosystem such as seed dispersal for reforestation and controlling insect populations through predation. Documenting the biodiversity within Côte-d’Ivoire will assist in conservation efforts to manage the remaining fragmented habitats.
Keywords: [Chaerephon pumilus] Tadarida pumila; [Mops condylurus] Tadarida condylura; [Neoromicia brunnea] Eptesicus brunneus; [Neoromicia nana] Pipistrellus nanus; biodiversity; Carnivora; Chiroptera; Côte d’Ivoire; distribution; ecology; Faunistik; Glauconycteris beatrix; Glauconycteris poensis; Hipposideridae; Hipposideros abae; Hipposideros beatus; Hipposideros caffer; Hipposideros cyclops; Hipposideros ruber; Ivory Coast; Lamto; Mammalia; Megaloglossus woermanni; Micropteropus pusillus; Mimetillus moloneyi; Molossidae; morphology; Mt. Peko-National Park; Myotis bocagei; Nanonycteris veldkampi [veldkampii]; Nycteridae; Nycteris arge; Nycteris grandis; Nycteris macrotis; Pipistrellus eisentrauti [bellieri]; Pipistrellus nanulus; Pteropodidae; reproduction; Rhinolophidae; Rhinolophus alcyone; Rhinolophus landeri; Rodentia; Scotonycteris zenkeri; Scotophilus viridis; Soricidae; species richness; systematics; Ta{\"ı National Park; taxonomy; Vespertilionidae; West Africa

Taxonomy and biogeography of African fruit bats (Mammalia, Megachiroptera). 5. The genera Lissonycteris Andersen, 1912, Myonycteris Matschie, 1899 and Megaloglossus Pagenstecher, 1885; general remarks and conclusions; annex: Key to al - Bergmans, W. (Beaufortia, 1997)
This is the last part in a series comprising all Megachiroptera known from mainland Africa and its islands. The concept of the genus Lissonycteris Andersen, 1912 is reviewed and adapted. For the first time, its differential characters vis-a-vis the genera Rousettus Gray, 1821, and Myonycteris Matschie, 1899 as described in the literature have been checked against material of all the species involved. As a consequence, a number of these characters are considered of no taxonomic value and have not been retained, while some new differential characters are described. Lissonycteris and Myonycteris are considered different from Rousettus on generic level, while Lissonycteris and Myonycteris are more closely related to one another than each of these to Rousettus. New observations on all African and extralimital species of Rousettus are reported and the retention of Boneia Jentink, 1879 as a subgenus by Corbet et al. (1991, 1992) is rejected. Lissonycteris is considered a monotypic genus, with as single species the polytypic L. angolensis (Bocage, 1898). The subspecies angolensis, smithii (O. Thomas, 1908) and ruwenzorii (Eisentraut, 1965) are recognized, and two new subspecies, petraea and goliath, are described. Myonycteris consists of three species, torquata (Dobson, 1878), brachycephala (Bocage, 1889) and relicta Bergmans, 1980. Their present taxonomy is conform earlier reports (Bergmans, 1976, 1980a). M. torquata is considered a monotypical species. M. relicta is reported from Zimbabwe for the first time, extending its known distribution 1400 km southwards. Following Kirsch et al. (1995) and Springer et al. (1995), the subfamily Macroglossinae is considered a synonym of the subfamily Pteropodinae. The taxonomy and distribution of Megaloglossus woermanni Pagenstecher, 1995 are reviewed. In a final section, general remarks and conclusions are presented on the supraspecific taxonomy of the Megachiroptera and a classification is proposed which includes the raise to subfamily rank of the Rousettinae and Epomophorinae and the recognition of the new tribes Scotonycterini and Plerotini; some recent publications bearing on African species taxonomy are reviewed; and an appraisal is made of the distribution patterns found throughout this series. A vicariance model is proposed to explain the occurrence in Asia and Africa of both Pteropus Brisson, 1762 and Rousettus Gray, 1821. For woodland species, the regions SE Tchad/E Central African Republic/W Sudan; N half of Tanzania; and E Angola/adjoining Zaire have been identified as having (had) a barrier effect on dispersal. For forest species, important divides appear to be in the regions Volta River/Dahomey Gap; SE Nigeria; C and S Gabon; C Zaire, from N to S; the Western Rift system; several barriers in E Africa. Finally, an illustrated key to all African Megachiroptera is given, primarily based on externally visible characters and designed for use in the field.
Keywords: Africa; Chiroptera; Lissonycteris angolensis; Lissonycteris angolensis goliath ssp. nov.; Lissonycteris angolensis petraea ssp. nov.; Madagascar; Megaloglossus woermanni; Myonycteris brachycephala; Myonycteris relicta; Myonycteris torquata; Pteropodidae; Pteropus; revision; Rousettus; São Tomé; species description; systematics; Vegetation; zoogeography

The terrestrial vertebrates of the Bazaruto Archipelago, Mozambique: A biogeographical perspective - Downs, C. T.; Wirminghaus, J. O. (J. Biogeogr., 1997)
Data on the birds, amphibians, reptiles and mammalian species of the Bazaruto Archipelago, Mozambique are presented. Species diveristy was compared to island size and with data for other East African Islands. There was a low degree of endemism and the different faunas (particularly for mammals and the herpetofauna) were mainland in origin and a nested subset of that on the mainland. Several mammal and bird families were absent from the islands suggesting a process of relaxation on these relatively young islands with little colonization. Reasons for the observed diversity are discussed.
Keywords: [Chaerephon pumilus] Tadarida pumila; Amphibia; Aves; Chiroptera; East Africa; island biogeography; Mammalia; Molossidae; Mozambique; nested subsets; Reptilia

Trophic resource partitioning and competition between the two sibling bat species Myotis myotis and Myotis blythii - Arlettaz, R.; Perrin, N.; Hausser, N. (J. Anim. Ecol., 1997)
1. Niche theory predicts that the stable coexistence of species within a guild should be associated, if resources are limited, with a mechanism of resource partitioning. Using extensive data on diets, the present study attempts: (i) to test the hypothesis that, in sympatry, the interspecific overlap between the trophic niches of the sibling bat species Myotis myotis and M. blythii-which coexist intimately in their roosts is effectively lower than the two intraspecific overlaps; (ii) to assess the role played by interspecific competition in resource partitioning through the study of trophic niche displacement between several sympatric and allopatric populations.2. Diets were determined by the analysis of faecal samples collected in the field from individual bats captured in various geographical areas. Trophic niche overlaps were calculated monthly for all possible intraspecific and interspecific pairs of individuals from sympatric populations. Niche breadth was estimated from: (i) every faecal sample; (ii) all the faecal samples collected per month in a given population (geographical area).3. In every population, the bulk of the diets of M. myotis and M. blythii consisted of, respectively, terrestrial (e.g. carabid beetles) and grass-dwelling (mostly bush crickets) prey. All intraspecific trophic niche overlaps were significantly greater than the interspecific one, except in Switzerland in May when both species exploited mass concentrations of cockchafers, a non-limiting food source. This clearcut partitioning of resources may allow the stable, intimate coexistence observed under sympatric conditions.4. Relative proportions of ground- and grass-dwelling prey, as well as niche breadths (either individual or population), did not differ significantly between sympatry and allopatry, showing that, under allopatric conditions, niche expansion does not take place. This suggests that active interspecific competition is not the underlying mechanism responsible for the niche partitioning which is currently observed between M. myotis and M. blythii.
Keywords: allopatric; Beutespektrum; Carabidae; Chiroptera; Coleoptera; competition; diet; distribution; ecology; Europe; faecal samples; Fledermäuse; foraging; habitat preferences; Mammalia; Morocco; Myotis blythii; Myotis myotis; Myotis punicus; Nahrung; Nahrungsspektrum; Nahrungswahl; niche breadth; niche overlap; niche shift; North Africa; sibling species; Switzerland; sympatric; Tettigoniidae; Verbreitung; Vespertilionidae

Vestigial teeth in the genus Scotoecus (Mammalia: Chiroptera): Adapted dental formulae for vespertitionids with vestigial teeth - van der Merwe, M. (S. Afr. J. Zool., 1997)
Some members of the genus Scotoecus Thomas, 1901 have an inconspicuous vestigial tooth which occurs on both sides of the upper jaw between the canine and following premolar. This tooth is regarded as permanent premolar P3 in vestigial form.
Keywords: Chiroptera; dentition; Malawi; morphology; Scotoecus albofuscus woodi; Scotoecus hindei [hirundo]; South Africa; teeth; tooth formula; Vespertilionidae

Allozyme variation of the Egyptian rousette (Rousettus egyptiacus; Chiroptera, Pteropodidae) in the Gulf of Guinea (West-Central Africa) - Juste B., J.; Machordom, A.; Ibáñez, C. (Biochemical Systematics and Ecology, 1996)
Genetic variation among the populations of Rousettus egyptiacus from the islands of the Gulf of Guinea (Bioko, Pr{\'ıncipe and São Tomé) and two other continental populations of R. egyptiacus, (R{\'ıo Muni and Guinea Conakry) was studied in order to evaluate their systematic and evolutionary relationships. Insular and mainland populations had similar levels of genetic variation. The data support the subspecific assignment of the São Tomé and Pr{\'ıncipe populations of R. egyptiacus.
Keywords: Africa; allopatric; Chiroptera; distribution; endemic; Equatorial Guinea; evolution; genetics; Gulf of Guinea; island biogeography; Mammalia; phylogeny; Pr{\'ıncipe; Pteropodidae; Rousettus aegyptiacus princeps; Rousettus aegyptiacus tomensis; Rousettus aegyptiacus unicolor; São Tomé; speciation; systematics; taxonomy

Amniogenesis in Schreiber’s long-fingered bat Miniopterus schreibersii natalensis - van der Merwe, M. (S. Afr. J. Zool., 1996)
Schreiber’s long-fingered bat, Miniopterus schreibersii natalensis is seasonally monoestrous, carrying a single foetus in the right uterine horn. Implantation is superficial, the amnion being a pleuramnion. Lateral folds, originating from the ends of the caudal and cephalic folds, are the main contributors in the formation of the definitive amnion. The formation of the amnion by folding is preceded by the development of a primitive amniotic cavity within the inner cell mass which eventually disappears.
Keywords: Chiroptera; histology; Miniopteridae; Miniopterus natalensis; reproduction; South Africa

Bat community patterns on the Accra Plains of Ghana, West Africa - Decher, J. (Ecology and Conservation of Small Mammal Communities on the Accra Plains of Ghana, 1996)
Keywords: allopatric; Artenzahl; behaviour; biodiversity; Chiroptera; communities; conservation; Dahomey Gap; distribution; ecology; Faunistik; first record; Fledermäuse; foraging; Ghana; guilds; habitat preferences; Hangplätze; Mammalia; migration; morphology; Pteropodidae; rainforests; reproduction; roosting behaviour; sympatric; systematics; taxonomy; Vegetation; Verbreitung; West Africa

Bats in riverine forests and woodlands: A latitudinal transect in southern Africa - Rautenbach, I. L.; Fenton, M. B.; Whiting, M. J. (Can. J. Zool., 1996)
Using captures in mist nets and monitoring echolocation calls, we quantified bat distribution and activity and measured insect abundance as numbers of insects attracted to black lights at 15-min intervals. These data were collected simultaneously at pairs of sites in riverine and dry woodland savannah along a transect of ca. 350 km from north to south in the Kruger National Park, South Africa. The sites were situated in the north, central, and south of the park and data were collected in January 1993. Our study involved 18 sites, three pairs each in the areas of the Luvuvhu, Letaba, and Sabie rivers. Half of the sites were in riverine woodland, the others in dry woodland. No statistical association exists between bat captures and either bat activity or insect abundance. Bat activity, however, was related significantly to insect abundance. Although bats were significantly more abundant (captures) in riverine habitats than in dry woodland savannah, comparisons of bat diversity and evenness (rarefaction curves, species abundance curves, and Whittaker plots) showed no differences between these habitats. The data neither demonstrate a decline in bat diversity away from the equator nor suggest specific bat communities associated with riverine habitats. The data do demonstrate the important influence of insects on the activity patterns of insectivorous bats.
Keywords: [Chaerephon pumilus] Tadarida pumila; [Mops condylurus] Tadarida condylura; [Mops] Tadarida midas; [Neoromicia nana] Pipistrellus nanus; [Neoromicia] Eptesicus capensis; [Neoromicia] Eptesicus cf. melckorum; [Neoromicia] Eptesicus zuluensis; [Nycticeinops schlieffenii] Nycticeius schliefeni; behaviour; biodiversity; Chiroptera; community ecology; diet; ecology; Emballonuridae; Epomophorus crypturus; Epomophorus wahlbergi; Eptesicus hottentotus; Faunistik; Fledermäuse; food distribution; foraging; guilds; habitat preferences; Insecta; insectivory; Mammalia; Molossidae; Myotis tricolor; Nahrung; Nahrungsspektrum; Nahrungswahl; niche overlap; Nycteridae; Nycteris thebaica; opportunistic feeder; Pipistrellus anchietae; Pipistrellus kuhlii [hesperidus]; Pipistrellus rusticus; Pteropodidae; Rhinolophidae; Rhinolophus darlingi; Rhinolophus fumigatus; Rhinolophus simulator; Rhinolophus swinnyi; Rousettus aegyptiacus; Scotophilus borbonicus [viridis]; Scotophilus dingani; South Africa; species richness; sympatric; Tadarida aegyptiaca; Taphozous mauritianus; Vegetation; Vespertilionidae

Biodiversité du littoral mauritanien: Les Mammifères du littoral mauritanien et liste de quelques observations ornithologiques - Cosson, J.-F.; Cuisin, J.; Granjon, L.; Tranier, M.; Colas, F. (Report CIRAD-EMVT N° 010, European Union & CIRAD-EMVT, 1996)
Keywords: Aves; biodiversity; Chiroptera; coast; conservation; distribution; ecology; Eidolon helvum; Emballonuridae; Faunistik; Fledermäuse; habitat preferences; littoral; Mammalia; Mauritania; Nycticeinops schlieffenii; Pteropodidae; species richness; Taphozous sp.; Verbreitung; Vespertilionidae; West Africa

Biogeography of the bats of Madagascar - Eger, J. L.; Mitchell, L. (Biogéographie de Madagascar, 1996)
Keywords: Africa; biogeography; Chiroptera; distribution patterns; Eidolon; Emballonura; Emballonuridae; Hipposideridae; Hipposideros; Madagascar; Miniopteridae; Miniopterus; Molossidae; Mormopterus; Myotis; Pteropodidae; Pteropus; Rousettus; Scotophilus; Taphozous; Triaenops; Vespertilionidae

Catalogue of the mammals of Ethiopia and Eritrea. 7. Revised checklist, zoogeography and conservation - Yalden, D. W.; Largen, M. J.; Kock, D.; Hillman, J. C. (Trop. Zool., 1996)
Keywords: altitude; altitudinal zonation; biodiversity; biogeography; Chiroptera; conservation; distribution; ecology; elevation; Eritrea; Ethiopia; Faunistik; habitat preferences; Kerivoula eriophora; Kerivoula lanosa; Mammalia; montane; morphology; Northeast Africa; Nycteridae; Nycteris aurita; Nycteris hispida; Nycteris woodi; Rhinolophidae; Rhinolophus eloquens; Rhinolophus hildebrandtii; Rhinopoma macinnesi; Rhinopomatidae; species richness; systematics; taxonomy; Vegetation; Vespertilionidae; zoogeography

The cave breccias of Berg Aukas, Namibia: A clustering approach to mine dump paleontology - Conroy, G. C. (Journal of Human Evolution, 1996)
Keywords: Chiroptera; Emballonuridae; fossils; Hipposideridae; Mammalia; Megadermatidae; Molossidae; Namibia; palaeontology; Primates; Rhinolophidae; Southern Africa; Vespertilionidae

Conservation of western Indian Ocean fruit bats - Carroll, J. B.; Feistner, A. T. C. (Biogéographie de Madagascar, 1996)
Keywords: Africa; Chiroptera; Comoros; conservation; Eidolon dupreanum; Indian Ocean; Madagascar; Mauritius; Pteropodidae; Pteropus; Réunion; Rousettus madagascariensis; Rousettus obliviosus

Conservation, small mammals and the future of sacred groves in West Africa - Decher, J. (Ecology and Conservation of Small Mammal Communities on the Accra Plains of Ghana, 1996)
Keywords: biodiversity; Chiroptera; communities; conservation; Dahomey Gap; distribution; ecology; Faunistik; Fledermäuse; Ghana; habitat preferences; Mammalia; plants; Pteropodidae; rainforests; Rodentia; sacred forests; sacred groves; Soricomorpha; species richness; sympatric; Vegetation; Verbreitung; West Africa; zoogeography

Description of electrophoretic loci and tissue specific gene expression in the horseshoe bat genus Rhinolophus (Rhinolophidae) - Maree, S.; Grant, W. S. (S. Afr. J. Zool., 1996)
The number of loci encoding an enzyme system, tissue specificity of gene expression and the degree of gene expression in various tissues are often not mentioned in evolutionary studies, but could indirectly provide evidence of evolutionary relationships. Protein electrophoresis was used to study the distributions and tissue specificity of gene expression of enzymes encoded by 42 loci in Rhinolophus clivosus and R. landeri, the genetically most divergent of the ten species of southern African horseshoe bats. No differences in gene expression were found between R. clivosus and R. landeri and isozyme patterns may be compared with other bat species to derive possible phylogenetic relationships.
Keywords: allozymes; Chiroptera; enzymes; genetics; protein electrophoresis; Rhinolophidae; Rhinolophus clivosus; Rhinolophus landeri; South Africa

Die Chiroptera der Elfenbeinküste (unter Berücksichtigung des westafrikanischen Raumes): Taxonomie, Habitatpräferenzen und Lebensgemeinschaften - Fahr, J. (Diploma Thesis, 1996)
Keywords: behaviour; biodiversity; Chiroptera; communities; Côte d’Ivoire; distribution; ecology; endemic; Faunistik; Fledermäuse; habitat preferences; Hangplätze; island biogeography; Ivory Coast; Mammalia; morphology; Pteropodidae; roosting behaviour; species richness; systematics; taxonomy; Vegetation; Verbreitung; West Africa; zoogeography

Distribution patterns of terrestrial mammals in KwaZulu-Natal - Rowe-Rowe, D. T.; Taylor, P. J. (S. Afr. J. Zool., 1996)
Distribution patterns, plotted by eighth-degree squares (7.5’ x 7.5’), of the 162 mammal species recorded in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa were examined in relation to the combined factors of vegetation type, climate, and altitude (= bioregions); and in relation to protected areas within the nine bioregions. Highest species richness was recorded in the warmest most heterogeneous (vegetation) bioregions, and lowest in a cool montane region. Species richness was intermediate in relatively homogeneous, predominantly grassland bioregions. Mammalian biodiversity in KwaZulu-Natal is concentrated in the savanna regions in the north-east of the province, although further species-rich areas are found in the north-west and south-west for carnivores, and in the central region for many of the smaller mammals (Insectivora, Chiroptera, Rodentia). Analysis of taxonomic resemblances between bioregions distinguished taxonomically distinct ’savanna’ and ’grassland’ groups. Taxonomic resemblances between bioregions were generally lowest in bats (i.e. greatest bioregion specificity) and highest in carnivores (i.e. lowest specificity). In total, 92% of the mammal species occur in one or more protected areas. The percentages of species within protected areas in each of the bioregions are generally high (68-100%). In four of the bioregions the amount of land occupied by protected areas is adequate (6-96%) and protected areas are large, but in the other five bioregions the opposite holds (<2% protected) and populations within them may not be viable.
Keywords: altitude; Carnivora; Chiroptera; climate; conservation priorities; distribution; elevation; Mammalia; protected areas; Rodentia; Soricomorpha; South Africa; species richness; Vegetation

Does calcium constrain reproductive activity in insectivorous bats? Some empirical evidence for Schreibers’ long-fingered bat (Miniopterus schreibersii) - Bernard, R. T. F.; Davison, A. (S. Afr. J. Zool., 1996)
Insects are a poor source of dietary calcium and since they are seasonally abundant, it has been suggested that calcium availability may play a significant role in controlling the timing of reproduction in insectivorous bats. To assess the possible role of dietary calcium, we have measured bone calcium concentrations in female and male long-fingered bats (Miniopterus schreibersii) through a full reproductive cycle. The results indicate that winter was not a period of calcium stress and, therefore, that seasonal changes in insect abundance and dietary calcium availability are not a satisfactory explanation for the occurrence of delayed implantation in the long-fingered bat. Bone calcium concentrations of females did not differ significantly throughout pregnancy, indicating that the insects available in winter and early summer were sufficient to meet the calcium demands of pregnancy. Lactating females had the lowest bone calcium concentrations of all specimens, supporting the suggestion that lactation is indeed a period of severe calcium stress in aerial insectivores. We conclude that parturition is probably timed so that lactation coincides with the period of maximal insect abundance and corresponding dietary calcium availability.
Keywords: behaviour; Chiroptera; diet; ecology; energetics; evolution; Fledermäuse; flying; food availability; foraging; insectivory; lactation; Mammalia; metabolism; Miniopteridae; Miniopterus schreibersii; Nahrung; physiology; reproduction; resource availability; seasonality; South Africa

Ecolocacion en Murciélagos: Estudios desde una Perspectiva Ecológica y Evolutiva - Guillén-Servent, A. (Ph.D. Thesis, 1996)
Introduccion/Material y Metodos/Variacion Individual de la Frequencia/La Frequencia como Character Adaptativo/Casos de Estudio
Keywords: acoustic communication; Africa; animal communication; behaviour; Bioko; Chiroptera; echolocation; ecology; Europe; evolution; Fledermäuse; foraging; Gulf of Guinea; habitat preferences; Hipposideridae; Hipposideros commersoni; Hipposideros ruber; island biogeography; Mammalia; morphology; Pr{\'ıncipe; Rhinolophidae; Rhinolophus euryale; Rhinolophus ferrumequinum; Rhinolophus hipposideros; Rhinolophus mehelyi; São Tomé; Spain

Experimental inoculation of plants and animals with Ebola virus - Swanepoel, R.; Leman, P. A.; Burt, F. J.; Zachariades, N. A.; Braack, L. E. O.; Ksiazek, T. G.; Rollin, P. E.; Zaki, S. R.; Peters, C. J. (Emerging Infectious Diseases, 1996)
Thirty-three varieties of 24 species of plants and 19 species of vertebrates and invertebrates were experimentally inoculated with Ebola Zaire virus. Fruit and insectivorous bats supported replication and circulation of high titers of virus without necessarily becoming ill; deaths occurred only among bats that had not adapted to the diet fed in the laboratory.
Keywords: Chaerephon pumilus; Chiroptera; Ebola; Epomophorus wahlbergi; Filoviridae; infectious diseases; Molossidae; Mops condylurus; Pteropodidae; South Africa; virology

Histological convergent evolution of the accessory submandibular glands in four species of frog-eating bats - Tandler, B.; Phillips, C. J.; Nagato, T. (European Journal of Morphology, 1996)
The accessory submandibular glands in four species of bats were examined by electron microscopy. These four species represent two independently evolved lineages. The fringe-lipped bat, Trachops cirrhosis, is a Neotropical phyllostomid species, whereas the false vampire bats of southeast Asia, Megaderma lyra and M. spasma, and the heart-nosed bat, Cardioderma cor, of East Africa are megadermatid species. These glands show extreme deviation from typical salivary gland histology: their secretory endpieces are in the form of follicles and their ducts lack the cytological details that permit identification of diverse duct segments. Despite their unusual histology, the secretory endpieces in M. lyra, M. spasma, and C. cor consist of secretory cells that conform to typical secretory cell morphology. In contrast, secretion by follicular cells in T. cirrhosis involves unusual cytoplasmic bodies, and their mitochondria frequently have intracristal crystalloids. Ducts in all four species consist of simple cuboidal to columnar epithelium without basal striations. Follicles and ducts in all four bats are surrounded by numerous myoepithelial cells and are heavily innervated by hypolemmal nerve terminals. Despite their widely separated geographical ranges, all four bat species consume frogs and other vertebrates. Frogs and toads often possess toxic cutaneous glands that provide a chemical defense against predation. It is postulated that the unusual accessory glands in the four frog-eating species secrete toxin-neutralizing salivary factors. The follicular form of the endpieces permits storage of preformed saliva and their coterie of myoepithelial cells and hypolemmal nerve terminals facilitates the sudden and rapid expulsion of saliva into the oral cavity during the consumption of noxious amphibians.
Keywords: Amphibia; Anura; behaviour; Beutespektrum; Cardioderma cor; carnivory; Chiroptera; diet; East Africa; feeding habits; Fledermäuse; Kenya; Mammalia; Megaderma lyra; Megaderma spasma; Megadermatidae; morphology; Nahrung; Nahrungsspektrum; Nahrungswahl; Phyllostomidae; physiology; prey selection; salivary glands; Trachops cirrhosus

Cardioderma cor - Csada, R. (Mammalian Species, 1996)
Keywords: Africa; Cardioderma cor; Chiroptera; Megadermatidae; review

An improved chemiluminescent tag for bats - Hovorka, M. D.; Marks, C. S.; Muller, E. (Wildlife Society Bulletin, 1996)
Chemical lights and gelatin capsules prepared using Cyalume® fluid are widely used by researchers and public educators to mark bats, but may be associated with risks to bats from Cyalume leakage. Newly available 2.9-mm × 24-mm lightsticks weigh significantly less than gelatin-capsule light tags and are protected by a durable plastic shell that reduces risks to bats. We tested Cyalume as a wetting agent on bat fur and compared effects of biting and chewing, duration of visibility, and maximum distance of visibility for miniature lightsticks and gelatin-capsule light tags. We found that Cyalume leaked from gelatin capsules, which softened and ruptured after explosure to chewing and saliva, precipitation, and high humidity. Bats did not puncture or damage the miniature lightsticks. There was no significant difference in duration of luminescence or maximum distance of visibility between miniature lightsticks and gelatin-capsule light tags. Miniature lightsticks provided equal or superior results to gelatin-capsule light tags as a light-tagging technique under field conditions.
Keywords: [Mops condylurus] Tadarida condylura; [Neoromicia nana] Pipistrellus nanus; [Neoromicia] Eptesicus capensis; [Nycticeinops schlieffenii] Nycticeius schlieffeni; [Scotophilus cf. viridis] Scotopholus borbonicus; behaviour; Chiroptera; Emballonuridae; Kruger National Park; marking; methods; Molossidae; Nycteridae; Nycteris thebaica; observation; Scotophilus dinganii; South Africa; tagging; Taphozous mauritianus; Vespertilionidae

Rhinopoma microphyllum - Schlitter, D. A.; Qumsiyeh, M. B. (Mammalian Species, 1996)
Keywords: Africa; Asia; behaviour; Chiroptera; diet; distribution; ecology; Fledermäuse; morphology; Nahrung; reproduction; review; Rhinopoma microphyllum; Rhinopomatidae; systematics; taxonomy

Taphozous mauritianus - Dengis, C. A. (Mammalian Species, 1996)
Keywords: Africa; behaviour; Chiroptera; diet; distribution; ecology; Emballonuridae; Fledermäuse; habitat preferences; Madagascar; morphology; Nahrung; reproduction; review; systematics; Taphozous mauritianus; taxonomy

Mammals of the Guinea-Congo rain forest - Happold, D. C. D. (Proc. R. Soc. Edinb. (B), 1996)
The species composition, and the number of species of mammals, in the Guinea-Congo rain forests varies with locality. The highest species richness (up to 130 species) is found in parts of the West Central and East Central rain forest regions, and the lowest richness occurs in the Western Region and on the periphery of the rain forest zone. Rodents and bats contribute the greatest number of species (about 25% each), with lesser numbers of primates, duikers, and small insectivores; the relative numbers within each order is similar in all localities regardless of the composition and total numbers of species. The geographical distribution of each species is due to the alternating periods of forest fragmentation and expansion in the past, and the species-specific response to these environmental changes. There are about equal numbers of arboreal (30%), terrestrial (35%) and aerial (27%) species, each species within these categories having very specific habitat requirements within the forest. Most rain forest mammals are either frugivores (36%) or insectivores (37%): monkeys are mainly arboreal frugivores and folivores, and most prosimians are arboreal insectivores; forest duikers are terrestrial frugivores, and terrestrial rodents are frugivores or omnivores. Leaves, in spite of their abundance, are rarely eaten because of their low nutritive value and the difficulties of digesting them and consequently folivores (9%) are uncommon. Insects form the principal food for insect-bats and shrews. Mammals exhibit well-defined food partitioning in relation to food selection and body size, and therefore competition for food is probably minimal except during the dry season. Reproduction is more or less continuous in rodents and artiodactyls (with peaks of births at selected seasons); in contrast, monkeys and bats have fairly precise periods when births occur, which vary according to the species. The timing of reproductive events is regulated by the rainfall regime, availability of food, and phylogenetic characteristics such as the length of gestation and body size. Mammals interact with other rainforest organisms, principally as primary and secondary consumers, pollinators, and dispersers of fruits and seeds. Most species of rain forest mammals are solitary, but a few live in monospecific groups or in polyspecific groups. Forest disturbance in recent years (especially forest clearance and hunting) has had very detrimental effects on the geographical distribution and numbers of individuals of all species of forest mammals.
in: Alexander, I. J., Swaine, M. D. & Watling, R. (eds.): Essays on the Ecology of the Guinea-Congo Rain Forest. x+356 pp.
Keywords: behaviour; biodiversity; biogeography; Central Africa; Chiroptera; communities; conservation; distribution; ecology; endemic; evolution; Faunistik; guilds; habitat preferences; Mammalia; rainforests; reproduction; review; speciation; species richness; Vegetation; Verbreitung; West Africa; zoogeography

Mantis movements by night and the interactions of sympatric bats and mantises - Cumming, G. S. (Can. J. Zool., 1996)
{Bat-insect interactions should be a useful source of case studies for the "arms race" of predator and prey adaptations; currently, well-detailed examples are needed for the formulation of general hypotheses. In this paper I add to information on bat-mantis interactions, testing four predictions of the hypothesis that mantises with ears can detect and avoid bats: that mantises will fly by night, that they will be vulnerable to bats, that echolocating bats will be better at catching deafened than normal mantises, and that mantises which can hear bats’ calls will take evasive action. I found that tagged Miomantis cf. natalica Beier flew substantially on dark nights; indoors, undeafened mantises were better at avoiding Rhinolophus clivosus (Rhinolophidae: Microchiroptera) than were deafened mantises (n = 20 pairs; Mann-Whitney test
Keywords: acoustic communication; behaviour; Beuteortung; Chiroptera; coevolution; diet; echolocation; ecology; evolution; Fledermäuse; foraging; habitat preferences; Insecta; insectivory; Mantidae; Miomantis natalica; Nahrung; predation pressure; predator avoidance; Rhinolophidae; Rhinolophus clivosus; South Africa

New distribution records of free-tailed bats (Microchiroptera: Molossidae) in Zimbabwe - Cotterill, F. P. D. (Arnoldia Zimbabwe, 1996)
New distribution records are presented for five species of free-tailed bats from Zimbabwe, and many of the specimens examined constitute significant range extensions. These include the first known specimens of Tadarida ventralis from Zimbabwe and two additional specimens of T. lobata.
Keywords: Chiroptera; distribution; ecology; Faunistik; Fledermäuse; habitat preferences; Mammalia; Molossidae; Mops condylurus; Mops midas; Southern Africa; species richness; systematics; Tadarida fulminans; Tadarida lobata; Tadarida ventralis; taxonomy; Verbreitung; Zimbabwe

New distribution records of insectivorous bats of the families Nycteridae, Rhinolophidae and Vespertilionidae (Microchiroptera: Mammalia) in Zimbabwe - Cotterill, F. P. D. (Arnoldia Zimbabwe, 1996)
The distributions of twelve species of insectivorous bats in Zimbabwe are reviewed in light of numerous new specimens which constitute significant range extensions. The first known specimens of Pipistrellus anchietai and P. melckorum are reported from Zimbabwe.
Keywords: [Neoromicia] Pipistrellus melckorum; Chiroptera; distribution; ecology; Eptesicus hottentotus; Faunistik; Fledermäuse; habitat preferences; Kerivoula lanosa; Laephotis botswanae; Mammalia; Myotis tricolor; Nycteridae; Nycteris hispida; Nycteris macrotis; Nycteris woodi; Pipistrellus anchietai [anchietae]; Rhinolophidae; Rhinolophus blasii; Rhinolophus swinnyi; Scotophilus nigrita; Southern Africa; species richness; systematics; taxonomy; Vespertilionidae; Zimbabwe

New records of bats for Uganda and Burundi - Stanley, W. T.; Kerbis Peterhans, J. C.; Kityo, R. M.; Davenport, L. (Afr. J. Ecol., 1996)
The collection of Myotis welwitschii and Pipistrellus kuhlii fuscatus in Uganda and Pipistrellus kuhlii fuscatus from Burundi is reported. These species were previously unknown from these countries. External and skull measurements are presented, as well as descriptions of pelage coloration and collecting locality and comments on distribution of the taxa.
Keywords: Burundi; Central Africa; Chiroptera; distribution; Faunistik; Fledermäuse; habitat preferences; Mammalia; morphology; mountains; Myotis welwitschii; Pipistrellus kuhlii fuscatus [hesperidus]; Ruwenzori Mts.; systematics; taxonomy; Uganda; Vespertilionidae

Notes sur les Ischnopsyllinae du Continent Africain, III. Compléments à la répartition des espèces (Insecta: Siphonaptera: Ischnopsyllidae) - Beaucournu, J.-C.; Kock, D. (Senckenbergiana biol., 1996)
First records of bat fleas are reported for Burkina Faso (Lagaropsylla anciauxi), Eritrea (Chiropteropsylla brockmani, L. ? anciauxi), Ethiopia (Lagaropsylla idae), Kenya (L. idae), Malawi (Ischnopsyllus emminus, Dampfia grahami equatoris, Lagaropsylla consularis), and Senegal (L. idae). New host species for bat fleas are Tadarida bivittata for L. anciauxi, Rhinolophus aethiops for Rhinolophopsylla ectopa, Pipistrellus rueppelli (1st African record) and P. kuhli for Ischnopsyllus emminus; the genus Scotophilus (1st African record) is a new host for Chiropteropsylla brockmani.
Keywords: Africa; Burkina Faso; Chaerephon bivittatus; Chiroptera; Chiropteropsylla brockmani; Dampfia grahami equatoris; distribution; ectoparasites; Eritrea; Ethiopia; Fledermäuse; host species; Insecta; Ischnopsyllidae; Ischnopsyllus emminus; Kenya; Lagaropsylla anciauxi; Lagaropsylla consularis; Lagaropsylla idae; Malawi; Mammalia; Molossidae; parasitism; Pipistrellus kuhlii; Pipistrellus rueppellii; Rhinolophidae; Rhinolophopsylla ectopa; Rhinolophus aethiops [fumigatus]; Scotophilus sp.; Senegal; Siphonaptera; systematics; taxonomy; Vespertilionidae

Observations on the distribution and ecology of bats in Uganda - Kityo, R. M.; Kerbis [Peterhans], J. C. (J. East Afr. nat. Hist., 1996)
Bat community patterns in Uganda are examined in relation to their occurrence in the different vegetation zones of the country. The data available so far cover only three of the country’s floristic regions. These data suggest that the northern drier region U1 has more microchiropteran bats and that species diversity of megachiropteran bats tends to increase in the more forested western U2 and southern U4 regions. Species accounts in the appendix largely summarise the known information, they reveal that much more work is required to fully document the bats of Uganda.
Keywords: [Neoromicia] Eptesicus tenuipinnis; biodiversity; Chaerephon ansorgei; Chiroptera; communities; distribution; East Africa; ecology; Epomophorus minimus; Faunistik; Fledermäuse; Glauconycteris variegata; habitat preferences; Hipposideridae; Hipposideros abae; Mammalia; Miniopteridae; Miniopterus inflatus; Molossidae; Mops trevori; Nycticeinops schlieffenii; Pipistrellus inexspectatus; Pipistrellus rueppellii; Pteropodidae; Rhinolophidae; Rhinolophus clivosus; Rhinolophus hildebrandtii; Rhinolophus ruwenzorii; Rousettus lanosus; Scotoecus albofuscus; Scotoecus hirundo; species richness; Uganda; Vegetation; Vespertilionidae

On the occurrence and possible migratory behaviour of the fruit bat Eidolon helvum in Mauritania, Africa - Cosson, J.-F.; Tranier, M.; Colas, F. (J. Afr. Zool., 1996)
The pteropodid bat Eidolon helvum (Kerr 1792) is recorded for the first time in Mauritania, this is one of the northernmost record for a member of this family in West Africa, and add some information on its probable migratory behaviour.
Keywords: Chiroptera; distribution; Eidolon helvum; Mammalia; Mauritania; migration; Pteropodidae; West Africa

On the occurrence of a short period of delayed implantation in Schreibers’ long-fingered bat (Miniopterus schreibersii) from a tropical latitude in Zimbabwe - Bernard, R. T. F.; Cotterill, F. P. D.; Fergusson, R. A. (J. Zool. (Lond.), 1996)
Mating in Schreibers’ long-fingered bat (Miniopterus schreibersii) from central Zimbabwe (18°S) occurred between mid-April and mid-May, after a five-month period of spermatogenesis. Implantation was delayed until early July and parturition occurred between late October and mid-November, about four months after implantation and six to seven months after fertilization. The timing and length of gestation at 18°S are similar to that described for M. schreibersii from Zaire (11°S) and when these data are compared with those for the same species from higher latitudes in Africa, it is apparent that there is a small, but distinct, increase in the total length of pregnancy and the length of delayed implantation with increasing latitude. The reproductive biology of Miniopterus schreibersii from Africa and France differs fundamentally from that of the same species from Australia and Japan, and it is suggested that studies of the relationship between latitude and duration of delayed implantation should be based on comparisons within single species from different latitudes on the same continent, and that comparisons between species and between continents should be avoided.
Keywords: Chiroptera; delayed implantation; distribution; ecology; Europe; evolution; Fledermäuse; Mammalia; mating systems; Miniopteridae; Miniopterus schreibersii; ovulation; reproduction; seasonality; Southern Africa; spermatogenesis; Verbreitung; Zimbabwe; zoogeography

Predation upon moths by free-foraging Hipposideros caffer - Dunning, D. C.; Krüger, M. (J. Mamm., 1996)
Predation upon insects by the bat Hipposideros caffer was studied at Skukuza in the Kruger National Park of South Africa. These bats, whose echolocation calls are inaudible to moths, fed overwhelmingly upon tympanate Lepidoptera, although insects of other orders frequently dominated the local light-responsive, flying, nocturnal insect community. The relative numbers of noctuid, pyralid, and arctiid moths taken by the bats were proportional to the representation of these families in the general population of moths, but they took disproportionately fewer moths of the family Geometridae. The bats also ate significantly fewer arctiid moths of those species capable of clicking than of those species that could not. Because the arctiids could not hear approaching H. caffer, these moths did not click before contact with an attacking bat, and their clicks could not protect them by interfering with echolocation by the predators. These results are consistent with the startle and acoustic-aposematism hypotheses for the bat-protective function of arctiid clicks.
Keywords: acoustic communication; Arctiidae; behaviour; Beutespektrum; Chiroptera; clicks; diet; echolocation; ecology; feeding habits; Fledermäuse; food distribution; foraging; Geometridae; Hipposideridae; Hipposideros caffer; Insecta; Kruger-National Park; Lepidoptera; Mammalia; moths; Nahrung; Nahrungsspektrum; Nahrungswahl; Noctuidae; predator avoidance; prey detection; prey selection; Pyralidae; South Africa

Reproductive pattern in the male Angolan free-tailed bat, Tadarida (Mops) condylura (Microchiroptera: Molossidae) in the Eastern Transvaal, South Africa - Vivier, L.; van der Merwe, M. (J. Zool. (Lond.), 1996)
The reproductive pattern in male Angolan free-tailed bats Tadarida (Mops) condylura was studied at two localities in the Eastern Transvaal during the period 1989-1991. Males displayed a nine-month breeding season extending from June to February. Following testicular recrudescence in early June, spermatogenic activity displayed two periods of peak activity in August/early September and November/early December. Although testes became involuted in March, baseline spermatogenic activity was maintained and testes never regressed to prepubertal conditions. Leydig cell morphology closely followed spermatogenic activity, with the diameter of Leydig cell nuclei displaying a concomitant seasonal pattern.
Keywords: activity patterns; behaviour; Chiroptera; Fledermäuse; Mammalia; Molossidae; Mops condylurus; physiology; reproduction; South Africa; spermatogenesis; testes

Results of a bat survey of the eastern slopes of the Réserve Naturelle Intégrale d’Andringitra, Madagascar - Goodman, S. M. (Fieldiana: Zoology n.s., 1996)
Four bat species were recorded in the Réserve Naturelle Intégrale d’Andringitra: Rousettus madagascariensis, Hipposideros commersoni, Myotis goudoti, and Miniopterus minor. The greatest species richness was at 720 and 810 m. Evidence was found that Myotis and Miniopterus occupy the same day-roosts. There was also the indication that Miniopterus minor has synchronized breeding and delayed embryonic development.
Keywords: Africa; Chiroptera; distribution; ecology; Faunistik; habitat preferences; Hipposideridae; Hipposideros commersonii; Madagascar; Mammalia; Miniopteridae; Miniopterus minor; morphology; Myotis goudoti; Pteropodidae; reproduction; Rousettus madagascariensis; species richness; systematics; taxonomy; Vespertilionidae

A review of the genus Epomophorus Bennett, 1836 (Mammalia, Megachiroptera) in Zimbabwe - Volpers, T.; Kumirai, A. (Arnoldia Zimbabwe, 1996)
The distribution of Epomophorus Bennett, 1836 in Zimbabwe was reviewed using available specimens and published records. The typical distinguishing feature - two thick postdental palatal ridges in Epomophorus gambianus crypturus Peters, 1852 and one in E. wahlbergi (Sundevall, 1846) - is not always valid in immature E. gambianus. In Zimbabwe, both sexes of adult E. wahlbergi have a stouter skull, and males a shorter skull, compared to E. gambianus crypturus. Female E. wahlbergi are slightly larger than E. g. crypturus. These corrections of specimen identifies has changed the distribution of E. wahlbergi in Zimbabwe. E. wahlbergi occurs only in river valleys along the southern and northeastern edges of the country and in the high rainfall areas along the eastern border, while E. g. crypturus is more widespread and its distribution corresponds to that of the fruit-bearing tree Parinari curatellifolia.
Keywords: allopatric; Chiroptera; distribution; ecology; Epomophorus gambianus crypturus; Epomophorus wahlbergi; food; frugivory; habitat preferences; Mammalia; morphology; Pteropodidae; Southern Africa; sympatric; systematics; taxonomy; Vegetation; Zimbabwe

The sheath-tailed bat Coleura seychellensis Peters, 1868 (Chiroptera: Emballonuridae) rediscovered on Silhouette Island - Matyot, P. (Phelsuma, 1996)
Keywords: Africa; Chiroptera; Coleura seychellensis; distribution; Emballonuridae; Indian Ocean; Seychelles

Skin and serum reactivity among humans to histoplasmin in the vicinity of a natural focus of Histoplasma capsulatum var. duboisii - Muotoe-Okafor, F. A.; Gugnani, H. C.; Gugnani, A. (Mycopathologia, 1996)
The epidemiology of histoplasmosis duboisii (African histoplasmosis) is not well understood. The present study was carried out to investigate the prevalence of skin sensitivity and to determine by immunodiffusion the presence of antibodies among humans to histoplasmin around a recently discovered natural focus of Histoplasma capsulatum var. duboisii in a bat cave in Ogbunike in the Anambra State of Nigeria. Out of the 40 subjects, all young adults aged 18-30 years, comprising cave guides, traders and farmers examined in the immediate vicinity of the cave, 14 (35.0%) gave a positive skin test. In another population of the same age group, comprising 620 persons, viz. traders, farmers, palm oil workers and some patients attending rural clinics, examined in other nearby areas in Anambra State, 55 (8.8%) reacted positively to histoplasmin. In the immunodiffusion tests, 2 (2.08%) of the 96 school children and 17 (9.4%) of the 181 young adults, including farmers, palm oil workers and traders tested amongst the population around the cave, demonstrated precipitating antibodies to histoplasmin in their sera. Only 5 (0.79%) of the 630 adults of the same age group with similar occupations examined from other areas in Anambra State had precipitating antibodies. Out of another 50 subjects examined, viz.; wood workers, traders, farmers, and school teachers in Nsukka in the Enugu State, two (4.0%) demonstrated antibodies. It is suggested that asymptomatic infections due to the duboisii variety of H. capsulatum may be common in the human population around the cave. A diligent search with the help of local hospitals and public health officials may reveal clinical cases of histoplasmosis duboisii with cutaneous and systemic lesions.
Keywords: caves; Chiroptera; day roosts; histoplasmosis; humans; infectious diseases; Nigeria; West Africa

The social organization and population dynamics of leaf-roosting banana bats, Pipistrellus nanus (Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae), in Malawi, east-central Africa - Happold, D. C. D.; Happold, M. (Mammalia, 1996)
Banana bats were censused at their daytime roosts in furled leaves of bananas at fortnightly intervals from August 1993 to June 1994. The study area was a plantation of 138 numbered banana clumps arranged in a grid of 2 000 m2 near Namadzi in the Shire Highlands of Malawi. Each bat (n = 125) was banded. At each census, every furled leaf in the plantation was examined and all of the bats within each occupied leaf were captured. The band number of each bat, its reproductive condition, the composition and membership of each group of bats, and the site of capture were recorded.Bats were assigned to cohorts whose fates were followed; the population size ranged from 84 to about 45 during the study. Banana bats roosted in groups of 1-12 individuals. Mean group size ranged from 1.3 to 2.4, according to season. During parturition and lactation, females with young roosted separately from males, and the males roosted singly. At other times, adult males roosted singly or in larger groups composed of one (rarely two) male (s) and 1-10 females. Formation of groups of two or more bats was not attributable to a shortage of furled leaves. On most occasions, each male was found with a different group of females, and each female with a different male, showing that group membership is highly labile and suggesting that the mating system is promiscuous. Most males showed fidelity to a small number (< 5) of "reliable" banana clumps which were close together and which had one or more suitable furled leaves at all times. Females did not show such fidelity. The roosts, social behaviour, reproductive biology and sex ratios of leaf-roosting banana bats and thatch-roosting banana bats (considered to be conspecific), and two other species of bats, are compared so as to elucidate some of the environmental and phylogenetic factors which might have shaped the mating system of the leaf-roosting banana bats in Malawi.
Keywords: [Neoromicia nana] Pipistrellus nanus; behaviour; Biotopwahl; Chiroptera; day roosts; ecology; Fledermäuse; group size; Malawi; Mammalia; mating systems; reproduction; seasonality; social organization; Southern Africa; Vespertilionidae

Adhesive devices on the thumb of vespertilionoid bats (Chiroptera) - Thewissen, J. G. M.; Etnier, S. A. (J. Mamm., 1995)
We describe pads on the thumb of five vespertilionoid bats based on microanatomy and scanning microscopy and make inferences about their function. The pad of Thyroptera adheres by means of suction, and that of Tylonycteris uses dry adhesion. The pad of Glischropus has no true adhesive function and probably functions using friction. Topography of the pad of Pipistrellus nanus could interlock with substrate features, but the pad may have a minor function as a suction device. Glueing is most likely involved in the adhesion of Myzopoda to its substrate.
Keywords: anatomy; Chiroptera; day roosts; Glischropus tylopus; morphology; Myzopoda aurita; Myzopodidae; Neoromicia nanus; Thyroptera tricolor; Thyropteridae; Tylonycteris pachypus; Vespertilionidae

Altitudinal variation in the subcanopy fruit bat guild in Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea, Central Africa - Juste B., J.; Pérez del Val, J. (J. Trop. Ecol., 1995)
In this study we analyse variations in bat composition and richness within the subcanopy guild of fruit bats (Pteropodidae) in an altitudinal gradient on Bioko Island (Equatorial Guinea, Central Africa).
Keywords: Africa; biodiversity; Bioko; Chiroptera; communities; competition; ecology; Faunistik; food distribution; foraging; frugivory; Gulf of Guinea; habitat preferences; island biogeography; Lissonycteris angolensis; Megaloglossus woermanni; niche overlap; Pteropodidae; Rousettus aegyptiacus; Scotonycteris zenkeri; species richness; Vegetation

Aposematic sounds in African moths - Dunning, D. C.; Krüger, M. (Biotropica, 1995)
In response to tactile stimulation and to ultrasonic pulses such as those of attacking bats, many moths of the family Arctiidae produce ultrasonic clicks. To test the hypothesis that these clicks are aposematic sounds, warning bats of unpalatable prey, African moths of these two families were captured at lights, assayed for clicking responses to tactile and ultrasonic stimulation and placed, together with moths of similar body sizes and other families captured at the same time, in a small cage with sympatric Tadarida pumila bats. Arctiid fragments were sought among the insect remains (mostly moth wings) dropped by free-foraging Hipposideros caffer bats. There were no arctiid wings among them, and the captive bats ate a significantly larger proportion of control moths than arctiids. There were no significant differences by species or sex in the arctiids’ clicking responses to either stimulus or in their palatability to bats. Since the arctiids did dick in response to bat-like stimuli and were clearly less palatable to the bats than the control moths, we conclude that the sounds of these moths can act as aposematic sounds.
Keywords: acoustic communication; animal communication; aposematism; Arctiidae; behaviour; Beutespektrum; Chaerephon pumilus; Chiroptera; diet; ecology; Fledermäuse; foraging; Hipposideridae; Hipposideros caffer; Insecta; Lepidoptera; Mammalia; Molossidae; Nahrung; Nahrungswahl; predation pressure; predator avoidance; prey selection; South Africa; ultrasonic clicks

The bats of Liberia: Systematics, ecology, and distribution - Koopman, K. F.; Kofron, C. P.; Chapman, A. (Am. Mus. Novitates, 1995)
Lists of bat species were (with critical taxonomic study when necessary) compiled for six countries of West Africa from Ghana to Guinea-Bissau (79 from Ghana, 62 from Ivory Coast, 57 from Liberia, 57 from Sierra Leone, 37 from Guinea, 24 from Guinea-Bissau) with a total (for all six countries) of 94 species. All but two species extend east of this region, 40 extend west of it, and two (Rhinolophus guineensis, Hipposideros marisae) appear to be confined to it. On the basis of overall distribution, 42 species are classified as basically forest, 18 as savanna, 29 ecologically widespread, and 5 (Rhinolophus simulator, R. clivosus, R. maclaudi, Hipposideros marisae, Myotis tricolor) as upland, at least in West Africa. A more detailed analysis is attempted for those species occurring in Liberia. This has revealed a number of uncertainties and alternative interpretations. Some of these are probably related to the progressive deforestation that has accompanied human impact in Liberia as elsewhere.
Keywords: biodiversity; Chiroptera; communities; ecology; Faunistik; Fledermäuse; Ghana; Guinea; Guinea Bissau; habitat preferences; Ivory Coast; Liberia; Mammalia; morphology; Pteropodidae; rainforests; Sierra Leone; species richness; systematics; taxonomy; Vegetation; West Africa; zoogeography

Captures of Myonycteris torquata (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae) in forest canopy in south Cameroon - Cosson, J.-F. (Biotropica, 1995)
Keywords: Cameroon; canopy; capture rates; Central Africa; Chiroptera; ecology; Epomops franqueti; Faunistik; foraging; habitat preferences; Mammalia; Pteropodidae; rainforests; Scotonycteris zenkeri; vertical stratification

Chiroptères - Peterson, R. L.; Eger, J. L.; Mitchell, L. (Faune de Madagascar, 1995)
Keywords: Africa; Chiroptera; Eidolon; endemic; evolution; Faunistik; Fledermäuse; island biogeography; Lissonycteris; Madagascar; Mammalia; morphology; Myonycteris; phylogeny; Pteropodidae; revision; Rousettus; sibling species; speciation; species richness; systematics; taxonomy; zoogeography

Community structure and evolution of insectivorous bats in the Palaeotropics and Neotropics - Heller, K.-G.; Volleth, M. (J. Trop. Ecol., 1995)
The most diverse known communities of insectivorous bats in the Palaeotropics and Neotropics are similar in alpha diversity (number of species). However, they show distinct differences with respect to wing morphology and the echolocation behaviour of their component species. In the Palaeotropics, most bat families are clearly separated in wing morphospace. The morphological niche of Rhinolophidae is vacant in the Neotropics, but primitive echolocators using sound primarily for scanning the environment rather than for prey capture are much more frequent there than in the Palaeotropics. In our opinion, a large portion of this difference can be traced to the different evolutionary histories of the respective communities. Bat families of different geographical origin are involved and their foraging styles obviously evolved differently in the Old and New World.
Keywords: Africa; Asia; behaviour; biodiversity; Chiroptera; communities; echolocation; ecology; evolution; Fledermäuse; foraging; guilds; habitat preferences; Krau Wildlife Reserve; Malaysia; Mammalia; Neotropics; Palaeotropics; species richness; Ulu Gombak; wing morphology

The comparative pollination and floral biology of baobabs (Adansonia - Bombacacee) - Baum, D. A. (Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard., 1995)
The baobabs comprise eight species with large, spectacular, nocturnal flowers. The African baobab, Adansonia digitata, has long been known to be bat-pollinated. In this paper I document the floral biology and pollination systems of the remaining seven species. The two species in section Brevitubae, both endemic to Madagascar, are pollinated by nocturnal mammals (fruit bats and lemurs). In contrast, the five species in section Longitubae, four endemic to Madagascar and one to Australia, are pollinated by long-tongued hawkmoths. In all cases, animals besides the legitimate pollinators also exploited nectar and pollen. The two pollination systems occurring in the genus correlate closely with differences in the floral morphology, phenology, and nectar production.
Keywords: Adansonia digitata; Africa; animal-plant interactions; Artenzahl; Aves; behaviour; Cheirogaleus; Chiroptera; diet; ecology; Eidolon dupreanum; flowers; Insecta; lemurs; Lepidoptera; Madagascar; Mammalia; morphology; Nahrung; Nectarinia; nectarivory; nocturnal; Phaner; pollination; Primates; Pteropodidae; Pteropus rufus; Rousettus madagascariensis; Sphingidae

Contribution a l’Inventaire des Chiroptères du Parc National et de la Zone Cynegétique de la Pendjari - Haquart, A.; Rombaut, D. (Campagne d’Etude 1993, 1995)
Keywords: Benin; Chaerephon nigeriae; Chiroptera; Coleura afra; distribution; Emballonuridae; Faunistik; Fledermäuse; Glauconycteris variegata; Mammalia; Molossidae; Mops midas; Pendjari National Park; Pteropodidae; Rousettus aegyptiacus; Scotoecus albofuscus; Scotoecus hirundo; species richness; Taphozous perforatus; Vespertilionidae; West Africa

Ecological aspects of the distribution of Epomophorus-fruit bats (Mammal., Chiropt.) in Zimbabwe - Volpers, T.; Kumirai, A. (Verhandl. Ges. ökol., 1995)
Keywords: acoustic communication; calls; Chiroptera; courtship behaviour; ecology; Epomophorus gambianus crypturus; Epomophorus wahlbergi; habitat preferences; Mammalia; Pteropodidae; Southern Africa; systematics; taxonomy; Vegetation; Verbreitung; Zimbabwe; zoogeography

First record of Tadarida aegyptiaca (Chiroptera, Molossidae) from Morocco - Denys, C.; Bogdanowicz, W.; Aulagnier, S. (Mammalia, 1995)
See Aulagnier & Denys 2000
Keywords: Aves; Beutespektrum; Bubo ascalaphus; Chiroptera; distribution; Elephantulus; Faunistik; first record; Fledermäuse; Gerbillus; Jaculus; Mammalia; Molossidae; Morocco; morphology; North Africa; predation pressure; prey selection; Rodentia; Strigiformes; Tadarida aegyptiaca; Uromastyx; Verbreitung

First record of the genus Megaderma Geoffroy (Microchiroptera: Megadermatidae) from Australia - Hand, S. J (Palaeovertebrata, 1995)
A new Tertiary megadermatid is described from Rackham’s Roost Site, a Pliocene limestone cave deposit on Riversleigh Station, northwestern Queensland, Australia. It appears to represent the first Australian record of Megaderma Geoffroy, 1810, a genus otherwise known from Tertiary African and European taxa and the living Asian species M. spasma (Linnaeus, 1758) and M. (Lyroderma) lyra Peters, 1872. Megaderma richardsi n. sp. is one of the smallest megadermatids known. It exhibits a mixture of plesiomorphic and autapomorphic features, the latter appearing to exclude it from being ancestral to any living megadermatid. The new species is one of eight megadermatids identified from the Australian fossil record, most of which are referable to Macroderma Miller, 1906.
Keywords: Australia; Chiroptera; fossils; Megaderma richardsi sp. nov.; Megadermatidae; palaeontology; Pliocene; Queensland; Riversleigh; systematics; Tertiary

Forest birds in Côte d’Ivoire. A survey of Ta{\"ı National Park and forestry plantations, 1989-1991 - Gartshore, M. E.; Taylor, P. D.; Francis, I. S. (Birdlife International Study Report, 1995)
Keywords: Aves; biodiversity; canopy; Chiroptera; community ecology; conservation; distribution; ecology; Epomops buettikoferi; Eptesicus sp.; Faunistik; habitat preferences; Hipposideridae; Hipposideros commersoni [gigas]; Hipposideros cyclops; Hipposideros ruber; Hipposideros sp.; Hypsignathus monstrosus; Ivory Coast; Mammalia; Megaloglossus woermanni; Myonycteris torquata; Nycteridae; Nycteris sp.; Pteropodidae; rainforests; reproduction; Rhinolophidae; Rhinolophus fumigatus [alcyone?]; Rhinolophus sp.; seasonality; species richness; Ta{\"ı National Park; Vegetation; Vespertilionidae; West Africa

Global patterns of mammalian diversity, endemism, and endangerment - Ceballos, G.; Brown, J. H. (Conserv. Biol., 1995)
To assess the conservation status of the world’s land mammals, we compiled data on the number of total species, endemic species, recently extinct species, and currently endangered species for 155 countries. Total species richness was significantly correlated with territorial land area, whereas number of endemic species was only weakly correlated with both area and total number of species. The large amount of variation left unexplained by species-area regressions reflects the influence of other factors, such as latitude, topographic and habitat heterogeneity, and historical biogeography, on species richness and especially on patterns of endemism. Countries of particular conservation concern, because they have rich mammalian faunas containing many endemic species, are the large islands of Australia, Madagascar, Indonesia, and the Philippines, as well as continental Mexico. Patterns of recent extinctions and the current endangered status of species were difficult to interpret, largely because of inadequate and inconsistent data. The majority of officially listed endangered species are large, well known, and popular mammals, such as primates, ungulates, and carnivores, whereas the majority of species known to have gone recently extinct and likely to be currently threatened are small and inconspicuous, such as rodents and bats. Our work not only illustrates the role of ecological, evolutionary, and biogeographic processes in the origin and maintenance of land mammal diversity, it also presents the information at the level of biogeographic regions and political units where management and policy must be applied in order to slow the loss of this diversity.
Keywords: biodiversity; Chiroptera; conservation; distribution; ecology; endemism; Mammalia; speciation; species richness; threatened species; zoogeography

Otomops martiensseni - Long, J. K. (Mammalian Species, 1995)
Keywords: Africa; Chiroptera; Molossidae; review

Otonycteris hemprichii - Gharaibeh, B. M.; Qumsiyeh, M. B. (Mammalian Species, 1995)
Keywords: Africa; Chiroptera; Otonycteris hemprichii; review; Vespertilionidae

New observations on the large-eared free-tailed bat Otomops martiensseni in Durban, South Africa - Richardson, E. J.; Taylor, P. J. (Durban Mus. Novit., 1995)
Keywords: Chiroptera; day roosts; distribution; Faunistik; Fledermäuse; habitat preferences; Mammalia; Molossidae; morphology; Otomops martiensseni; roosting behaviour; social organization; South Africa; Verbreitung

Notes on echolocation calls, food and roosting behaviour of the Old World sucker-footed bat Myzopoda aurita (Chiroptera, Myzopodidae) - Göpfert, M. C.; Wasserthal, L. T. (Z. Säugetierk., 1995)
In 1992 one individual of the rare species Myzopoda aurita was captured near Fort Dauphin in southeastern Madagascar. Pellet analysis revealed that the animal had fed on Microlepidoptera before capture. The bat was observed in a flight cage. It clinged head upright to the lower leaf surface of a traveller’s palm Ravenala madagascariensis, using its stiff tail as a prop. While readily flying in the cage, the specimen emitted FM echolocation calls which were recorded and analysed for the first time in this species: They are characterized by two to four distinct pulse elements of increased amplitude. The second of maximal four harmonics was always the strongest component. During the remarkably long call of up to 23 ms, the frequency of the second harmonic decreased from 42 to 24 kHz with a shallow sweep at the beginning and a steep sweep at its end. Most calls were emitted in pairs. Possible functions of this call structure are discussed.
Keywords: Africa; behaviour; Chiroptera; diet; echolocation; ecology; endemic; Fledermäuse; habitat preferences; insectivory; Madagascar; morphology; Myzopoda aurita; Myzopodidae; Nahrung; Nahrungswahl; roosting behaviour

Notes on some vespertilionid bats from the Kivu region, Central Africa (Mammalia: Chiroptera) - Heller, K.-G.; Volleth, M.; Kock, D. (Senckenbergiana biol., 1995)
Three species of rare vespertilionid bats were recorded in 1990 in the Kivu region (Rwanda and Zaire): Hypsugo eisentrauti (new for Rwanda), Hypsugo crassulus (additionally new for Ivory Coast) and Glauconycteris beatrix. The West African H. eisentrauti bellieri, according to the holotype skull and skin studied, is to be removed from H. eisentrauti and very probably represents a western subspecies of H. crassulus. Of all three species and some further Glauconycteris sp. bacula are illustrated and for both Hypsugo species distribution maps are given. The taxonomic status of G. beatrix, G. poensis (1st record from Cameroon) and G. humeralis is discussed.
Keywords: [Pipistrellus bellieri] Hypsugo crassulus bellieri; [Pipistrellus sp. nov.] Hypsugo eisentrauti; [Pipistrellus] Hypsugo crassulus; Africa; Cameroon; Chiroptera; Congo (Kinshasa); Faunistik; Fledermäuse; Glauconycteris beatrix; Glauconycteris humeralis [beatrix]; Glauconycteris poensis; Ivory Coast; morphology; Pipistrellus; Rwanda; species richness; systematics; taxonomy; Vespertilionidae; zoogeography

Observations on the timing of reproduction in the congeneric Comoro Island fruit bats, Pteropus livingstonii and P. seychellensis comorensis - Trewhella, W. J.; Reason, P. F.; Davies, J. G.; Wray, S. (J. Zool. (Lond.), 1995)
Pteropus livingstonii (Gray 1866) is a highly endangered fruit bat of the Comoro Islands (Western Indian Ocean). Limited information on the bats’ population biology is hampering conservation measures. During an expedition in 1992, observations were made on the timing of reproduction of P. livingstonii and the congeneric P. seychellensis comorensis (Nicoll, 1908): P. livingstonii breeds two months earlier than P. s. comorensis. These observations are discussed in relation to what is known about reproduction in Pteropus, and past observations on the Comorien Pteropus species.
Keywords: Africa; Chiroptera; Comoros; conservation; day roosts; ecology; Indian Ocean; Mammalia; parental care; Pteropodidae; Pteropus livingstonii; Pteropus seychellensis comorensis; reproduction; roosting behaviour

Patterns of distribution and current protection status of the Carnivora, Chiroptera and Insectivora in South Africa - Gelderblom, C. M.; Bronner, G. N.; Lombard, A. T.; Taylor, P. J. (S. Afr. J. Zool., 1995)
Geographic patterns of species richness and endemism in three mammalian orders (Chiroptera, Insectivora and Carnivora) were studied in relation to the biomes and existing protected areas of greater South Africa (including Lesotho and Swaziland). Locality data for 21500 specimens representing 124 species were analysed with a geographical information system. Species richness of Chiroptera is high in the savanna biome, particularly in the north-east of the country, owing to the marginal intrusion of 14 tropical species. Endemism in Chiroptera is low, however, with only two endemic species in the fynbos and Karoo biomes. The Carnivore display less biome specificity and endemism than the Chiroptera. Whereas the north-eastern savannas have the highest species richness, the transition between the Nama-Karoo and grassland biomes is an important southern African centre of endemism for the Carnivore, particularly the smaller species. In addition to being an important centre for species richness in the Carnivore and Chiroptera, the Kruger National Park is also particularly important for Red Data Book species in both orders. The Insectivore display both high species richness and endemism. Species richness of the Insectivora is greatest in the mesic south-east of the country, whereas endemism is most pronounced in the forest and grassland biomes. Differences in biome specificity and endemism between these orders reflect not only phylogenetic divergence, but also variation in body size, vagility and life-history strategies. Most of South Africa’s endemics are small mammals and many of them are listed in the Red Data Book. Distributions, life-history strategies and trends in man-induced habitat degradation were used to re-evaluate the protection status of the 124 species. We conclude that at least 11 endemic species are not adequately protected by existing publicly owned protected areas and consequently identify several areas which need to be added to the existing protected area system.
Keywords: allopatric; biodiversity; Carnivora; Chiroptera; communities; conservation; distribution; ecology; endemic; Faunistik; Fledermäuse; GIS; habitat preferences; Insectivora; Kruger National Park; Mammalia; Pteropodidae; South Africa; species richness; sympatric; Verbreitung; zoogeography

Phylogeny of the Pteropodidae (Mammalia: Chiroptera) based on DNA hybridisation, with evidence for bat monophyly - Kirsch, J. A. W.; Flannery, T. F.; Springer, M. S.; Lapointe, F.-J. (Aust. J. Zool., 1995)
We constructed DNA-hybridisation matrices comparing 18 genera of Megachiroptera and an outgroup microchiropteran, and eight species of Pteropus and two related genera. Three species each of Megachiroptera and Microchiroptera, two of Primates, and an outgroup armadillo were compared in another matrix; additional representatives of other mammalian orders figured in a further set of experiments. Among the megachiropterans examined, Nyctimene and Paranyctimene comprise the sistergroup to other pteropodids. Of the ’macroglossines’, only Macroglossus and Syconycteris are associated apart from typical pteropodines, while the Coot remaining nectar-feeders (Eonycteris, Megaloglossus, Melonycteris, Notopteris) are independently linked with non-nectar-feeding clades. Thus, Megaloglossus is the nearest relative of Lissonycteris, with Epomophorus and Rousettus successive sister-groups to both, while Eonycteris is the sister of all four; Melonycteris and Pteralopex form a trichotomy with the closely related Acerodon and Pteropus, and Notopteris is the sister-taxon to all four. It therefore appears that anatomical specialisations for nectar- and pollen-feeding evolved (or were lost) several times within Pteropodidae. Cynopterus and Dobsonia represent additional clades within the Pteropodinae, with which Thoopterus and Aproteles are respectively paired. Comparisons among species of Pteropus and related genera suggest that Acerodon may be congeneric with Pteropus, but that Pteralopex clearly is not. The ordinal-level matrices support bat monophyly: no order tested is closer to either of the chiropteran suborders than they are to each other, and bats are separated from Primates by at least two nodes. On the basis of previous rate determinations for mammals, we estimate that the African grouping (Epomophorus, Megaloglossus, Lissonycteris) is mid-Miocene in origin, that the two major pteropodid subfamilies (Nyctimeninae and Pteropodinae, including ’Macroglossinae’) separated in the Early Miocene, and that the divergence of chiropteran suborders dates from the latest Cretaceous or earliest Palaeocene. Arrangement of genera within Pteropodidae supports the family’s Australo-Pacific or South-east Asian origin.
see Hollar & Springer 1997, Springer et al. 1995
Keywords: biogeography; Chiroptera; evolution; Fledermäuse; Mammalia; morphology; phylogeny; Pteropodidae; speciation; systematics; taxonomy

Predation on vertebrates in the Kirindy forest, western Madagascar - Rasoloarison, R. M.; Rasolonandrasana, B. P. N.; Ganzhorn, J. U.; Goodman, S. M. (Ecotropica, 1995)
Keywords: Africa; Asio madagascariensis; Aves; Carnivora; Chiroptera; Cryproprocta ferox; Madagascar; Mammalia; Molossidae; Mops condylurus [leucostigma]; predation; prey selection; Strigiformes; Tyto alba

Seasonally monoestrous reproduction in the molossid bat, Tadarida aegyptiaca from low temperate latitudes (33°S) in South Africa - Bernard, R. T. F.; Tsita, J. N. (S. Afr. J. Zool., 1995)
A histological study of reproduction in Egyptian free-tailed bats (Tadarida aegyptiaca) from the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa (c. 33°S) showed that females were seasonally monoestrous. Copulation, ovulation and fertilization occurred in August, at the end of winter, and births in December, after a four-month pregnancy. These results are compared with those of other molossid bats from lower latitudes in Africa. We conclude that the monoestrous habit of the Egyptian free-tailed bat at 33°S may be due to its relatively long pregnancy, and to the short summer period during which minimum temperatures are high enough to ensure an abundance of nocturnal flying insects.
Keywords: anatomy; Chiroptera; copulation; gestation period; histology; Molossidae; ovulation; parturition; reproduction; South Africa; Tadarida aegyptiaca

Sightings of the sheath-tailed bat Coleura seychellensis Peters, 1868 (Chiroptera: Emballonuridae) - Matyot, P. (Phelsuma, 1995)
Keywords: Africa; Chiroptera; Coleura seychellensis; distribution; Emballonuridae; Indian Ocean; Seychelles

Stereological methods for estimating the functional surfaces of the chiropteran small intestine - Makanya, A. N.; Mayhew, T. M.; Maina, J. N. (J. Anat., 1995)
A tissue sampling protocol has been devised for studying the functional surfaces of chiropteran small intestine and drawing comparisons within and between species. The goal was to obtain minimally biased stereological estimates of villous and microvillous surface areas and the numbers of microvilli. The approach is illustrated using the intestines of 3 bats (from frugivorous and entomophagous groups) and is based on the use of vertical sections and cycloid test arcs. A sampling scheme with 3 levels was employed. At level 1 (macroscopy), primary mucosal area was estimated from intestinal length and perimeter. Amplification factors due to villi were estimated at level 2 (light microscopy, LM) whilst microvillous amplifications were estimated at level 3 (transmission electron microscopy, TEM). The absolute surfaces, lengths and diameters of microvilli were used to calculate packing densities and absolute numbers. Estimated villous surface areas of the entire small intestine were 44.4 cm2 (Miniopterus inflatus, entomophagous), 410 cm2 (Epomophorus wahlbergi, frugivorous) and 237 cm2 (Lisonycteris angolensis, frugivorous). Corresponding microvillous surface areas were 0.11, 1.69 and 1.01 m2 whilst the numbers of microvilli per intestine were 4.5, 23.4 and 8.8 x 10^11. When normalised for body weights, microvillous surfaces were 122, 246 and 133 cm2/g respectively. The functional surfaces of the fruit bat appear to be more extensive than those of the entomophagous bat.
Keywords: anatomy; Chiroptera; diet; East Africa; Epomophorus wahlbergi; frugivory; gastrointestinal; histology; insectivory; intestine; Kenya; Lissonycteris angolensis; microscopy; Miniopteridae; Miniopterus inflatus; Pteropodidae; surface

Two rare species of the bats, Triaenopus rufus and Mormopterus jugularis (Mammalia, Chiroptera) from Madagascar - Yoshiyuki, M. (Bulletin of the National Science Museum Series A (Zoology), 1995)
Madagascan red trident bat, Triaenops rufus of the Hipposideridae and Peter’s wrinkle-lipped bat, Mormopterus jugularis of the Molossidae are the endemic species in Madagascar. The materials of these species have been few until present time. The present paper describes the external, cranial and dental characters of these imperfectly known species.
Keywords: Africa; Chiroptera; Hipposideridae; Madagascar; Molossidae; Mormopterus jugularis; morphology; Triaenops rufus

Bats of the Gulf of Guinea islands: Faunal composition and origins - Juste B., J.; Ibáñez, C. (Biodiver. Conserv., 1994)
The present study compares the bat faunas of the islands of the Gulf of Guinea. Species composition, endemism and hypothetical origins are discussed. All families present in the mainland region are found in Bioko, a typical landbridge island. Foliage gleaning guild species (Nycteridae) show limited colonization abilities. This is also true of the family Rhinolophidae, but not for the closely related family Hipposideridae. The majority of the oceanic island species are African bats which show a widespread distribution and, therefore, have a high ecological plasticity. The continental relatives of the two endemic species Myonycteris brachycephala and Chaerephon tomensis are restricted to relatively small forested areas. Bioko’s bat fauna is the result of the recent isolation from a formerly land-connected community. The oceanic bat faunas originated from the establishment of incomers from other areas. Nevertheless, extinction appears in both vicariant and dispersal processes, as an important factor in modelling the current bat communities of the Gulf of Guinea islands.
Keywords: Africa; allopatric; Annobón; behaviour; biodiversity; Bioko; Chiroptera; communities; conservation; diet; ecology; endemic; evolution; Faunistik; Fledermäuse; guilds; Gulf of Guinea; habitat preferences; island biogeography; Mammalia; phylogeny; Pr{\'ıncipe; Pteropodidae; São Tomé; speciation; species richness; sympatric; systematics; taxonomy; Vegetation; zoogeography

Biodiversity in the Gulf of Guinea: An overview - Jones, P. J. (Biodiver. Conserv., 1994)
Patterns of species-richness and endemism in the Gulf of Guinea reflect the region’s biogeographic history. Bioko is a continental-shelf island that was recently connected to the African mainland, whereas Pr{\'ıncipe, São Tomé and Annobon are truly oceanic and have never been connected with each other or with the mainland. As a result, Bioko supports a much more diverse flora and fauna but with relatively low levels of endemism at the species level, whereas the oceanic islands are relatively depauperate because of their isolation but rich in endemic taxa. Species endemism is 0-3% on Bioko for angiosperms, bats, birds, reptiles and amphibians, compared with much higher values on Pr{\'ıncipe for these same taxa of 8% (plants) to 100% (amphibians), on São Tomé between 14% (plants) and 100% (amphibians, and on Annobon 0% (bats) to 71% (reptiles). On a global scale, for their size both Pr{\'ıncipe and São Tomé support unusually high numbers of single-island endemic species of birds, reptiles and amphibia. For its tiny size, Annobon is also notable for its endemic birds and reptiles. Among terrestrial molluscs the rates of endemism are in general higher than for plants and vertebrates, from ca 50% on Bioko to ca 80% on the oceanic islands. In contrast and as might be expected, only Bioko supports a rich freshwater fish fauna and it contains many endemic taxa, whereas the oceanic islands support only a few salt-tolerant species. The Gulf of Guinea islands are also important for their marine organisms, amongst which coral reef fish and marginellid molluscs show high levels of endemism, though they are not especially species-rich. The Gulf of Guinea islands are of great interest to conservationists and evolutionary biologists. Each island, of greatly differing size and degree of isolation. has acquired its unique sub-set of plants and animals separately from the neighbouring mainland. followed by adaptive radiation in situ. For this reason the conservation value of the archipelago as a whole is greater than the sum of the biodiversity contained in its individual islands. Conservation initiatives in the Gulf of Guinea should therefore ensure that representative terrestrial, freshwater and marine habitats and groups of organisms are targeted in a coordinated manner among the islands.
Keywords: Africa; allopatric; Amphibia; Annobón; Aves; biodiversity; Bioko; conservation; ecology; endemic; evolution; Faunistik; Gulf of Guinea; invertebrates; island biogeography; Mammalia; Pisces; plants; Pr{\'ıncipe; Reptilia; São Tomé; speciation; species richness; sympatric; Vegetation; zoogeography

Comparative study of the karyotypes of two Egyptian species of bats, Taphozous perforatus and Taphozous nudiventris (Chiroptera: Mammalia) - Yaseen, A. E.; Hassan, A.; Kawashti, L. S. (Experientia, 1994)
A detailed karyotypic analysis of two Egyptian species of bats, Taphozous perforatus and Taphozous nudiventris, was made on the basis of conventional data and G-band patterns. No detectable karyotypic difference was found between the two species (2n = 42, F.N. 64). By comparison of G-band patterns, some differences between the two species were seen in the corresponding autosomal pairs. These results are reported for the first time in Egypt.
Keywords: Chiroptera; chromosomes; cytogenetics; Egypt; Emballonuridae; karyotypes; North Africa; Taphozous nudiventris; Taphozous perforatus

Contribution to the knowledge of the bat fauna of Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea (Central Africa) - Juste B., J.; Ibáñez, C. (Z. Säugetierk., 1994)
Although having been long studied, the bat fauna of Bioko island (formerly Fernando Poo, Equatorial Guinea, Central Africa), is still little known. The species Hipposideros commersoni, Glauconycteris beatrix, Pipistrellus(P.) kuhlii, P. (N.) tenuipinnis, and P. (N.) cf. capensis are reported for the first time. Furthermore, the species Myonycteris torquata, Taphozous mauritianus, Nycteris arge, Hipposideros cyclops, Glauconycteris poensis, Mops (X.) spurrelli and M. (X.) thersites, previously reported as doubtful, are confirmed on Bioko. These results increase the bat checklist for Bioko island by 25%, and it now includes 26 species.
Keywords: Africa; Bioko; Chiroptera; ecology; Emballonuridae; Faunistik; Fledermäuse; Glauconycteris beatrix; Glauconycteris poensis; Gulf of Guinea; habitat preferences; Hipposideridae; Hipposideros commersoni [gigas]; Hipposideros cyclops; island biogeography; Mammalia; Molossidae; Mops spurrelli; Mops thersites; Myonycteris torquata; Neoromicia cf. capensis; Neoromicia tenuipinnis; Nycteridae; Nycteris arge; Pipistrellus kuhlii [hesperidus]; Pteropodidae; species richness; systematics; Taphozous mauritianus; taxonomy; Vespertilionidae

Contribution to the taxonomy of the genus Spinturnix (Acari: Spinturnicidae), with the erection of a new genus, Emballonuria - Uchikawa, K.; Zhang, M.-Y.; OConnor, B. M.; Klompen, J. S. H. (Folia Parasitologica, 1994)
We evaluated various characters, inclusive of those observable rapidly and intuitionally, as taxonomic criteria for Spinturnix mites. In addition to the form and nature of idiosomal armatures, and chaetotaxy on idiosoma, idiosomal armatures and legs that have been widely used as taxonomic criteria, the topography of proteronotal setae, dorsal scales, ornamentations on the dorsal shield, sternal or sterno-genital shield, and venter of proximal leg segments were proved to be characteristic of a species. As the first step for putting the taxonomy of European species in order, the myoti, acuminata, carnificina and psi species groups were defined to show morphological properties characteristic of each species or species group. Known species were relegated to the respective groups as many as possible. Spintumix orientalis Turk was transferred to Emballonuria gen. n. The new genus was characterized by its 3 pairs of proteronotal setae, hooked spermadactyl, unique patterns of dorsal cuticle and dorsal shield, large tritosternum, anal shield with anal cribrum, relatively short peritreme and peritremal shield not reaching to the venter, short posterior seta of coxa II, and unique leg pattern. Spinturnix helvutiae Deunff, Keller et Aellen was relegated to a subspecies of Spintumix acuminata (C. L. Koch).
Keywords: Acari; Africa; Angola; Arachnida; Chiroptera; Congo (Kinshasa); ectoparasites; Emballonuria gen. nov.; Ethiopia; hosts; Kenya; Madagascar; Miniopteridae; Miniopterus inflatus; Miniopterus minor; Miniopterus natalensis; Miniopterus schreibersi; parasitism; South Africa; Spinturnicidae; Spinturnix psi; Spinturnix semilunaris; Sudan; Tunisia; Uganda

Distribution and ecology of bats from far-western Africa - Koopman, K. F. (Bat Research News, 1994)
Keywords: biodiversity; Chiroptera; ecology; Faunistik; Fledermäuse; Ghana; Guinea Bissau; habitat preferences; Hipposideros marisae; Ivory Coast; Liberia; Mammalia; Myotis tricolor; Pteropodidae; Rhinolophus clivosus; Rhinolophus guineensis; Rhinolophus maclaudi; Rhinolophus simulator; Sierra Leone; species richness; systematics; taxonomy; West Africa; zoogeography

Effects of prolactin and hCG treatment on luteal activity and the conceptus during delayed implantation in Schreibers’ long-fingered bat (Miniopterus schreibersii) - Bernard, R. T. F.; Bojarski, C. (J. Reprod. Fert., 1994)
In Schreibers’ long-fingered bat (Miniopterus schreibersii) from South Africa, implantation is delayed from May to August during which time the corpus luteum is inactive and plasma progesterone and LH concentrations low. Treatment of pregnant long-fingered bats with exogenous prolactin for 10 days in early delayed implantation (May) resulted in changes in luteal ultrastructure that were consistent with increased steroidogenesis, high plasma progesterone concentrations and the initiation of implantation. Treatment of bats with hCG for 10 days in early delayed implantation induced similar changes in luteal ultrastructure and plasma progesterone concentrations, but did not initiate implantation. Treatment with exogenous progesterone during early delayed implantation had no influence on the corpus luteum or the conceptus. We conclude that prolactin is the most important pituitary hormone in the control of delayed implantation, although the route via which it induces implantation is unknown.
Keywords: Chiroptera; delayed implantation; development; endocrinology; gonads; hormones; Miniopteridae; Miniopterus schreibersii; ovaries; reproduction; reproductive system; South Africa

A Fieldguide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Madagascar. Second Edition Including Mammals and Freshwater Fish - Glaw, F.; Vences, M. (M. Vences & F. Glaw Verlags GbR, 1994)
Pisces /Atherinidae /Cyprinodontidae /Cichlidae /Eleotridae /Amphibia /Anura /Dendrobatidae /Dendrobates madagascariensis /Hyperoliidae /Heterixalus luteostriatus /H. punctatus /Microhylidae /Anodonthyla /Cophyla /Phrynomantis maculatus /Platypelis /Plethodontohyla /Scaphiophryne brevis /S. madagascariensis /S. pustulosa /Stumpffia /Chonomantis /Laurentomantis /Mantella cowani /M. madagascariensis /M. pulchra /M. viridis /Mantidactylus (Blommersia) argenteus /M. kely /M. liber /Mantidactylus (Chonomantis) /Rana albofrenata /Mantidactylus (Gephyromantis) eiselti /M. thelenae /Mantidactylus (Laurentomantis) /Mantidactylus (Ochthomantis) /Rana femoralis /Mantidactylus (Pandanusicola) /Rhacophorus bicalcaratus / /Mantidactylus (Phylacomantis) corvus /M. pseudoasper /Ranidae /Mantidactylus (Spinomantis) fimbriatus /M. massi /M. peraccae /M. aerumnalis /M. albofrenatus /M. albolineatus /M. ambreensis /M. asper /M. bicalcaratus /M. brevipalmatus /M. cornutus /M. corvus /M. femoralis /M. flavobrunneus /M. granulatus /M. leucomaculatus /M. majori /M. mocquardi /M. opiparis /M. pseudoasper /M. pulcher /M. punctatus /M. redimitus /M. wittei /Ochthomantis /Pandanusicola /Phylacomantis /Rana albofrenata /R. femoralis /Tomopterna labrosa /Rhacophoridae /Boophis albilabris occidentalis /B. albilabris /B. albipunctatus sibilans /B. anceps /B. luteus /B. andreonei /B. ankaratra /B. blommersae /B. burgeri /B. englaenderi /B. isabellinus /B. luteus /B. laurenti /B. luteus /B. luteus septentrionalis /B. marojezensis /B. pauliani /B. sibilans /Rhacophorus bicalcaratus /Mantidactylus (Pandanusicola) /R. luteus /R. luteus longicrus /Reptilia /Testudines /Cryptodira /Chelonioidea /Squamata /Sauria /Chamaeleontidae /Brookesia betschi /B. decaryi /B. minor /B. nasus /B. perarmata /B. stumpffi /B. superciliaris /B. thieli /Calumma brevicornis hilleniusi /Furcifer balteatus /F. bifidus /Cordylidae /Gerrhosauridae /Gekkonidae /Geckolepis /Hemidactylus /Homopholis /Lygodactylus miops /L. septemtuberculatus /Paroedura /Phelsuma guttata /P. laticauda /P. lineata /P. madagascariensis /P. modesta /P. mutabilis /Uroplatus /Iguanidae /Scincidae /Amphiglossus /Androngo /Mabuya /Paracontias /Voeltzkowia /Serpentes /Colubridae /Geodipsas /Ithycyphus /Leioheterodon /Liophidium /Liopholidophis /Madagascarophis /Mimophis madagascariensis /M. mahfalensis madagascariensis /Pararhadinaea /Pseudoxyrhopus /Stenophis /Typhlopidae /Mammalia /Chiroptera
Keywords: acoustic communication; Africa; Amphibia; Anura; behaviour; biodiversity; Chamaeleonidae; Chiroptera; distribution; ecology; endemic; Faunistik; frog calls; habitat preferences; identification key; Madagascar; Mammalia; morphology; Pisces; Primates; Reptilia; species description; species richness; systematics; taxonomy; Verbreitung; zoogeography

First Eocene bat from Australia - Hand, S. J; Novacek, M.; Godthelp, H.; Archer, M. (Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 1994)
Remains of a bat, Australonycteris clarkae, gen. et sp. nov., are reported from freshwater clays radiometrically dated at 54.6 million years old in southeastern Queensland, Australia. It is the oldest bat yet recorded for the Southern Hemisphere and one of the world’s oldest. Previously, the earliest records for bats came from the Northern Hemisphere and were of Sparnacian age in Europe, Wasatchian in North America, and late early Eocene in North Africa. The North American Wyonycteris chalix, originally described as a latest Paleocene bat and as such the world’s oldest, is re-examined. Its lack of key bat synapomorphies and overall morphology do not support the claim that it is a bat. Early bats probably entered Australia via Asia rather than South America, although their appearance in Australia predates the final breakup of Gondwana. The Australian fossils described here (a lower molar, upper premolar, edentulous dentary fragment, and part of a periotic) may corroborate the hypothesis that modern bat groups evolved from isolated immigrant archaic bats somewhere in the Southern Hemisphere in the early Eocene.
Keywords: Australia; Australonycteris clarkae gen. & sp. nov.; Chiroptera; Eocene; evolution; fossils; palaeontology

Rhinolophus hildebrandti - Pearl, D. L. (Mammalian Species, 1994)
Keywords: Africa; behaviour; Chiroptera; distribution; ecology; Fledermäuse; Mammalia; morphology; review; Rhinolophidae; Rhinolophus hildebrandtii; systematics; taxonomy

The morphology of the intestine of the insectivorous horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus hildebrandti, Peters): A scanning electron and light microscopic study - Makanya, A. N.; Maina, J. N. (Afr. J. Ecol., 1994)
The gastrointestinal tract of the horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus hildebrandti (Peters), was studied macroscopically, with the light microscope and with the scanning electron microscope. Macroscopically, the stomach was of the simple type and the intestine was a short convoluted tube with an almost uniform diameter. A caecum, an appendix and a colon were absent, and the only portion of the large intestine observed was a short rectum which had a distinctly greater diameter than the rest of the intestine. The proximal part of the intestine showed a brief ‘honeycomb’ segment preceding the ridge-like transverse villi that occupied the rest of the foregut. In the region immediately proximal to the rectum the villi joined in a geometrical pattern to form chambers resembling ‘reticular cells’ of the ruminant stomach. The villi were covered with a prominent columnar epithelium occasionally interrupted by goblet cells. Generally, the intestine of Rhinolophus resembles that of the other bats which have been studied, but showed structural details suggestive of an increased surface area.
Keywords: Chiroptera; digestive tract; East Africa; histology; Kenya; Rhinolophidae; Rhinolophus hildebrandtii

A natural focus of Histoplasma capsulatum var. duboisii is a bat cave - Gugnani, H. C.; Muotoe-Okafor, F. A.; Kaufman, L.; Dupont, B. (Mycopathologia, 1994)
The natural reservoir of Histoplasma capsulatum var. duboisii, the etiological agent of histoplasmosis duboisii (African histoplasmosis) is not yet known. We report the isolation of H. capsulatum var. duboisii from soil admixed with bat guano and from the intestinal contents of a bat in a sandstone cave in a rural area, Ogbunike in Anambra State of Nigeria. Eight of 45 samples of soil admixed with bat guano yielded H. capsulatum var. duboisii. Of the 35 bats belonging to the species Nycteris hispida and Tadirida pumila examined, only one (N. hispida) yielded this fungus from its intestinal contents. Identification of the isolates asHistoplasma was confirmed by exoantigen tests and by mating with tester strains ofH. capsulatum. In vitro conversion to large yeast from suggestive of H. capsulatum var. duboisii was obtained on brain heart infusion agar supplemented with sheep blood and glutamine or cysteine. Pathogenicity tests with mice for all the isolates confirmed their identity by the demonstration of large yeast forms (8-15 µm in diameter) within giant cells in the infected tissues. Investigations on the possible occurrence of human infections in the area are in progress.
Keywords: [Chaerephon pumilus] Tadarida pumila; caves; Chiroptera; diseases; Histoplasma capsulatum var. duboisii; Molossidae; mycology; Nigeria; Nycteridae; Nycteris hispida; West Africa

Nocturnal animals - McWilliam, A. N. (DDT in the Tropics: The Impact on Wildlife in Zimbabwe of Ground-Spraying for Tsetse Fly Control, 1994)
Keywords: activity; Aves; Caprimulgidae; Carnivora; Chaerephon ansorgei; Chaerephon bivittatus; Chaerephon chapini; Chaerephon nigeriae; Chiroptera; DDT; echolocation; Eptesicus hottentotus; foraging; habitats; harp traps; Hipposideridae; Hipposideros caffer; Hipposideros commersoni [vittatus]; Insecta; Kerivoula argentata; lactation; Mammalia; Miniopteridae; Miniopterus schreibersii; mist nets; Molossidae; Neoromicia capensis; Neoromicia melckorum; Neoromicia nana; Neoromicia somalica; Nycteridae; Nycteris thebaica; Nycteris vinsoni; Nycticeinops schlieffenii; organochlorines; pesticides; Pipistrellus anchietae; Pipistrellus kuhlii [hesperidus]; Pipistrellus rueppellii; Primates; reproduction; Rhinolophidae; Rhinolophus blasii; Rhinolophus darlingi; Rhinolophus fumigatus; Rhinolophus hildebrandtii; Rhinolophus landeri; Rhinolophus simulator; Rhinolophus swinnyi; sampling; Scotophilus borbonicus [viridis?]; seasonality; Siabuwa; Southern Africa; Tadarida aegyptiaca; Tadarida lobata; Tadarida ventralis; Vegetation; Vespertilionidae; woodlands; Zimbabwe

Notes sur une petite collection d’acariens (Acari) parasites récoltés sur des chiroptères de la collection du Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle de Genève - Fain, A.; Aellen, V. (Bull. Soc. Neuchât. des Sci. Natur., 1994)
A small collection of pilicolous (Acari: Chirodiscidae and Myobiidae) or skin mites (Sarcoptidae), collected from bats deposited in the Museum of natural History of Geneva, is studied. Thirteen species were identified and among them a new genus and species, Eurolabidocarpus helveticus, collected from Myotis daubentoni from Switzerland. Pseudoalabidocarpus secus MacDaniel, 1972 is synonymized with Pseudoalabidocarpus phyllostomi Fain, 1972.
Keywords: [Mops condylurus] Tadarida condylura; Acari; Africa; Arachnida; Chirodiscidae; Chiroptera; Congo (Brazzaville); Congo (Kinshasa); ectoparasites; Europe; Miniopteridae; Miniopterus schreibersi; Molossidae; Morocco; Myobiidae; Noctilionidae; North America; Pacific; parasitism; Pteropodidae; South America; Vespertilionidae

Phylogenetic relationships of vespertilionid genera (Mammalia: Chiroptera) as revealed by karyological analysis - Volleth, M.; Heller, K.-G. (Z. zool. Syst. Evolut.-forsch., 1994)
Banded karyotypes of 50 species belonging to 23 genera were analyzed. The diploid chromosome numbers ranged from 26 to 50. For karyotypic comparison we used a 44 chromosomes karyotype, consisting of 4 metacentric and 17 acrocentric autosomes, as “basic karyotype”. Almost all of its 25 autosomal arms could be identified in each individual karyotype. In 8 chromosomes, i. e. 1/2, 7, 11, 12, 13, 15, 23 and X, small inversions were detected. As a result, each of the chromosomes mentioned occurs in two states which differ slightly in their banding patterns. These were used as character states in the cladistic analysis together with other chromosomal rearrangements.The implications drawn from the cladogram obtained are: The Miniopterinae clearly belong to the Vespertilionidae but are the first to branch off from the common stem. The tribe Myotini should be raised to the rank of a subfamily. Within the largest subfamily Vespertilioninae, one autapomorphic chromosomal character was found for each of the tribes Vespertilionini and Pipistrellini. In addition, both tribes are distinguished from the other Vespertilioninae tribes by two synapomorphic features. These results allow for the first time an unequivocal classification of the systematically difficult “pipistrelloid” species. The species of the genus Pipistrellus (sensu Hill and Harrison 1987) are spread over the Pipistrelllni and Vespertilionini. We therefore suggest the splitting of this heterogenous genus into at least four genera. Only the members of the previous subgenus Pipistrellus constitute the genus Pipistrellus and belong to the Pipistrellini. The previous subgenera Hypsugo, Vespadelus and Falsistrellus, given generic rank in some recent studies, belong to the tribe Vespertilionini and are not closely related to Pipistrellus. For the genera Eptesicus and Hesperoptenus, which belong neither to the Vespertilionini nor to the Pipistrellini, the tribe Eptesicini was established. The phylogenetic relations of this tribe and the status of the presumably polyphyletic tribe “Nycticeiini” could not be solved.
Keywords: [Pipistrellus sp. nov.] Hypsugo eisentrauti; Africa; Asia; Burkina Faso; Chiroptera; chromosomes; cytogenetics; Eptesicini; Eptesicus; Falsistrellus; Hesperoptenus; Hypsugo; karyotypes; Malaysia; Miniopteridae; phylogeny; Pipistrellini; Pipistrellus; Rwanda; Scotophilus leucogaster; systematics; taxonomy; Vespadelus; Vespertilionidae; Vespertilionini

Phylogenetic systematics of slit-faced bats (Chiroptera, Nycteridae), based on hyoid and other morphology - Griffiths, T. A. (Am. Mus. Novitates, 1994)
The hyoid musculature and hyoid apparatus of bats of the family Nycteridae are described and compared with the hyoid morphology of other bat families described elsewhere. Four hyoid and four nonhyoid apomorphic character states are described within the family. All nycterids share the apomorphic hollowing of the rostrum into a basin, covered by a dermal vertical slit ornamented with the distinctive nycterid "noseleaf." All nycterids also possess a distinctive T-shaped terminal caudal vertebra. All nycterids except N. arge share a reduced ceratohyoid insertion and a reduced hypoglossus origin. All nycterids except N. tragata and N. arge share an epihyal that is reduced in length, a smaller lower second premolar, and a loss of the posterior tragus constriction. A cladistic analysis of the data suggests that the African hispida, macrotis, and thebaica groups form a clade. The Asian bats of the javanica group are a sister group to the hispida-macrotis-thebaica clade. Bats of the African arge group are the most basal lineage within the Nycteridae. This analysis supports separating the more primitive nycterids into an arge group and a javanica group rather than combining them in a single group.
Keywords: Africa; anatomy; Asia; Chiroptera; morphology; Nycteridae; Nycteris arge; Nycteris gambiensis; Nycteris grandis; Nycteris hispida; Nycteris macrotis; Nycteris thebaica; Nycteris tragata; phylogeny

Progesterone concentrations and contents in the plasma, ovary, adrenal gland and placenta of the pregnant Natal clinging bat Miniopterus schreibersii natalensis - Van Aarde, R. J.; van der Merwe, M.; Skinner, D. C. (J. Zool. (Lond.), 1994)
Reproduction in the Natal clinging bat in South Africa at 25°S is characterized by fertilization in April, implantation during July and parturition in November. In the present study plasma progesterone concentrations peaked two months before implantation, this coinciding with significant peaks in ovarian progesterone content and concentration. Plasma progesterone concentrations remained relatively low during and after implantation, but increased significantly during the limb bud stage to peak levels one month before parturition. Adrenal progesterone content and concentration did not follow a specific trend; post-implantation ovarian progesterone content and concentration remained at baseline values. Placental progesterone content increased significantly with foetal weight (age). The present study showed that pregnancy in these bats is characterized by two major sources of progesterone, with the ovary as the primary source before implantation and the placenta the primary source during embryonic and foetal development.
Keywords: Chiroptera; hormones; Miniopteridae; Miniopterus natalensis; pregnancy; reproduction; South Africa

Raptors and bats: Threats and opportunities - Fenton, M. B.; Rautenbach, I. L.; Smith, S. E.; Swanepoel, C. M.; Grosell, J.; Van Jaarsveld, J. (Anim. Behav., 1994)
To quantify the opportunity that emerging bats present to raptors and the risks that hunting birds pose to these bats, predator-prey responses were documented by (1) counting emerging bats and recording their emergence patterns and (2) monitoring the presence of raptors and quantifying the incidence of raptor attacks on bats. Hobby falcons, Falco subbuteo, African goshawks, Accipiter tachiro, and Wahlberg’s eagles, Aquila wahlbergi, succeeded in 51% of 59 attacks on bats. The attacks occurred in woodlands (two attacks in 10 samples), and as bats emerged from colonies in buildings (three in 39 samples) and bridges (54 in 32 samples). Wahlberg’s eagles and hobby falcons attacked by stooping at flying bats while African goshawks pursued them in flight. The birds usually took each captured bat to a perch to consume it, achieving handling times (from capture to eating to resumption of hunting) of 30-300 s. The raptors could maximize their use of bats by rapid handling of captures and by hunting at sites where bats were most numerous. This combination of factors meant that bats could form a significant portion of the diet of opportunistic raptors. Flying and emerging bats responded to attacks or potential attacks. For colonies of less than 100 bats, there was no relationship between emergence time and colony size, while bats tended to emerge significantly earlier from colonies of greater than 100 individuals. In all colonies, increasing numbers of bats decreased the risk of raptor attack to any individual. In colonies of less than 100, individuals could decrease their risk of attack by switching roosts, and by adjusting the times and durations of their emergences. Bats emerged earlier from larger colonies despite the increased risk of attack by raptors.
Keywords: Accipiter tachiro; activity patterns; Aquila wahlbergi; Aves; behaviour; Beutespektrum; Chaerephon pumilus; Chiroptera; day roosts; ecology; Falco subbuteo; foraging; Mammalia; Molossidae; Mops condylurus; Nahrung; Nahrungsspektrum; Nahrungsverteilung; Nahrungswahl; opportunistic feeder; predation pressure; predator avoidance; roosting behaviour; South Africa

Reproduction and sexual dimorphism of the West African fruit bat, Epomops buettikoferi, in Liberia - Kofron, C. P.; Chapman, A. (Afr. J. Ecol., 1994)
Epomops buettikoferi is a savanna species of fruit bat that has entered the deforested zone in Liberia where it inhabits agricultural areas and secondary forest, but not rain forest. Contrary to the conclusions of Bergmans & Sowler (1992), the species is in no way vulnerable or endangered because of destruction of the Upper Guinea rain forest. Instead, as the remaining Upper Guinea rain forest is cut, it is predicted that numbers of E. buettikoferi will increase. Sexual dimorphism was observed in the pelvic girdle, which by palpation allowed reliable determination of sex (100% accurate) of individuals of any age. This was useful in the field for distinguishing immature males, which lack an obvious penis and epaulettes, from females. In central Liberia, female E. buettikoferi have a bimodal reproductive cycle, with two young borne annually about six months apart. The two births occur in February/March (end of dry/beginning of the wet season) and August/September (during heaviest rains in second half of the wet). Parturition is followed by oestrus, with immediate embryonic development and gestation spanning five to six months. Reproduction is timed so that both periods of lactation occur during the wet season.
Keywords: behaviour; Chiroptera; ecology; Epomops buettikoferi; habitat preferences; Liberia; Mammalia; morphology; Pteropodidae; reproduction; seasonality; sexual dimorphism; Vegetation; West Africa; zoogeography

Reproductive biology of the Cape serotine bat, Eptesicus capensis in the Transvaal, South Africa - van der Merwe, M. (S. Afr. J. Zool., 1994)
The reproductive biology of the Cape serotine bat, Eptesicus capensis, was investigated histologically. The study was based on 67 specimens collected over a six-year period. This species is seasonally monoestrous, normally giving birth to twins during November. Spermatogenesis peaks during autumn (March-May) when masses of spermatozoa are released into the epididymides, and spermatozoa are present in the epididymides from March to October. Copulations are initiated during this period from the end of March to the beginning of April, with the first ovulations occurring during August. During the pre-ovulation period leucocytes are commonly found within the uterine lumen and uterine glands of females.
Keywords: [Neoromicia] Eptesicus capensis; Chiroptera; copulation; gestation; histology; litter size; reproduction; South Africa; Vespertilionidae

Reproductive synchrony and annual variation in foetal growth rate in the long-fingered bat (Miniopterus schreibersii) - Bernard, R. T. F. (J. Zool. (Lond.), 1994)
Mating in the long-fingered bat (Miniopterus schreibersii) from the East Cape region of South Africa occurred during a four-week period in April and May, and implantation was delayed until August. Analyses of foetal age and estimated dates of conception indicate that after implantation, the progression of pregnancy within the population was synchronous both within and between years. It is suggested that implantation, probably initiated by increasing day length, occurred at about the same time throughout the population and thus synchronized reproduction. In the final month of pregnancy foetal growth rate and, consequently, the timing of parturition in the three years of the study varied. These variations were correlated with variations in rainfall and it is suggested that the failure of the November rains in 1990 would have caused a reduction in insect abundance and that this was responsible for the decrease in foetal growth rate and the delay in parturition.
Keywords: Chiroptera; climate; day length; delayed implantation; ecology; Fledermäuse; foraging; growth rate; Mammalia; mating; mating systems; Miniopteridae; Miniopterus schreibersii; reproduction; seasonality; South Africa; synchronization; trigger

A revision of the Rhinopomatidae Dobson 1872, with the description of a new subspecies (Mammalia: Chiroptera) - Van Cakenberghe, V.; De Vree, F. (Senckenbergiana biol., 1994)
The bat family Rhinopomatidae Dobson 1872 only contains a single genus: Rhinopoma Geoffroy 1813, which can be subdivided into four species: R. microphyllum (Brünnich 1782), R. hardwickei Gray 1831, R. muscatellum Thomas 1903 and R. macinnesi Hayman 1937. This conclusion is based on a biometrical study of 15 skull and 14 external measurements on approximately 1150 specimens. In addition six morphological characters were evaluated. In R. microphyllum four subspecies are retained, whereas only two subspecies are recognized in R. muscatellum and none for R. macinnesi. In addition to the three already known subspecies of R. hardwickei, a new one from the Sunda archipelago is described.
Keywords: Africa; Arabia; Asia; Chiroptera; Erstbeschreibung; evolution; Fledermäuse; Mammalia; morphology; revision; Rhinopoma hardwickii; Rhinopoma hardwickii sondaicum ssp. nov.; Rhinopoma macinnesi; Rhinopoma microphyllum; Rhinopoma muscatellum; Rhinopomatidae; speciation; species richness; Sunda Islands; systematics; taxonomy; zoogeography

Schizamniogenesis in the rusty bat, Pipistrellus rusticus - van der Merwe, M. (S. Afr. J. Zool., 1994)
Rusty bats are seasonally monoestrous, carrying a single foetus in each of the two uterine horns. Implantation is superficial with amniogenesis initiated very early during embryogenesis. Contrary to most other bat species where the amnion is formed by folding, it is formed by cavitation in the rusty bat.
Keywords: Chiroptera; histology; Pipistrellus rusticus; reproduction; South Africa; Vespertilionidae

The Sisia cave bats of Bamenda, Cameroon - Musa, J. Y. (Environmental Conservation, 1994)
Keywords: Cameroon; caves; Central Africa; Chiroptera; conservation; day roosts; land use

Some observations on the Comoro rousette Rousettus obliviosus on Anjouan (Comoro Islands: Western Indian Ocean) - Reason, P. F.; Trewhella, W. J.; Davies, J. G.; Wray, S. (Mammalia, 1994)
During a capture operation for the endangered fruit bat Pteropus livingstonii in the Comoro Islands (Comores) in 1992, two other fruit bat species were also caught: P. seychellensis comorensis and Rousettus obliviosus. Very little is known about the population biology and ecology of R. obliviosus. Morphometric data for this bat are presented, along with discussion of its feeding ecology and reproductive biology. Although this species appears to be common, R. obliviosus is found in forest habitat, which is rapidly disappearing in the Comores.
Keywords: Anjouan; Chiroptera; Comoros; conservation; day roosts; ectoparasites; feeding; food; Indian Ocean; morphology; Pteropodidae; Pteropus livingstonii; Pteropus seychellensis comorensis; reproduction; roosting; Rousettus obliviosus

A study of the baculum in the genus Nycteris (Mammalia, Chiroptera, Nycteridae) with consideration of its taxonomic importance - Thomas, N. M.; Harrison, D. L.; Bates, P. J. J. (Bonn. zool. Beitr., 1994)
The bacula of 11 of the 15 species commonly recognised within the genus Nycteris (Cuvier & E. Geoffroy, 1795) have been examined. The bacula are described and illustrated, and notes on the systematics of the genus, with particular reference to bacular morphology, are included. V. parisii is considered distinct from N. woodi on the basis of bacular morphology. The baculum of N. woodi separates it from the other members of the macrotis group. N. grandis has a particularly distinctive baculum.
Keywords: Africa; Asia; baculum; Chiroptera; distribution; evolution; Fledermäuse; Mammalia; morphology; Nycteridae; Nycteris parisii; Nycteris woodi; Os penis; phylogeny; species richness; systematics; taxonomy; Verbreitung

Systematics - Koopman, K. F. (Mammalia: Chiroptera, 1994)
Keywords: anatomy; biodiversity; Biotopwahl; Chiroptera; ecology; evolution; Faunistik; Fledermäuse; Mammalia; morphology; phylogeny; Pteropodidae; species richness; systematics; taxonomy; zoogeography

Taxonomy and biogeography of African fruit bats (Mammalia, Megachiroptera). 4. The genus Rousettus Gray, 1821 - Bergmans, W. (Beaufortia, 1994)
The concept of the genus Rousettus Gray, 1821 as established by Andersen (1912) is revised to accommodate R. madagascariensis Grandidier, 1929, R. obliviosus Kock, 1978 and R. spinalatus Bergmans & Hill, 1980, and to reflect the following mutations. Following Bergmans et al. (1988), the genus Boneia Jentink, 1879 is treated as a synonym of Rousettus, which adds to that genus the species B. bidens Jentink, 1879. The subgenus Stenonycteris Andersen, 1912 is considered a synonym of Rousettus, and the subgenus Lissonycteris Andersen, 1912 a full genus, to be reviewed in the next part of this series. All African Rousettus species are characterized and their distributions, including many new records, and geographical variation are analyzed. Following Eisentraut (1960), R. egyptiacus (E. Geoffroy-St. Hilaire, 1810) is divided into four, geographically disjunct, subspecies: egyptiacus from southern Egypt northward to and along the Mediterranean coast, including Cyprus, into southern Turkey; leachii (Smith, 1829) from southern Sudan and Ethiopia through East Africa to the Cape; unicolor (Gray, 1870) from northwest Angola to the Mount Cameroun region and from there to Senegal; and the extralimital arabicus Anderson & De Winton, 1902 from the southern half of the Arabian Peninsula to southern Iran and Pakistan (arabicus records from East Ethiopia are thought to be based on small-skulled leachii). All four subspecies are shown to vary geographically. The differences between arabicus and R. leschenaultii (Desmarest, 1820), which both inhabit Pakistan, are discussed at length. Notwithstanding several recent publications, Rousettus lanosus O. Thomas, 1906 is considered very distinct from Rousettus madagascariensis. Its scattered highland distribution has given rise to appreciable geographic variation. Three rough divisions are described but for the present no subspecies are recognized: East Zaire, adjoining Uganda and (probably) Rwanda; (probably) West Ethiopia, South Sudan, East Uganda and Kenyan highlands; and Northeast Tanzania to Malawi. The Malawi records are the first for that country. Of R. madagascariensis, many new specimens have come to light, and its diagnosis is adapted accordingly. Its association, as a subspecies, with R. lanosus by some recent authors is based on a misinterpretation of its original description and other literature, and rejected as untenable. Its differences from R. obliviosus are described in detail for the first time. Some previously unrecorded specimens of R. obliviosus are reported. It is suggested that sexual dimorphism may be at least partly responsible for the "geographic" variation noted by Kock (1978).
Keywords: Africa; Chiroptera; Madagascar; Pteropodidae; revision; Rousettus aegyptiacus aegyptiacus; Rousettus aegyptiacus arabicus; Rousettus aegyptiacus leachii; Rousettus aegyptiacus unicolor; Rousettus lanosus; Rousettus madagascariensis; Rousettus obliviosus; systematics; Vegetation; zoogeography

Thermal preference of Schreiber’s long-fingered (Miniopterus schreiberisii) and Cape horseshoe (Rhinolophus capensis) bats - Brown, C. R.; Bernard, R. T. F. (Comp. Biochem. Physiol. A, 1994)
Thermal preference in a temperature gradient was investigated in Schreibers’ long-fingered (Miniopterus schreibersii) and Cape horseshoe (Rhinolophus capensis) bats in relation to their roost temperatures. Both species selected a wide range of temperatures but R. capensis selected a narrower range and most frequently selected temperatures were 2-3°C lower than M. schreibersii. There was some evidence of seasonal changes in temperature preference in M. schreibersii but not in R. capensis. However, euthermic bats of both species consistently selected higher temperatures than those that entered torpor. Roost temperatures were within the range selected for torpor in the laboratory but euthermic bats selected higher temperatures in the laboratory than those available to them in their roost. M. schreibersii has a wide geographical distribution and appears able to adapt its temperature preferences to those prevailing in available roosts. R. capensis is endemic to the Cape Province, South Africa, but its thermal preferences do not appear to be a factor limiting its distribution.
Keywords: Chiroptera; day roosts; Miniopteridae; Miniopterus schreibersii; physiology; Rhinolophidae; Rhinolophus capensis; South Africa; thermoregulation

An asymmetric dental formula in a mammal, the São Tomé Island fruit bat Myonycteris brachycephala (Mammalia: Megachiroptera) - Juste B., J.; Ibáñez, C. (Can. J. Zool., 1993)
The dental formula in heterodont mammals characteristically shows bilateral symmetry. Its expression is likely to be subject to very stong selective pressures, since it is associated with such basic functions as the acquisition and preparation of food. Here we report the exceptional finding of the first asymmetric dental formula in a heterodont mammal observed in the São Tomé Island (West Africa) frugivorous bat Myonycteris brachycephala. The asymmetry results from the absence of a lower internal incisor, occurring variably in the right or left mandible. This morphological innovation is possibly related to a developmental instability associated with the colonization by the island species.
Keywords: Africa; allopatric; asymmetric dental formula; Chiroptera; colonization; endemic; evolution; Gulf of Guinea; island biogeography; Mammalia; morphology; Myonycteris brachycephala; Pteropodidae; São Tomé; speciation; systematics; taxonomy; theory; zoogeography

Bats – a Community Perspective - Findley, J. S. (Cambridge University Press, 1993)
The species richness of bats is exceeded among mammals only by the rodents. The systematics, biogeography and anatomy of bats have been widely studied, as have some aspects of their behavior, physiology and ecology. Much of the resulting information suggests that they are long-lived, slowly reproducing animals adapted to relatively stable environments. As such they might be expected to exist in communities heavily influenced by biotic interactions. Do bats, indeed, fulfil this expectation? This book begins with an overview of bat biology as it provides insight into the usefulness of bats as a subject for the community ecologist. Included is a synopsis of bat systematic diversity, and a review of methodological problems in bat research. A sampler of bat communities surveys local bat studies from the major biogeographic regions. The evidence bearing upon resource limitation and competition in bats is reviewed. Then patterns in species richness, taxonomic, trophic and morphological diversity, packing and biomass, and numerical density are described, and the relevance of these patterns in addressing the nature of bat communities is examined. It is seen that areas of major habitats and their histories provide powerful predictors of important aspects of bat community structure.Contents: The study of bat communities / An introduction to bats / Methodology in the study of bats / A sampler of bat communities (Temperate North America / The Palearctic region / Tropical Africa / Indo-Malayan and Australian regions / The Neotropics) / Resource limitation and competition in bat communities (Food / Foraging areas / Roosts / Heat / Water) / Patterns in bat communities (Patterns in species richness: where the bats are / Patterns in taxonomic and trophic diversity: what the bats are doing there / Patterns in morphological diversity: how the bats are built, and what that tells us about their ecology / Patterns in packing: how full is ecomorphological space? / Patterns in biomass and numerical abundance) / Correlates of bat community patterns (Species richness / Community age / Area / History / Packing / Are bat communities saturated?) / Summary and outlook
Keywords: behaviour; Beuteortung; Beutespektrum; biodiversity; Chiroptera; community ecology; competition; day roosts; diet; echolocation; ecology; energetics; evolution; Faunistik; Fledermäuse; foraging; guilds; habitat preferences; Mammalia; morphology; Nahrung; Pteropodidae; reproduction; review; species richness; theory; Vegetation; zoogeography

Beobachtungen und Untersuchungen an Säugetieren der Insel São Tomé (Golf von Guinea) (Mammalia) - Feiler, A.; Haft, J.; Widmann, P. (Faun. Abh. Mus. Tierkd. Dresden, 1993)
All wild living mammal species evident on Sao Tome, are demonstrated. Remarks on distribution, biology, ecology and morphology are given. There are the following species respectively subspecies: Crocidura thomensis, Eidolon helvum, Rousettus aegyptiacus thomensis subsp. n., Myonycteris brachycephala, Hipposideros commersoni thomensis, Hipposideros ruber, Miniopterus minor, Cercopithecus mona, Sus scrofa (forma domestica), Canis lupus (forma domestica), Mustela nivalis, Civettictis civetta, Rattus rattus, Rattus norvegicus and Mus musculus (?).
Keywords: Africa; Chiroptera; Crocidura thomensis; diet; ecology; Eidolon helvum; endemic; Faunistik; Fledermäuse; Gulf of Guinea; habitat preferences; Hipposideridae; Hipposideros commersoni thomensis [H. thomensis]; Hipposideros ruber guineensis; island biogeography; Miniopteridae; Miniopterus minor newtoni [M. newtoni]; Myonycteris brachycephala; Nahrung; Pteropodidae; Rousettus aegyptiacus thomensis ssp. nov. [tomensis]; Soricidae; species richness; systematics; taxonomy

Bestäubung der Fabaceae Mucuna flagellipes durch Flughunde in Kamerun - Grünmeier, R. (Animal-Plant Interactions in Tropical Environments, 1993)
Keywords: activity patterns; animal-plant-interactions; Anthocleista; behaviour; Cameroon; Central Africa; Chiroptera; diet; ecology; feeding habits; flowers; food distribution; foraging; Megaloglossus woermanni; morphology; Mucuna flagellipes; Myonycteris torquata; Nahrung; Nahrungsspektrum; Nahrungswahl; nectarivory; pollen; pollination; Pteropodidae; Vegetation

Capturing free-tailed bats (Chiroptera: Molossidae): The description of a new trapping device - Cotterill, F. P. D.; Fergusson, R. A. (J. Zool. (Lond.), 1993)
This paper reviews methods suitable for the capture of African free-tailed bats. The most successful approach is to trap molossids as they leave their daylight roosts. Traps constructed from polythene sheeting on an aluminium frame are most suitable. This design permits flexibility: traps can be easily constructed and rapidly adapted to different situations. The construction and operation of a new mobile trap is described in detail. The effectiveness of this technique for capturing some Tadarida species from their inaccessible roosts is discussed and compared with conventional methods.
Keywords: Africa; capture device; Chaerephon ansorgei; Chiroptera; day roosts; Fledermäuse; Molossidae; roosting behaviour; Tadarida fulminans; trap

Comparative ultrastructural morphometric analysis of atrial specific granules in the bat, mouse, and rat - Tagoe, C. N. B.; Ayettey, A. S.; Yates, R. D. (Anatomical Record, 1993)
Size, incidence, and volume density of atrial specific granules (ASG) in right atrial cells from five animals each of the rat (average weight 210 g), mouse (average weight 28 g), fruit-eating bat Megaloglossus woermanni (BMW;average weight 35 g), and the insect-eating bat Pipistrellus pipistrellus (BPP; average weight 6 g) have been compared via ultrastructural morphometry. In all three parameters of granule measurement, significantly higher figures were obtained in the rodents than in the bats. However, between the rat and the mouse, as also between the two species of bats, no significant differences were noted in any of the measurements. These results therefore do not support the prevalent view that the number and size of the granules decrease with increase in size of the animal species. The low content of ASG in atrial cells of the bats is probably an indication of low demand for the natriuretic hormone of the granule, because, in such animals, and particularly in flight, conservation of fluid and electrolytes is of paramount importance. This suggests that granule content is adapted to fluid and electrolyte regulation in relation to the functional capacity of the animal. We also observed ASG-like structures in endothelial cells of capillaries of bat tissue but not in rodents. The function of these granules or whether or not they represent atrial specific ones is not clear from the present study.
Keywords: anatomy; atrial cells; Chiroptera; Ghana; Mammalia; Megaloglossus woermanni; Pipistrellus pipistrellus; Pteropodidae; Rodentia; Vespertilionidae; West Africa

Die Fledermausfliegen der Insel São Tomé (Golf von Guinea): Taxonomie, Wirtsbindung und Zoogeographie (Insecta: Diptera: Nycteribiidae et Streblidae) - Kock, D. (Faun. Abh. Mus. Tierkd. Dresden, 1993)
The fauna of bat-flies on São Tomé is studied based on recently collected material. The only previously well documented Cyclopodia greeffi has not been obtained, but is recorded for the first time from Pa Galu (Anno Bon) taken from Eidolon helvum. - Eucampsipoda iterfacta n. sp. is described from Rousettus aegyptiacus thomensis on São Tomé. - Nycteribia schmidlii scotti is confirmed as parasitizing Miniopterus minor newtoni. - Penicillidia principis until present only known from Pr{\'ıncipe Island is added to the São Tomé fauna (host species Hipposideros ruber guineensis) and described as P. principis nudipleura n. subsp. - The family Streblidae is recorded for the first time from the archipelago in the Gulf of Guinea, based on Ascodipteron africanum encysted in Miniopterus minor newtoni. - Host species taxonomy is briefly compared with the batflies respectively associated.
Keywords: Africa; Annobón; Ascodipteron africanum; Bioko; Chiroptera; Cyclopodia greeffi; Diptera; ectoparasites; endemic; Eucampsipoda iterfacta sp. nov.; evolution; Faunistik; Fledermäuse; Gulf of Guinea; Hipposideridae; Hipposideros fuliginosus; Hipposideros ruber guineensis; Insecta; island biogeography; Lissonycteris angolensis; Miniopteridae; Miniopterus inflatus; Miniopterus natalensis; Miniopterus newtoni; Miniopterus schreibersii; Nycteribia schmidlii scotti; Nycteribiidae; parasitism; Penicillidia principis nudipleura ssp. nov.; Pr{\'ıncipe; Pteropodidae; Rhinolophidae; Rhinolophus; Rousettus aegyptiacus thomensis [tomensis]; Rousettus obliviosus; São Tomé; species richness; Streblidae; systematics; taxonomy; zoogeography

Echolocation, flight morphology and foraging strategies of some West African hipposiderid bats - Jones, G.; Morton, M.; Hughes, P. M.; Budden, R. M. (J. Zool. (Lond.), 1993)
We studied echolocation call structure, flight morphology and feeding behaviour of three hipposiderid bats (Asellia tridens, Hipposideros caffer and H. ruber: Chiroptera: Hipposideridae) in The Gambia during the wet season (July-August). All three species emitted brief (CF/FM) echolocation cells. In A. tridens CF (constant frequency) frequencies between 108 and 122 kHz were recorded. This variation was caused mainly by sex and age difference in call frequencies: juveniles used lower frequencies than did adults, and males were lower in frequency than females. Among adults, CF frequency was related to forearm length in a polynomial manner. Asellia tridens is unusual for a microchiropteran in that males are larger than females: nevertheless this species follows the typical trend for bats using CF components in their calls in the that males call at lower frequencies than do females. The spread in frequencies noted for A. tridens in group flight was not caused primarily by individuals shifting their frequencies when flying in a group compared with when flying alone. Three bats were flown separately and then together in a small room. The hypothesis that bats shift emitted frequencies in group flight to minimize confusing their own echoes with those from conspecific was not supported. Rather, we suggest each bat has a personal CF frequency determined by sex, age and size, and that the variation created by these factors reduces confusion with other bats’ echoes during group flight. Bats of the genus Hipposideros were separated into two groups by discriminant analysis on flight morphology. The two groups showed little overlap of CF frequencies used in echolocation. Bats identified as H. ruber called with CF resting frequencies between 121 and 136 k Hz, while H. caffer used 128-153 kHz. Our results support the classification of these bats into two sibling species. We compared the flight performance of A. tridens and H. ruber by flying bats through obstacle courses: H. ruber had a lower wing loading and was able to negotiate more complex arrays of obstacles than could A. tridens. In the wild, H. ruber fed in more cluttered situations than did A. tridens. Both species were feeding mainly on Coleoptera during the study period, and in H. ruber individuals with higher aspect ratios and longer wingspans tended to eat more moths than did bats with broader and shorter wings.
Keywords: Asellia tridens; behaviour; Chiroptera; communities; competition; diet; echolocation; ecology; Faunistik; Fledermäuse; foraging; Gambia; habitat preferences; Hangplätze; Hipposideridae; Hipposideros caffer; Hipposideros ruber; Mammalia; morphology; Nahrung; roosting behaviour; species richness; sympatric; systematics; taxonomy; Vegetation; West Africa

Effect of water restriction on energy and water balance and osmoregulation of the fruit bat Rousettus aegyptiacus - Arad, Z.; Korine, C. (J. Comp. Physiol. B, 1993)
The energy budget, water balance and osmoregulation of the fruit bat, Rousettus aegyptiacus, were studied during normal hydration and during water restriction (oven-dried apple diet). The water input and output were balanced during both normal hydration and water restriction. The kidney of the fruit bat is well adapted to handle the water load from its fruit diet by excreting large volumes (14% of the body mass per day) of dilute urine (113±25 mosmol·kg H2P-1) as well as reducing urine volume (-95%) and increasing urine osmotic concentration (555±280 mosmol·kg H2O-1) during water restriction. The haematocrit, plasma haemoglobin and total protein concentrations did not increase during water restriction and heat exposure, suggesting the conservation of plasma volume. Gross energy intake was not alfected by water restriction. However, digested energy intake and digestibility were significantly reduced. The effective regulation of energy and water budgets during water restriction suggests that the fruit bat can cope with seasonal climatic changes and with variable fruit supply during various seasons.
Keywords: Chiroptera; energetics; Israel; Near East; osmoregulation; physiology; Pteropodidae; Rousettus aegyptiacus; water balance

Effect of water restriction on temperature regulation of the fruit-bat Rousettus aegyptiacus - Korine, C.; Arad, Z. (Journal of Thermal Biology, 1993)
1. The thermoregulatory responses of the fruit-bat, Rousettus aegyptiacus, the only fruit-bat out of 32 bat species in Israel, were studied over a wide range of ambient temperature during normal hydration and during water restriction.2. The thermoneutral zone of the normally-hydrated fruit-bat ranged between 31-36°C. Oxygen consumption in this range averaged 0.95 ± 0.15 mlg-1h-1.3. Evaporative water loss and respiration frequency during normal hydration incrased as power functions of ambient temperature and were significantly correlated (P < 0.02). The normally-hydrated, heat exposed fruit-bat effectively regulated its body temperature and dissipated the total metabolic heat production by evaporative cooling.4. In bats fed on oven-dried apples (water restriction), body mass decreased by 20.72 ± 2.78%. Oxygen consumption between 32-36°C increased significantly and body temperature was relatively high. Evaporative water loss decreased sinificantly, except at 36°C where evaporative water loss was not significantly different from that during normal hydration, suggesting the preference for body temprature regulation at the cost of increased water loss. At this ambient temperature, dry thermal conductance increased significantly compared to normal hydration, facilitating non-evaporative heat loss.5. We conclude that the Israeli population of Rousettus aegyptiacus is adapted to the relatively warm climate and can cope with a decreased water content in its exclusive fruit diet and effectively regulate its body temperature and metabolic rate.
Keywords: Chiroptera; frugivory; Israel; Near East; physiology; Pteropodidae; Rousettus aegyptiacus; temperature; thermoregulation; water restriction

Filovirus activity among selected ethnic groups inhabiting the tropical forest of equatorial Africa - Johnson, E. D.; Gonzalez, J. P.; Georges, A. (Trans. Roy. Soc. Trop. Med. Hyg., 1993)
Seroepidemiological surveys were conducted to determine the frequency and distribution of filovirus activity among selected ethnic groups inhabiting the tropical forests of the Central African Republic. 427 serum specimens were collected from hunter-gatherers and subsistence farmers living in forest environs in the Lobaye District south of the river Lobaye and west of the river Oubangui. Striking serological evidence for filovirus activity was found in both populations. Ebola virus appears to be the most active filovirus; 17.6% (75/427) of the Lobaye survey population were seropositive for Ebola virus reactive antibody while 1.2% (5/427) were seroreactive with Marburg viral antigens. Ethnic background appeared to be an important risk factor influencing filovirus exposure in the forest communities. The filovirus antibody prevalence among 21-40 years old male Aka Pygmy hunter-gatherers was significantly (P = 0.03) 3 times higher (37.5%) than that in similarly aged male Monzombo and Mbati subsistence farmers (13.2%). Continued epidemiological investigations are needed to define ethnic-related events influencing human filovirus activity in the Congo basin of equatorial Africa.
Keywords: bushmeat; Central Africa; Central African Republic; Chiroptera; Ebola; epidemiology; Filoviridae; hunter-gatherer; hunting; Mammalia; Marburg; prevalence; Pteropodidae; serology; virology

The food habits of the barn owl Tyto alba at three sites on Madagascar - Goodman, S. M.; Langrand, O.; Raxworthy, C. J. (Ostrich, 1993)
Regurgitated food remains of the barn owl Tyto alba were collected within the rain forest of the Eastem Region of Madaascar (Andasibe and Manombo) and in the sub-arid thorn scrub of the Western Region (Beza Mahafaly). The material from Andasibe and Manombo represent single point samples, while 24 samples were collected from Beza Mahafaly between November 1990 and November 1991. A minimum of 176 individual vertebrates, representing 18 taxa, was identified from the Andasibe sample, and a minimum of 90 individual vertebrates of 5 taxa from the Manombo sample. The Beza Mahafaly samples included a minimum of 1013 individual vertebrates of 22 taxa. At all three sites introduced rodents made up the bulk of the prey by number and by biomass, but at Beza Mahafaly lemurs and amphibia were also significant prey items. Insects constituted a small proportion of the prey. The results from these sites are compared with records of barn owl prey from mainland Africa.
Keywords: [Mormopterus] Tadarida jugularis; Africa; Amphibia; Aves; Chiroptera; diet; Emballonuridae; food; Insecta; Madagascar; Mammalia; Molossidae; Mops midas; predation; Primates; Reptilia; Rodentia; Soricidae; Strigiformes; Taphozous mauritianus; Tyto alba

Food habits of the Madagascar long-eared owl Asio madagascariensis in two habitats in southern Madagascar - Goodman, S. M.; Langrand, O.; Raxworthy, C. J. (Ostrich, 1993)
Food remains recovered from regurgitated pellets of the Madagascar long-eared owl Asio madagascariensis were collected at two sites on Madagascar with different habitats and weather regimes. The localities are Beza Mahafaly, a sub-arid thorn scrub area in the southwest, and Bezavona Forest, a lower montane rain forest in southeastern Madagascar. At Beza Mahafaly prey composition varied according to season. Vertebrate prey included: frogs, lizards, birds, terrestrial insectivores, bats, lemurs and rodents. The total biomass of lemurs (Microcebus) represented varies from approximately 8 to 40%. Two samples from the Bezavona Forest included: frogs, geckos, birds, bats, lemurs and rodents. Lemurs (Microcebus and either Hapalemur or Avahi) made up a total biomass of 24 % at this locality. At both sites a significant proportion of the diet is composed of introduced rodents.
Keywords: [Mormopterus] Tadarida jugularis; Africa; Amphibia; Asio madagascariensis; Aves; Chiroptera; diet; food; Hipposideridae; Hipposideros commersonii; Madagascar; Mammalia; Molossidae; predation; Primates; Reptilia; Rodentia; Strigiformes

Geographic variation and taxonomy of Rousettus aegyptiacus (Mammalia: Megachiroptera) in the islands of the Gulf of Guinea - Juste B., J.; Ibáñez, C. (Zool. J. Linn. Soc., 1993)
The systematic status of the Rousettus aegyptiacus populations of the oceanic islands of Pr{\'ıncipe and São Tomé in the Gulf of Guinea (West Africa) is examined. These populations present noticeable phenetic differences between themselves as well as among the R. a. unicolor populations of Gulf of Guinea continental coast and those of Bioco island. The differences found justify the description of new subspecies on the two islands. In spite of the differences among the insular subspecies, these share some features that, at least partially, suggest the existence of a common evolutionary history.
Keywords: Africa; allopatric; Chiroptera; endemic; evolution; Faunistik; Gulf of Guinea; island biogeography; morphology; Pr{\'ıncipe; Pteropodidae; Rousettus aegyptiacus princeps ssp. nov.; Rousettus aegyptiacus tomensis ssp. nov.; Rousettus aegyptiacus unicolor; São Tomé; speciation; species richness; sympatric; systematics; taxonomy

Bewsiella Domrow (Acarina: Mesostigmata): A revision and the description of new species - Uchikawa, K. (Systematic Parasitology, 1993)
The genus Bewsiella is considered to comprise a considerable number of species, despite having been regarded as monotypic. The structure of the male spermadactyl is proposed as a key character for separating congeneric species. This character seems likely to bear phylogenetic information on both the mites themselves and their hosts. Since the male of Bewsiella fledermaus Domrow, the type-species, has not been found, it is impossible to define the morphology of this species based on both sexes. Consequently, all mites that share many characters with the female of B. fledermaus are placed in a B. fledermaus species group. B. aelleni (Till) is considered as a valid species and both sexes and the protonymph are redescribed and illustrated. B. nycteris n. sp., B. emballonuris n. sp., B. cloeotis n. sp., B. haradai n. sp. and B. coelopos n. sp. are described and illustrated. The genus Bewsiella was originally allocated to the family Laelapidae and later transferred to the family Macronyssidae. Recently, the genus was returned to the Laelapidae, and some evidence supporting this action was obtained during the present study, but further studies are required for confirmation.
Keywords: Acari; Africa; Arachnida; Aselliscus stoliczkanus; Aselliscus tricuspidatus; Asia; Australia; Bewsiella aelleni; Bewsiella cloeotis sp. nov.; Chiroptera; Cloeotis percivali australis; Coelops frithi; Congo (Brazzaville); Congo (Kinshasa); ectoparasites; Emballonura rivalis [alecto]; Emballonuridae; Hipposideridae; Hipposideros ater; Hipposideros bicolor; Hipposideros calcaratus; Hipposideros diadema; Hipposideros galeritus; Hipposideros obscurus; Hipposideros semoni; host-parasite coevolution; identification key; Mammalia; Mesostigmata; Nycteridae; Nycteris hispida; Nycteris thebaica capensis; Nycteris tragata; Pacific; parasitism; South Africa; taxonomy

Isolation of Lecythophora mutabilis and Wangiella dermatitidis from the fruit eating bat Eidolon helvum - Muotoe-Okafor, F. A.; Gugnani, H. C. (Mycopathologia, 1993)
Lecythophora mutabilis was isolated from the lungs of 3 and from the liver of 2 bats, Eidolon helvum a fruit eating species. Wangiella dermatitidis was recovered from the liver of 2 bats of the same species. The isolates were pathogenic for laboratory mice when injected by subcutaneous, intraperitoneal and intravenous routes. W. dermatitidis was neurotropic in the mice injected intravenously.
Keywords: Chiroptera; Eidolon helvum; Nigeria; parasitism; Pteropodidae; West Africa

Karyotypic data and attendant systematic implications for the bats of southern Africa - Rautenbach, I. L.; Bronner, G. N.; Schlitter, D. A. (Koedoe, 1993)
The standard karyotypic properties of 60 of the 73 species of bats known to occur in southern Africa, are reviewed. The karyotypes of 23 microchiropteran species are described for the first time; our results on a further 14 species are compared with earlier reports for those taxa. The previously published chromosomal information pertaining to 23 species for which we had no information, are cited. Systematic implications of observed patterns of karyotypic variation are briefly discussed. In particular, we conclude that the taxon Cistugo (currently recognised as a subgenus of Myotis) should be afforded full generic rank; hypothesise that the karyotypes of the two species - M. (C.) seabrai and M. (C.) lesueuri - in Cistugo are probably ancestral for all vespertilionids; and question the wisdom of redefining the taxonomic limits of the genera Eptesicus and Pipistrellus until molecular data are available to resolve the dilemma posed by conflicting morphological and cytogenetic data suites.
Keywords: Chiroptera; chromosomes; Cistugidae; Cistugo lesueuri; Cistugo seabrae; distribution; evolution; Fledermäuse; genetics; karyotypes; Mammalia; South Africa; speciation; species richness; systematics; taxonomy; Verbreitung; Vespertilionidae

A less-than-annual breeding cycle in a pair of African bat hawks Macheiramphus alcinus - Hartley, R. R.; Hustler, K. (Ibis, 1993)
An urban-nesting pair of African bat hawks Machaeramphus alcinus in Zimbabwe laid regularly every 10-11 months over six breeding seasons, with the egg being laid at least 1 month earlier each successive year. This less-than-annual cycle was probably due to a stable and regular food supply of insectivorous bats that were attracted to lights when feeding and could be caught all night at all times of the year. Therefore, the bat hawks could breed as often as their body condition allowed.This cycle differs from the known situation in rural bat hawks which lay annually mainly during September and October. These probably take advantage of easily-caught pregnant female bats in September/October in order to attain breeding condition, whereas fledgling bat hawks take advantage of recently independent but naive juvenile bats in January/February. The relative dearth of bats in rural areas outside this period may account for the regular annual breeding of bat hawks at the time of greatest prey availability.
Keywords: Aves; breeding; Chiroptera; Falconiformes; Macheiramphus alcinus; reproduction; seasonality; Southern Africa; Zimbabwe

Long-fingered bats of the genus Miniopterus (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) from Madagascar - Hill, J. Edwards (Mammalia, 1993)
This paper reports and reviews bats of the genus Miniopterus from Madagascar. Further specimens of M. minor manavi and M. schreibersii majori are discussed and measured, and earlier informal records of M. fraterculus and M. inflatus are substantiated.
Keywords: Africa; Chiroptera; Madagascar; Miniopteridae; Miniopterus fraterculus; Miniopterus inflatus; Miniopterus majori; Miniopterus manavi; systematics; taxonomy

A new classification for the subgenera of the genus Acanthophthirius Perkins, with descriptions of twelve new taxa (Acarina, Trombidiformes, Myobiidae) - Uchikawa, K.; Baker, A. (Systematic Parasitology, 1993)
The myobiid genus Acanthophthirius Perkins, to date comprising four subgenera, is reviewed and divided into just two subgenera, the nominate subgenus and Myotimyobia Fain. The male genital shield and female opisthogastric sclerites, which are here considered to be part of female genitalia, are adopted as the criteria for dividing the subgenera. These structures are essentially the same in form and position in the subgenus Acanthopthirius in its revised sense, while they are both more heterogeneous in species of the redefined subgenus Myotimyobia. The subgenera Acanthophthirius Fain and Chiromyobia Fain are thought to represent species-groups in the nominate subgenus, named respectively the etheldredae and miniopteri groups. The following one new subspecies and 11 new species are described: A. (A.) womersleyi eptesicus, A. (A.) glauconycteris, A. (A.) mauritaniensis, A. (A.) philetoris, A. (A.) otonycteris, A. (A.) steatocaudatus, A. (A.) nyctophilis, A. (M.) vagus, A. (M.) longus, A. (M.) baueris, A. (A.) hesperopteris (female only) and A. (M.) pixonixeos (female only). A. (M.) hanensis is synonymised with A. (M.) namurensis, and A. (M.) capacini is emended to A. (M.) capaccinii and relegated to a subspecies of A. (M.) myotis. All the known and new species are assigned to their respective subgenera and shown in a table. Incongruent host-relationships of some of the mites are clarified, although not completely solved, by the introduction of the new classification for the subgenera.
Keywords: [Myotis] Pizonyx vivesi; [Vespadelus caurinus] Eptesicus pumilus caurinus; Acanthophthirius glauconycteris sp. nov.; Acanthophthirius mauritaniensis sp. nov.; Acari; Africa; Antrozous dubiaquercus; Arachnida; Asia; Australia; Central America; Chiroptera; ectoparasites; Glauconycteris poensis; Hesperoptenus tickelli; host-parasite coevolution; Lasionycteris noctivagans; Mammalia; Mauritania; Myobiidae; Myotis longipes; North America; Nycticeinops schlieffenii; Nyctophilus macrotis; Otonycteris hemprichii; Pacific; parasitism; Philetor brachypterus; Rhogeessa tumida; Tanzania; taxonomy; Vespertilionidae

A new Tadarida of the subgenus Chaerephon (Chiroptera: Molossidae) from São Tomé Island, Gulf of Guinea (West Africa) - Juste B., J.; Ibáñez, C. (J. Mamm., 1993)
We describe a population of the genus Tadarida (Molossidae) from São Tomé Island (Gulf of Guinea, West Africa), as a new species based on cranial and interaural-membrane morphology shown in three specimens. These features are shared only with T. (Chaerephon) gallagheri from Zaire and, in part, with T. (C.) johorensis from the Malayan Peninsula, two species that appear to be the closest allies. The families Molossidae (the new species and T. (C.) pumila) and Emballonuridae (Taphozous mauritianus) are recorded for the first time, for the island of São Tomé.
Keywords: Africa; Chaerephon gallagheri; Chaerephon johorensis; Chaerephon pumilus; Chaerephon tomensis sp. nov.; Chiroptera; Congo (Kinshasa); Emballonuridae; endemic; evolution; Faunistik; Fledermäuse; Gulf of Guinea; island biogeography; Malaysia; Mammalia; Molossidae; São Tomé; speciation; species richness; sympatric; systematics; Taphozous mauritianus; taxonomy; zoogeography

Notes on a collection of small mammals from the Ethiopian Rift Valley - Duckworth, J. W.; Harrison, D. L.; Timmins, R. J. (Mammalia, 1993)
Keywords: [Neoromicia] Pipistrellus tenuipinnis; biodiversity; Cardioderma cor; Chiroptera; Crocidura phaeura; Dendromus melanotis; Ethiopia; Faunistik; Grammomys dolichurus; habitat preferences; Hipposideridae; Mammalia; Megadermatidae; morphology; Northeast Africa; Rodentia; Scotoecus hindei [hirundo]; Scotophilus dinganii; Soricomorpha; species richness; systematics; Tatera nigricauda; taxonomy; Triaenops persicus [afer]; Vespertilionidae; zoogeography

Nouvelles données sur le genre Myopterus. Le statut de Myopterus daubentonii Desmarest, 1820 (Chiroptera: Molossidae) - Adam, F.; Aellen, V.; Tranier, M. (Rev. suisse Zool., 1993)
Five specimens of Myopterus, caught in Senegal in 1973, allow to clarify the taxonomical status of Myopterus daubentonii Desmarest, 1820 (Chiroptera: Molossidae). A neotype is designated, housed in the Museum national d’Histoire naturelle (MNHN), in Paris. Relationships between the so-called M. daubentonii, M. albatus and M. whitleyi are discussed; it is suggested that M. albatus might be a mere subspecies of M. daubentonii. New localities are given - or even resurrected - for this rare and poorly known genus: i.e. Gabon and Uganda (M. whitleyi), Central African Republic (M. daubentonii albatus).
Keywords: Africa; Central African Republic; Chiroptera; Côte d’Ivoire; ecology; Faunistik; Fledermäuse; Gabon; Ivory Coast; Mammalia; Molossidae; morphology; Myopterus albatus; Myopterus daubentonii; Myopterus whitleyi; Senegal; systematics; taxonomy; Uganda

Order Chiroptera - Koopman, K. F. (Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, 1993)
Keywords: biodiversity; biogeography; Chiroptera; distribution; Faunistik; Fledermäuse; Mammalia; Pteropodidae; species richness; systematics; taxonomy; zoogeography

Rabies and bats in a rabies-endemic area of southern Africa: Application of two commercial test kits for antigen and antibody detection - Oelofsen, M. J.; Smith, M. S. (Onderstepoort J. Vet. Res., 1993)
In southern Africa, isolates of rabies-related viruses (i.e. Duvenhage virus and Lagos bat virus) have been made from insectivorous and frugivorous bats. As no recent formal bat virus survey has been reported in southern Africa, a survey of bats in rabies-endemic areas was undertaken. Five hundred and forty-seven bats (13 species) were collected from 21 localities in the Orange Free State, Lesotho and the northern Cape Province. None of the 190 bat sera tested using the "Trousse Platelia Rage" ELISA kit (Diagnostic Pasteur), had antibodies to rabies virus glycoprotein G. Rabies virus nucleocapsid antigen was also sought for in the brains of 530 bats (13 species) by means of the "Rapid rabies enzyme immunodiagnosis" (RREID) test (Diagnostics Pasteur). No positive results were obtained. These results show that bats are unlikely to play an important role as hosts of rabies in these parts of Africa, although a low rate of infection cannot be excluded.
Keywords: [Cistugo lesueuri] Myotis leasuri; [Neoromicia] Eptesicus capensis; Chiroptera; Cistugidae; Eptesicus hottentotus; infectiology; Laephotis wintoni; lyssaviruses; Miniopteridae; Miniopterus schreibersii; Molossidae; Myotis tricolor; Nycteridae; Nycteris thebaica; Pipistrellus kuhlii [hesperidus]; Rhinolophidae; Rhinolophus clivosus; Rhinolophus darlingi; Rhinolophus denti; Sauromys petrophilus; South Africa; Tadarida aegyptiaca; Vespertilionidae; virology

A reconnaissance of Ile Sainte Marie, Madagascar: The status of the forest, avifauna, lemurs and fruit bats - Goodman, S. M. (Biol. Conservation, 1993)
Between 26 March and 3 April 1991 a reconnaissance of Ile Sainte Marie, Madagascar, was conducted to determine the condition of the remaining forests and the species of birds occurring on the island. Specific information was sought on the snail-eating coua Coua delalandei, a species known only from Ile Sainte Maire, but which had not been reported for over 150 years. Sight observations and interviews with local people were used in this investigation. The only remaining forest on laterite soil, Forêt de Kalalao, has been severely degraded and is now a series of small disjunct blocks. One area of littoral forest, Forêt d’Ambohidena, is relatively intact. A single obligate forest bird is known still to occur on the island. There is a high correlation between the species of birds observed during the reconnaissance and those recognized from pictures by local inhabitants of the island. On the basis of the extent of habitat destruction, the condition of the remaining forest, and information from local people, the snail-eating coua is presumed to be extinct. Incidental information was also obtained about lemurs and fruit bats occurring on the island.
Keywords: Africa; Aves; bushmeat; Chiroptera; conservation; hunting; Madagascar; Mammalia; Primates; Pteropodidae; Pteropus rufus; survey

Records of bat flies from Jordan, Libya and Algeria - Amr, Z. S.; Qumsiyeh, M. B. (Ent. News, 1993)
Eight species of bat flies (Insecta: Diptera: Streblidae and Nycteribiidae) collected from bats from Jordan, Libya and Algeria are listed along with their respective hosts. Brachytarsina flavipennis, Stylidia biarticulata, Stylidia integra and Basilia nana are new records for Jordan.
Keywords: Algeria; Arabia; Basilia daganiae; Basilia nana; Brachytarsina flavipennis; Chiroptera; Diptera; ectoparasites; Insecta; Jordan; Libya; Miniopteridae; Miniopterus schreibersi; Myotis blythi [punicus]; Near East; North Africa; Nycteribia pedicularia; Nycteribia schmidlii; Nycteribiidae; parasitism; Penicillidia dufourii; Pipistrellus pipistrellus; Rhinolophidae; Rhinolophus euryale; Rhinolophus mehelyi; Streblidae; Stylidia biarticulata; Stylidia integra; Vespertilionidae

Reproductive biology and population structures of Podocarpus falcatus and P. latifolius in southern Cape forests - Geldenhuys, C. J. (Bot. J. Linn. Soc., 1993)
This study concerns morphological differences of the fruit types of two Podocarpus species in relation to their different population recruitment rates. First, sampling data from the mixed evergreen forests of Gouna and Groenkop in the southern Cape, South Africa, were used to describe the population structures of the two species. Podocarpus falcatus is widely scattered at low density and has a low recruitment rate. Podocarpus latifolius is widespread and common at high density and has a high recruitment rate. Second, the morphology of their fruits and seeds was studied in relation to seed dispersal, predation and germination. The species represent the two basic ’fruit’ types of the genus. Podocarpus falcatus produces a heavy fruit, but invests mostly in dispersal (with a yellow fleshy pulp or epimatium enclosing the seed) and protective tissue (stony shell or sclerotesta) and very little into endosperm food reserves for the embryo. Podocarpus latifolius produces a light fruit which is composed mainly of dispersal tissue (blackish-purple fleshy receptacle) with protective tissue (thin leathery epimatium without woody sclerotesta) and food reserves for the embryo. The structure of the P. falcatus fruit is related to adaptation for protection during seed dispersal by bats. The stony sclerotesta delays germination for about one year and thereby causes the exposure of the seed to high post-dispersal predation by rodents and bushpig. Seedling recruitment is low. In contrast birds and baboons eat the receptacle of the P. latifolius fruit and discard the seed undamaged. Less protective tissue is required. Seeds germinate within two to four months and recruitment is high. The structural differences of the two fruit types also have predictive value for the relative success of the different sections of the genus. Section Afrocarpus (to which P. falcatus belongs) and related sections have relatively restricted geographic distributions. Section Eupodocarpus (to which P. latifolius belongs) and related sections have wide distributions.
Keywords: Chiroptera; frugivory; germination; Pteropodidae; Rousettus aegyptiacus; seed dispersal; seed predation; size class distribution; South Africa

Reproductive Biology of the Baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) - Jørgensen, A. (MSc Thesis, 1993)
Keywords: Chiroptera; Epomophorus gambianus; Pteropodidae; Rousettus aegyptiacus; Senegal; West Africa

Reproductive Biology of the Egyptian Free-tailed Bat, Tadarida aegyptiaca - Tsita, J. N. (MSc Thesis, 1993)
The reproductive biology of Tadarida aegyptiaca was studied using specimens collected in the Cape Province of South Africa. The morphology of the reproductive tract of the species was generally similar to that of other molossids, however, the absence of Cowpers glands was unusual. Spermatogenesis began in February and spermatozoa were released to the cauda epididymis during August and September. Follicular development started in March and culminated with the appearance of Graafian follicles in July. Ovulation probably occurred in August and specimens were pregnant by September. Gestation length was estimated to be four to five months and a single young was born in December. The data suggest that T. aegyptiaca is monotocous and monoestrous.
Keywords: anatomy; Chiroptera; gestation; histology; Molossidae; monoestry; morphology; pregnancy; reproduction; seasonality; South Africa; Tadarida aegyptiaca

Seasonally polyestrous reproduction in a free-tailed bat Tadarida fulminans (Microchiroptera: Molossidae) in Zimbabwe - Cotterill, F. P. D.; Fergusson, R. A. (Biotropica, 1993)
This paper reports on an unusual pattern of reproduction observed in females of the large Madagascar free-tailed bat, Tadarida fulminans (Thomas 1903), in Zimbabwe. Tadarida fulminans is a large, high flying free-tailed bat. It is rarely encountered, but widely distributed across the savanna biome of eastern tropical Africa (Smithers 1983).
Keywords: behaviour; Chiroptera; Fledermäuse; Mammalia; Molossidae; polyoestry; reproduction; Southern Africa; Tadarida fulminans; Zimbabwe

Systematics of African Nycteris (Mammalia: Chiroptera). Part II. The Nycteris hispida group - Van Cakenberghe, V.; De Vree, F. (Bonn. zool. Beitr., 1993)
In this paper the systematics of the African Nycteris hispida species group is discussed. Using multivariate statistical techniques, three species can be distinguished in this group: one extremely large Nycteris grandis Peters, 1865, and two smaller species: Nycteris hispida (Schreber, 1774) and Nycteris aurita (K. Andersen, 1912). It is shown why both latter species are generally lumped together, since they are very alike when external measurements are compared univariably. None of the three species shows sufficient geographical differences to permit subspecific division. Besides biometrical data, the distribution of the three species is discussed and a review of all publications concerning the various forms is presented. Additionally the sexual dimorphism in the different species was examined, indicating that one must be very careful in attributing sexual dimorphism if the specimens originate from a large geographic area.
Keywords: Africa; Chiroptera; evolution; Faunistik; Fledermäuse; Mammalia; morphology; Nycteridae; Nycteris aurita; Nycteris grandis; Nycteris hispida; revision; sibling species; speciation; species richness; systematics; taxonomy; zoogeography

Ultrastructural characteristics of atrial, ventricular and subendocardial (Purkinje) cells of the fruit-eating bat Eidolon helvum - Ayettey, A. S.; Tagoe, C. N. B.; Yates, R. D. (Acta Anatomica, 1993)
The ultrastructure of the myocardium of the large (285 gm) fruit-eating bat (Eidolon helvum) provides further evidence that, among mammalian species, different types of cardiac myocytes are morphologically heterogeneous. Atrial cells of this species, like those of smaller bats previously studied, have few of the natriuretic hormone-containing granules. These granules are also small, with a mean diameter of 176 ± 3.9 nm in comparison with those of the rat (230 ± 5.8 nm) and mouse (211 ± 4.7 nm). In all types of myocytes of the bat investigated, mitochondrial matrix granules are more prominent than in those of the rat and mouse. Also distinctive are the Purkinje cells which, aside from their large size (30 µm) and lack of T-tubules, have atrial granule-like inclusions. These cells are well endowed with mitochondria (28% of cytoplasmic volume) and with lipid bodies but have few glycogen granules. Their myofibrillae (33%) are well aligned. The ventricular cells (average diameter 14 µm) have nearly equal volumes of mitochondria (41%) and myofibrils (47%). Mitochondrial cristae, however, are not compactly organized. Lipid material is found in the matrix of the mitochondria. Extensive evaginations of endothelial cells of the bat endocardium appear continuous with endothelial vacuoles. In these endothelial cells, there are also many dense granules of varying shapes and sizes.
Keywords: anatomy; Chiroptera; Eidolon helvum; Ghana; heart; Pteropodidae; ultrastructure; West Africa

Variation in foraging behaviour, habitat use, and diet of large slit-faced bats (Nycteris grandis) - Fenton, M. B.; Rautenbach, I. L.; Chipese, D.; Cumming, M. B.; Musgrave, M. K.; Taylor, J. S.; Volpers, T. (Z. Säugetierk., 1993)
Examined the diet of Nycteris grandis, a 30-35 g African nycterid which varied significantly from year to year, season to season and roost to roost, suggesting flexible foraging behaviour and opportunism. Frogs, insects, and bats formed the bulk of the bats’ diet. Although five species of frogs were consumed, two dominated the diet. Insect prey were mainly larger Lepidoptera and Orthoptera with occasional consumption of smaller species (< 10 g) of bats. Diurnal insects (butterflies - Lepidoptera; dragon flies - Odonata) and small (€ 10 g) birds also were eaten. Over 14 nights in June 1990, prey taken by N. grandis did not reflect the availability of frogs, bats or insects. Radio-tagged N. grandis showed significant variation in approach to foraging, including the use of woodland or river habitat, and two foraging techniques, namely hunting from continuous flight or from a perch.
Keywords: Beutespektrum; carnivory; Chiroptera; diet; feeding habits; Fledermäuse; foraging; Nahrungsspektrum; Nahrungswahl; Nycteridae; Nycteris grandis; opportunistic feeder; Southern Africa; Zimbabwe

Vocal mimicry in wild African grey parrots Psittacus erithacus - Cruickshank, A. J.; Gautier, J.-P.; Chappuis, C. (Ibis, 1993)
The ability of captive grey parrots Psittacus erithacus to imitate heterospecific sounds is well known. Analysis of a sound recording from Zaire reveals the first evidence of vocal mimicry in the wild of nine species of birds and a bat. Examination of recordings from Gabon and the Ivory Coast indicates that vocal mimicry may be widespread in wild populations. Possibly reasons why this phenomenon has not been detected before are discussed.
Keywords: acoustic communication; Africa; animal communication; Aves; Congo (Kinshasa); courtship behaviour; Gabon; Ivory Coast; Psittacus erithacus; social behaviour; vocal mimicry

Bats from Mana Pools National Park in Zimbabwe and the first record of Eptesicus rendallii from the country - Rautenbach, I. L.; Fenton, M. B. (Z. Säugetierk., 1992)
Keywords: biodiversity; Chiroptera; chromosomes; distribution; Faunistik; Fledermäuse; karyotypes; Mammalia; Neoromicia rendalli; Pteropodidae; Southern Africa; species richness; systematics; taxonomy; Vespertilionidae; Zimbabwe

The bats of Nechisar National Park - Duckworth, J. W.; Timmins, R. J. (A Survey of Nechisar National Park, Ethiopia, 1992)
Keywords: [Chaerephon pumilus] Tadarida pumila; [Neoromicia nana] Pipistrellus nanus; [Neoromicia] Pipistrellus tenuipinnis; Cardioderma cor; Chiroptera; Epomophorus anurus [labiatus]; Ethiopia; Hipposideridae; Lavia frons; Megadermatidae; Molossidae; Northeast Africa; Pteropodidae; Rhinolophidae; Rhinolophus cf. fumigatus; Rousettus aegyptiacus; Rousettus cf. lanosus kempi; Scotoecus hindei [hirundo]; Scotophilus dinganii; Triaenops persicus afer; Vespertilionidae

Beobachtungen über Nutznießer der Früchte des Niembaumes (Azadirachta indica) in Afrika mit besonderer Berücksichtigung von Senegal - Schmutterer, H. (Anzeiger für Schädlingskunde, Pflanzenschutz, Umweltschutz, 1992)
The fruits of the neem tree, Azadirachta indica A. Juss., are utilized in Senegal and elsewhere by man and numerous animals for food. Goats eat the seeds including the very bitter seed kernel. The sweet pulp is consumed by man and flying foxes (fruit bats), specially the straw-coloured flying fox, Eidolon helvum helvum (Kerr.). The same applies to some bird species, such as the v-marked or village weaver, Textor cucullatus (Müll.), the white vented bulbul, Pycnonotus barbatus (Desfont.), the long-tailed starling, Lamprotornis caudatus (Müll.), and other Lamprotornis spp., as well as to the mousebird, Urocolius macrourus (L.). All fruit-pulp eating animals are useful as they prepare the neem seeds for collection by man. This makes the labourious and time consuming process of depulping unnecessary, which is very important for the economic use of neem seeds for crop protection purposes, at least in W. Africa. On the other hand, goats may develop as important competitors of man if they consume large amounts of seeds in future.
Keywords: Aves; Chiroptera; Eidolon helvum; Pteropodidae; seed dispersal; Senegal; West Africa

Catálogo dos Chiroptera em colecção no Centro de Zoologia - Lopes, F. J.; Crawford-Cabral, J. (Garcia de Orta, Sér. Zool., 1992)
The authors report 433 specimens of Chiroptera housed in Centro de Zoologia of Instituto de Investigacao Cientifica Tropical. As many as 30 species are listed. Three of these species are recorded for the first time from Guinée (Taphozous perforatus, Eptesicus somalicus and Pipistrellus nanus) and two from Macau (Pipistrellus abramus and Miniopterus schreibersi).
Keywords: Africa; Angola; Azores; Chiroptera; Europe; Faunistik; Fledermäuse; Guinea Bissau; Gulf of Guinea; Mammalia; morphology; Mozambique; Portugal; Pr{\'ıncipe; Pteropodidae; São Tomé; species richness; systematics; taxonomy

Conservation and Tourism Management of Cave Roosts for Bats in the Ruhengeri Region, Northern Rwanda - Hutson, A. M.; Wilson, J. R. (Report to Fauna and Flora Preservation Society (Oryx 100% fund project N° 90/4/2), 1992)
Keywords: caves; Central Africa; Chiroptera; day roosts; Eidolon helvum; Miniopteridae; Miniopterus inflatus; Molossidae; Otomops martiensseni; Pteropodidae; Rhinolophidae; Rhinolophus ?hildebrandtii; Rhinolophus clivosus; Rousettus aegyptiacus; Rousettus lanosus; Rwanda; volcano

The echolocation calls of Hipposideros ruber and Hipposideros caffer - Heller, K.-G. (Prague Studies in Mammalogy, 1992)
Keywords: behaviour; Central Africa; Chiroptera; Congo (Kinshasa); echolocation; Fledermäuse; Hipposideridae; Hipposideros caffer; Hipposideros ruber; Irangi; Kivu; Mammalia; morphology; sibling species; sympatric; systematics; taxonomy

The endemic mammals of Ethiopia - Yalden, D. W.; Largen, M. J. (Mammal Rev., 1992)
Ethiopia is one country where a major habitat block, having a high degree of endemicity in both fauna and flora, is contained within political boundaries. This account reviews the status and distribution of the 30 mammals which are currently believed to be endemic to Ethiopia.
Keywords: Artiodactyla; biogeography; Carnivora; Chiroptera; conservation; endemism; Ethiopia; Kerivoula eriophora; Lagomorpha; Mammalia; Myotis scotti; Northeast Africa; palaeontology; Primates; Rodentia; Soricidae; Vespertilionidae

The Gambian dwarf crocodile project. Preliminary report 1990 - Jones, S. (South Western Herpetological Society, 1992)
Keywords: Amphibia; Anura; behaviour; Chiroptera; communities; conservation; ecology; Faunistik; Fledermäuse; Gambia; habitat preferences; Mammalia; Osteolaemus tetraspis; Pteropodidae; reproduction; Reptilia; Rhinolophidae; Rhinolophus denti; species richness; West Africa

Epomophorus wahlbergi - Acharya, L. (Mammalian Species, 1992)
Keywords: Africa; Chiroptera; Epomophorus wahlbergi; Pteropodidae; review

Importance of wild animals and their parts in the culture, religious festivals, and traditional medicine, of Nigeria - Adeola, M. O. (Environmental Conservation, 1992)
Utilization of animal wildlife and their by-products by farmers in Nigeria, as confirmed by this survey, is for cultural and religious ceremonies and traditional medicine. The pattern of consumption of wild animals depends on what species are available in different ecological zones. In traditional medicine, some wildlife by-products are acceptable nation-wide, while in religion, farmers are very selective — especially the Muslims. Culturally, utilization is largely by tribal and ethnic background. In the installation of traditional rulers and in performing traditional rites, some specific wild animals and their byproducts must be sacrificed.Wild animals are so vital to the rural people that adequate consideration must be given to maintaining wildlife habitats when rural development projects are planned. This is especially important when these projects involve major land-use changes or modification of traditional agricultural practices. Much of the small mammal, bird, and reptile, habitat is comprised of small wild patches, marshes, or narrow riparian strips, which can easily be destroyed by short-sighted activities. This wildlife is a valuable renewable resource which can continue to produce benefits only if adequate habitats and protection are available.
Keywords: Aves; Chiroptera; cultural values; Eidolon helvum; human use; Mammalia; Nigeria; Pteropodidae; religion; Reptilia; traditional medicine; West Africa

Molossid bat predation by Mackinder’s eagle owl - Cotterill, F. P. D. (The Honeyguide, 1992)
Keywords: [Chaerephon] Tadarida ansorgei; Aves; Bubo capensis mackinderi; Chiroptera; Molossidae; predation; Southern Africa; Strigidae; Strigiformes; Tadarida fulminans; Zimbabwe

Pelage patterns and crypsis in roosting bats: Taphozous mauritianus and Epomophorus species - Fenton, M. B. (Koedoe, 1992)
The grizzled dorsal pelage of Taphozous mauritianus (Emballonuridae) contributes to the camouflage of these bats when they are roosting on natural surfaces. The white ear spots of Epomophorus spp. (Pteropodidae) represent disruptive patterns contributing to the cryptic appearance of these bats when they are roosting in foliage.
Keywords: camouflage; Chiroptera; crypsis; day roosts; disruptive patterns; ecology; Emballonuridae; Epomophorus gambianus crypturus; Epomophorus wahlbergi; Fledermäuse; habitat preferences; Kruger National Park; Mammalia; pelage colouration; predator avoidance; Pteropodidae; roosting behaviour; South Africa; Taphozous mauritianus; Vegetation

Phenetic relationships among bats of the family Rhinolophidae - Bogdanowicz, W. (Acta theriol., 1992)
Phenetic analyses, using the common-part-removed transformation of Wood (1983), were performed on 2.5-6.4% of the variance that describes morphometric differences among bats of the family Rhinolophidae. Two ordination methods, one clustering technique, and a minimum-spanning tree were employed to assess patterns of similarity among 62 species. Two major phenetic groups were revealed. One comprised Oriental and Australian species, whereas the other contained Ethiopian and Palaearctic taxa. On the basis of morphological similarity, all but one species were provisionally arranged in 11 phenetic groups: (Rhinolophus) megaphyllus, rouxii, euryotis, pearsonii, philippinensis, trifoliatus, fumigatus, ferrumequinum, capensis, euryale, and hipposideros. Mensural data were not sufficient to clarify the status of R. maclaudi. Based on the morphological dispersion analysis, the Oriental region should be regarded as the center of origin of the family. On the basis of phylogenetic and functional factors, a close ancestor of rhinolophids probably lived in tropical rain forests, flew slowly emitting low-frequency sounds, and caught relatively soft but large prey.
Keywords: Africa; allopatric; Asia; Australia; biodiversity; biogeography; Chiroptera; evolution; Fledermäuse; Mammalia; morphology; Oriental Region; phylogeny; Rhinolophidae; Rhinolophus; sibling species; speciation; species richness; sympatric; systematics; taxonomy; zoogeography

Phylogenetic analyses of the bat family Rhinolophidae - Bogdanowicz, W.; Owen, R. D. (Z. zool. Syst. Evolut.-forsch., 1992)
The 35 mensural traits of 62 species from the family Rhinolophidae were analyzed by the maximum likelihood method using data matrices after size-free and common-part-removed transformations. Of several groups of species recognized by most earlier researchers only a few are well defined and supported phylogenetically. The majority, like the philippinensis group of TATE (1943), for example, do not represent natural assemblages. The results suggest south-east Asia as a centre of origin for the family. The extreme morphological similarity among horseshoe bats appears to reflect the monophyly of the genus Rhinolophus.
Keywords: Africa; Asia; Chiroptera; evolution; Fledermäuse; Mammalia; morphology; phylogeny; Rhinolophidae; Rhinolophus; speciation; species richness; systematics; taxonomy; zoogeography

Phylogenetic relationships in the mite family Sarcoptidae (Acari: Astigmata) - Klompen, J. S. H. (Misc. Publ. Mus. Zool. Univ. Michigan, 1992)
A phylogenetic analysis of relationships among the 117 recognizable species of the mite family Sarcoptidae Murray, 1877 is carried out based on 215 morphological and ontogenetic characters. The putative sister group of the Sarcoptidae, the family Rhyncoptidae, and more distantly related families in the Sarcoptoidea (Psoroptidae, Lobalgidae, Myocoptidae) are used as outgroups. All of these taxa are obligate, permanent ectoparasites of mammals.Due to the large quantity of missing data and the overall size of the matrix, the analysis is carried out in parts. Initial analyses, including only those taxa for which the quantity of missing data is low, are used to establish a hypothesis of relationships among the larger subgroups. Relationships within each subgroup are analyzed separately. The subgroup analyses are rooted using hypothetical ancestors which are constructed based on the results of the initial analyses.A new classification of the Sarcoptidae is proposed based on the results of the systematic analysis. The family is divided in three subfamilies, the Diabolicoptinae Fain & Domrow, 1974 (2 genera, 3 species), Sarcoptinae Murray, 1877 (4 genera, 8 species) and Teinocoptinae Fain, 1959 (9 genera, 106 species). These groupings include two newly described genera and 18 newly described species. Within the Sarcoptinae, the genus Pithesarcoptes Fain, 1965 is synonymized with Prosarcoptes Lavoipierre, 1960 and the subgenus Trixacarus (Caviacoptes) Fain et al., 1972 with Trixacarus (s.s.) Sellnick, 1944. At the species level, Prosarcoptes faini Lavoipierre, 1970 is synonymized with P. pitheci (Philippe, 1948). The Teinocoptinae includes the formerly recognized families Teinocoptidae Fain, 1959 and Bakerocoptidae Fain, 1962, as well as the subfamily Notoedrinae Fain, 1968 (Sarcoptidae). Within this lineage the genus Bakerocoptes Fain, 1962 is synonymized with Nycteridocoptes Oudemans, 1898, the subgenus Chirnyssoides (Carollicoptes) Fain & Lukoschus, 1971 with Chirnyssoides (s.s.) Fain, 1959, and the genera Chirnyssus Fain, 1959 and Suncicoptes Fain & Lukoschus, 1976, and subgenera Notoedres (Neonotoedres) Fain, 1963, N. (Metanotoedres) Fain, 1959, and N. (Jansnotoedres) Fain, 1965 with Notoedres (s.s.) Railliet, 1893. At the species level, Notoedres dohanyi Klompen et al., 1983 is synonymized with N. tadaridae Fain, 1959, N. schoutedeni hyatti Fain, 1963 with N. chiropteralis (Trouessart, 1896), and N. douglasi Lavoipierre, 1964 with N. centrifera Jansen, 1963. New combinations include Tychosarcoptes amphipterinon (Klompen et al., 1984) and Chirobia brevior (Fain et al., 1982), both transferred from Teinocoptes; Teinocoptes harpionycteris (Klompen & OConnor, 1987), transferred from Chirobia; Notoedres (Bakeracarus) plecoti Fain, 1959, transferred from N. (Notoedres); N. (B.) eptesicus (Fain & Lukoschus, 1971), N. (B.) corynorhini (Fain, 1961), and N. (B.) anisothrix (Fain & Lukoschus, 1975), formerly subspecies of N. (B.) lasionycteris (Boyd & Bernstein, 1950).Data on ecology, pathology and host associations are summarized for all species of the family, and identification keys to all species are included.
Keywords: Africa; Arachnida; Asia; Chiroptera; cladistics; ectoparasites; host-parasite relationships; Mammalia; Neotropics; Palaeotropics; parasitism; phylogeny; South America; systematics; taxonomy

Preliminary observations on the comparative gastric morphology of selected Old World and New World bats - Perrin, M. R.; Hughes, J. J. (Z. Säugetierk., 1992)
Stomachs of ten species of bats (eight microchiropteran and two megachiropteran species), representing nine genera from five families, were examined and compared morphologically and histologically. All stomachs were wholly glandular but differences in gross morphology were observed between insectivorous, omnivorous and frugivorous species. Anatomical variatons in the gastric mucosa between species were minor. The insectivorous bats exhibited little variation between species and possessed a simple tubular gastric stomach. The stomachs of the frugivorous species were more specialised with increased compartmentalisation. Scanning electron microscopy revealed the presence of microvilli in the stomachs of both an insectivorous and a frugivorous species.
Keywords: anatomy; Chiroptera; diet; digestive system; Epomophorus wahlbergi; food; Mammalia; Miniopteridae; Miniopterus fraterculus; Miniopterus schreibersii [natalensis?]; morphology; Myotis tricolor; Neotropics; Phyllostomidae; Pteropodidae; Rhinolophidae; Rhinolophus simulator; South Africa; stomach; Vespertilionidae

Première liste commentée des mammifères du Rwanda - Monfort, A. (J. Afr. Zool., 1992)
A preliminary checklist is presented for the mammals of Rwanda based on the literature and our own observations. For several important groups as such bats in Nyungwe or small carnivores, data are certainly incomplete and details of large collections of rodents obtained by W.N. Verheyen and colleagues have yet to he published. Under such circumstances, this paper can not present more than a first provisional list of the mammals of Rwanda.
Keywords: Akagera National Park; Albertine Rift; Central Africa; Chiroptera; Mammalia; Nyungwe National Park; Rwanda; Volcanoes National Park

Small mammals from forest islands of eastern Nigeria and adjacent Cameroon, with systematical and biogeographical notes - Hutterer, R.; Dieterlen, F.; Nikolaus, G. (Bonn. zool. Beitr., 1992)
26 species of insectivores, bats and rodents are recorded from the Gotel Mts and the Mambilla Plateau in eastern Nigeria and adjacent Cameroon. These mountain ranges carry relict forests representing distribution islands for many vertebrate species. 8 species of mammals are recorded for the first time from Nigeria, one bat from Cameroon, and a new subspecies of Praomys hartwigi (P. h. obscurus ssp. n.) is described. The taxonomic status of several forms is discussed and full species rank is proposed for Sylvisorex camerunensis, Hylomyscus grandis and Lophuromys eisentrauti. The insectivore and rodent faunas of nine mountain areas within the Cameroon Mountains system are analyzed and the result is presented in the form of an area cladogram. (New geographical records are: Crocidura attila, Sylvisorex camerunensis, Pipistrellus kuhlii, Tadarida aegyptiaca, Otomys occidentalis, S. ollula, Chaerephon major, C. ansorgei, Mus setulosus).
Keywords: [Lissonycteris] Rousettus angolensis; [Neoromicia] Eptesicus capensis; Africa; allopatric; biodiversity; Bioko; Cameroon; Chaerephon ansorgei; Chaerephon major; Chiroptera; conservation; Crocidura attila; Crocidura olivieri; ecology; endemic; Epomops franqueti; Erstbeschreibung; evolution; Faunistik; Fledermäuse; Grammomys rutilans; Gulf of Guinea; habitat preferences; Hipposideridae; Hipposideros ruber; Hylomyscus grandis stat. nov.; Hylomyscus stella; Lemniscomys striatus; Lophuromys eisentrauti stat. nov.; Lophuromys sikapusi; Mammalia; Mastomys sp.; Micropteropus pusillus; Miniopteridae; Miniopterus schreibersii [villiersi]; Molossidae; morphology; Muridae; Mus musculoides; Mus setulosus; Nigeria; Otomys occidentalis; Pipistrellus kuhlii [hesperidus]; Praomys cf. jacksoni; Praomys hartwigi obscurus ssp. nov.; Pteropodidae; Rhinolophidae; Rhinolophus simulator [alticolus]; Rodentia; Soricidae; Soricomorpha; speciation; species richness; Sylvisorex camerunensis stat. nov.; Sylvisorex megalura; Sylvisorex ollula; sympatric; systematics; Tadarida aegyptiaca; taxonomy; Vespertilionidae; zoogeography

Some histochemical studies of the superior and inferior colliculi of the straw-coloured, fruit-eating bat, Eidolon helvum (Kerr) - Caxton-Martins, A. E.; Baxter-Grillo, D. L.; Nwoha, P. U. (Discovery Innovation, 1992)
The histochemical activities of some enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism (SDH, LDH and C6PDH) as well as some non-specific phosphomonoesterases (acid and alkaline phosphatases) were investigated in the superior and inferior colliculi of Eidolon helvum (KERR) a megachiropteran bat. The activities of SDH and G6PDH appeared more intense than that of LDH in the superior colliculus while the activity of LDH stained more intensely than SDH and G6PDH in the inferior colliculus. It is suggested that the glycolytic pathway is more actively utilised in the latter organ presumably implying that it is metabolically more active than the superior colliculus. This presupposes that the energy requirements of the inferior colliculus are higher than those of the superior colliculus in Eidolon. The presence of the activity of alkaline phosphatase, especially along the neurons in both colliculi, has been implicated in membrane mediated transport activities.
Keywords: Chiroptera; Eidolon helvum; Nigeria; Pteropodidae; West Africa

Systematics of megadermatid bats (Chiroptera, Megadermatidae), based on hyoid morphology - Griffiths, T. A.; Truckenbrod, A.; Sponholtz, P. J. (Am. Mus. Novitates, 1992)
The hyoid musculature and hyoid apparatus of bats of the family Megadermatidae are described and compared with the hyoid morphology of bat families described elsewhere. Megadermatids share an apomorphic character state with nycterids, rhinopomatids, and emballonurids in that the omohyoid muscle has shifted its origin from the scapula to the mid-clavicle. We suggest that because of the omohyoid shift, megadermatids have been able to develop a morphoglogical condition described previously only in New World phyllostomid bats. The sternohyoid, hyoglossus, and geniohyoid muscles have partially detached from the basihyal, retaining a connection only through a tendon and a few deep fibers of the geniophyoid. The styloglossus muscle has a posteriorly shifted insertion, as in phyllostomids. Within the Megadermatidae, there is morphological variation in the origin of the sternothyroid, hyoglossus, and sphincter colli profundus muscles, in the morphology of the styloglossus, and in the insertion of the geniohyoid and ceratohyoid muscles. A cladistic analysis of the data suggests that Lavia frons is closely related to Megaderma spasma and M. lyra. Cardioderma cor is a sister species to the Lavia-Megaderma group. Macroderma gigas is the most distantly related to the four megadermatid genera.
Keywords: Africa; anatomy; Asia; Cardioderma cor; Chiroptera; Lavia frons; Macroderma gigas; Megaderma lyra; Megaderma spasma; Megadermatidae; morphology; phylogeny

Taxonomic review of Miniopterus minor Peters, 1867 (Mammalia: Chiroptera) from western Central Africa - Juste B., J.; Ibáñez, C. (Bonn. zool. Beitr., 1992)
Western populations of M. minor from São Tomé Island, Zaire and the Republic of Congo are compared to one another and with the known eastern subspecies, using either quantitative and qualitative parameters. The analyses confirm the subspecific character of both the São Tomé population (described as M. newtoni Bocage, 1893) and the western continental population, distinguished by cranial relationships and qualitative characters from the other known populations and hereby described as a new subspecies (M. minor occidentalis ssp. n.). In addition, a neotype for newtoni is designated.
Keywords: Africa; allopatric; Chiroptera; Comoros; Congo (Brazzaville); evolution; Faunistik; Fledermäuse; Gulf of Guinea; island biogeography; Madagascar; Mammalia; Miniopteridae; Miniopterus griveaudi; Miniopterus manavi; Miniopterus minor; Miniopterus minor newtoni [M. newtoni]; Miniopterus minor occidentalis ssp. nov.; São Tomé; speciation; species richness

Taxonomic status of Nycteris vinsoni Dalquest (Chiroptera, Nycteridae) - Koopman, K. F. (J. Mamm., 1992)
The type of Nycteris vinsoni has been reexamined and the tragus partially reconstituted. It is now evident that the tragus is semilunate rather than pyriform in structure. This character causes N. vinsoni to be transferred from the thebaica group, where I had previously put it, to the macrotis group. I would therefore regard it as a subspecies of Nycteris macrotis.
Keywords: Africa; Artenzahl; Chiroptera; Faunistik; Fledermäuse; Malawi; Mammalia; morphology; Mozambique; Nycteridae; Nycteris macrotis; Nycteris thebaica; Nycteris vinsoni; systematics; taxonomy

Three new species of spinturnicid mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) from bats in Africa - Estrada-Peña, A.; Juste B., R.; Ibáñez, C. (Internat. J. Acarol., 1992)
Three new species of spinturnicid mites (Spinturnix delacruzi, Ancystropus aequatorialis, and Paraperiglischrus ruber) are described from specimens collected on African bats. S. delacruzi is unique in having one pair of setae and one pair of pores on the sternal shield of the female; A. aequatorialis is easily recognizable by the presence of a tritosternum longer than broad, together with severe modifications for clasping in the leg I; P. ruber displays unique features for the genus in the sternal plate.
Keywords: Acari; Ancystropus aequatorialis sp. nov.; Arachnida; Bioko; Central Africa; Chiroptera; ectoparasites; Equatorial Guinea; Faunistik; Fledermäuse; Hipposideridae; Hipposideros ruber; morphology; Paraperiglischrus ruber sp. nov.; parasitism; Pteropodidae; Rousettus aegyptiacus; São Tomé; species description; Spinturnix delacruzi sp. nov.; systematics; taxonomy

Bat. Eastern North Atlantic - Freeman, D.; Arthur, R. D. S.; Hill, J. Edwards (Marine Observer, 1991)
Keywords: Africa; Atlantic; Chiroptera; Eidolon helvum; migration; offshore record; Pteropodidae; vagrant

Bats (Chiroptera) from the Mayombe and lower Kouilou (with a checklist for Congo) - Dowsett, R. J.; Harrison, D. L.; Granjon, L. (Tauraco Research Report, 1991)
A collection of 80 specimens of bats (of 14 species) is described from the lower Kouilou and Mayombe (Congo). Two species are new to the Congo fauna (Rhinolophus alcyone, Hipposideros cyclops) and a third (Scotonycteris ophiodon) is one of the rarest African bats. Four other species have apparently not previously been reported from the Mayombe. Interesting skull characters are described in some Megachiroptera (Scotonycteris, Megaloglossus). Breeding data are presented and species’ distributions discussed. Reference is made to the other species of bats reported elsewhere in Congo, and a checklist presented of the 34 species known to date.
Keywords: [Chaerephon pumilus] Tadarida pumila; Central Africa; Chiroptera; Congo (Brazzaville); distribution; Epomops franqueti; Faunistik; Fledermäuse; Gabon; Hipposideridae; Hipposideros caffer; Hipposideros cyclops; Megaloglossus woermanni; Micropteropus pusillus; Molossidae; morphology; Myonycteris torquata; Nycteridae; Nycteris arge; Nycteris grandis; Pteropodidae; Rhinolophidae; Rhinolophus alcyone; Rhinolophus landeri; Rhinolophus silvestris; Rousettus aegyptiacus; Scotonycteris ophiodon [sp. nov.]; Scotonycteris zenkeri; Verbreitung

Diet of the hobby falcon Falco subbuteo in the southwestern Cape - Pepler, D. (Ostrich, 1991)
Keywords: Aves; Chiroptera; diet; Falco subbuteo; food; Insecta; predation; South Africa

The Egyptian fruit bat Rousettus aegyptiacus in Dakhleh Oasis, Western Desert of Egypt - Churcher, C. S. (Mammalia, 1991)
Keywords: Chiroptera; Egypt; morphology; North Africa; Pteropodidae; roosting; Rousettus aegyptiacus

First record of Asellia patrizii de Beaux, 1931 (Chiroptera: Hipposideridae) in Saudi Arabia - Moeschler, P.; Nader, I. A.; Gaucher, P. (Mammalia, 1991)
Keywords: Asellia patrizii; Chiroptera; distribution; Ethiopia; Hipposideridae; Near East; Northeast Africa; Saudi Arabia

The food habits of the Madagascar long-eared owl Asio madagascariensis in southeastern Madagascar - Goodman, S. M.; Creighton, G. K.; Raxworthy, C. J. (Bonn. zool. Beitr., 1991)
A collection of regurgitated pellets and food remains was found below an occupied roost of the Madagascar long-eared owl Asio madagascariensis in southeastern Madagascar. The owls are taking a wide variety of prey including insects, frogs (Boophis), geckos (Uroplatys), birds (Eurystomus, Hypsipetes), bats (large Hipposideros), rodents (Eliurus spp., Rattus), and lemurs (Microcebus). This is the first quantitative information on the food habits of this owl species.
Keywords: Africa; Amphibia; Anura; Asio madagascariensis; Aves; Chiroptera; diet; food; Gekkonidae; Hipposideridae; Hipposideros commersonii; Madagascar; Mammalia; predation; prey; Primates; Reptilia; Rodentia; Strigiformes

On fruits, seeds, and bats - Thomas, D. W. (Bats, 1991)
Keywords: animal-plant interactions; behaviour; Chiroptera; Côte d’Ivoire; diet; ecology; foraging; frugivory; habitat preferences; Ivory Coast; Mammalia; Pteropodidae; seed dispersal; Vegetation; West Africa

Genetic relationships among eight species of Eptesicus and Pipistrellus (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) - Morales, J. C.; Ballinger, S. W.; Bickham, J. W.; Greenbaum, I. F.; Schlitter, D. A. (J. Mamm., 1991)
Genetic relationships among eight species of Eptesicus and Pipistrellus were analyzed by use of horizontal starch-gelelectrophoresis. It has been suggested that a 2n = 50 and FN = 48 karyotype defines the genus Eptesicus, and that related forms of differing karyotype should be placed in the genus Pipistrellus. Three species of Eptesicus with 2n = 50 and FN = 48, three species with lower diploid numbers, and two species of Pipistrellus were assayed in this study. The results show that the species of Eptesicus with 2n =50 and FN = 48 form a homogeneous group with high similarity values, despite the included taxa from two continents. Species with lower diploid number show a lesser degree of similarity.
Keywords: Belize; Chiroptera; Eptesicus furinalis; Eptesicus fuscus; Eptesicus hottentotus; evolution; Fledermäuse; genetics; Honduras; Mammalia; Mexico; Namibia; Neoromicia capensis; Neoromicia nanus; Neoromicia zuluensis; phylogeny; Pipistrellus hesperus; South Africa; Southern Africa; speciation; species richness; systematics; taxonomy; Vespertilionidae

Glauconyssus: A new genus associated with African bats (Acari: Macronyssidae) - Uchikawa, K. (Journal of Medical Entomology, 1991)
Glauconyssus, n. g., is elected for Glauconyssus tanzaniensis, n. sp., a parasitic mite of Glauconycteris poensis from Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania.
Keywords: Acari; Arachnida; Chiroptera; East Africa; ectoparasites; Glauconycteris poensis; Glauconyssus tanzaniensis sp. nov.; Macronyssidae; parasitism; Tanzania; Vespertilionidae

Madagascar harrier hawk Polyboroides radiatus preying on flying fox Pteropus rufus - Goodman, S. M.; Pidgeon, M. (Ostrich, 1991)
Keywords: Aves; Chiroptera; Madagascar; Polyboroides radiatus; predation; Pteropodidae; Pteropus rufus

Mammals of Algeria - Kowalski, K.; Rzebik-Kowalska, B. (Polish Academy of Sciences, 1991)
Keywords: [Hypsugo] Pipistrellus savii; Algeria; Asellia tridens; Chiroptera; distribution; Emballonuridae; Eptesicus serotinus [isabellinus]; Hipposideridae; identification key; Miniopteridae; Miniopterus schreibersi; Molossidae; Myotis blythi [punicus]; Myotis capaccinii; Myotis emarginatus; Myotis nattereri; North Africa; Nyctalus leisleri; Nyctalus noctula; Otonycteris hemprichi [hemprichii]; Pipistrellus deserti; Pipistrellus kuhlii; Pipistrellus minuta; Pipistrellus pipistrellus; Pipistrellus rueppelli [rueppellii]; Plecotus austriacus [gaisleri]; Rhinolophidae; Rhinolophus algirus nom. dub.; Rhinolophus blasii; Rhinolophus clivosus; Rhinolophus euryale; Rhinolophus ferrumequinum; Rhinolophus hippocrepis; Rhinolophus hipposideros; Rhinolophus mehelyi; Rhinolophus unihastatus; Rhinopoma hardwickei [cystops]; Rhinopomatidae; systematics; Tadarida aegyptiaca; Tadarida teniotis; Taphozous nudiventris; taxonomy; Vespertilionidae

Morphology of the glans penis in four genera of molossid bats (Chiroptera: Molossidae) - Ryan, J. M. (J. Mamm., 1991)
The morphology of the glans penis is described for Mormopterus jugularis, Molossops planirostris, M. temminckii, Nyctinomops laticaudatus, N. macrotis, Tadarida aegyptiaca, and T. brasiliensis. The glans penis is stout, elongate, and pendulous in all seven species. The external surface of the glans is covered with epithelial spines in all species except T. brasiliensis, where spines are replaced by rows of epithelial papillae. Epithelial spines range in size from 30 µm in N. laticaudatus to 100 µm in M. jugularis. The urinary meatus is subterminal and covered by a prominent urethral cap in all species examined except the two species of Molossops. A small os penis is present at the distal terminus of the corpora cavernosa in M. jugularis, N. laticaudatus, and T. brasiliensis. The corpora cavernosa is restricted to the proximal one-half of the glans and no os penis was found in either species of Molossops. Although molossids exhibit only modest intraspecific variation in penile morphology, considerable intergeneric variation is present making these morphological characters potentially useful for testing phylogenetic hypotheses.
Keywords: [Cynomops] Molossops planirostris; Africa; anatomy; Chiroptera; Egypt; glans penis; Madagascar; Molossidae; Molossops temminckii; Mormopterus jugularis; morphology; Nyctinomops laticaudatus; Nyctinomops macrotis; Tadarida aegyptiaca; Tadarida brasiliensis

Morphometric study of ventricular myocardial cells in the bat (Pipistrellus pipistrellus), hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) and Wistar rat - Ayettey, A. S.; Tagoe, C. N. B.; Yates, R. D. (Acta Anatomica, 1991)
A comparative morphometric study of ventricular myocardial cells of the West African insect-eating bat, Pipistrellus pipistrellus the hamster and the rat revealed significant differences in volume fractions of mitochondria, myofibrils, lipid bodies and T tubules. In the cells of the bat, mitochondria constitute 35% of cytoplasmic volume compared with 29 and 30% in the hamster and rat, respectively. Notably, crista density is much higher in the bat cells (3.58 × 105 cm-1) than in those of the hamster (2.59 × 105 cm-1) and of the rat (2.48 × 105 cm-1). Myofibril concentration is 40% in the bat, 53% in the hamster and 55% in the rat. There is greater numerical density of lipid bodies in the bat (212.27 × 109 cm-3) than in the hamster (139.20 × 109 cm-3) and in the rat (114.00 × 109 cm-3). The volume occupied by T tubules is 0.02 in the bat and hamster, and 0.009 in the rat. These differences suggest structural design for efficient metabolic activity in the bat which, among mammals, has high exercise tolerance.
Keywords: anatomy; Chiroptera; Ghana; heart; Pipistrellus pipistrellus; Rodentia; ultrastructure; Vespertilionidae; West Africa

Nuevas citas de ácaros parásitos de quirópteros en la Pen{\'ınsula Ibérica, Norte de áfrica e Islas de la Macaronesia - Estrada-Peña, A.; Ibáñez, C.; Trujillo, D. (Revista Ibérica de Parasitolog{\'ıa, 1991)
New records of mites (Prostigmata excluded) and ticks parasites of bats from Iberian penisula, Canary islands, north of Africa, and Madeira are given. Spinturnix acuminatus and S. punctatus have been recorded for the first time in Spain.
Keywords: [Hypsugo] Pipistrellus savii; Acari; Argas vespertilionis; Argasidae; Barbastella barbastellus; Canary Islands; Chiroptera; ectoparasites; Europe; Eyndhovenia euryalis euryalis; Eyndhovenia euryalis oudemansi; Iberian Peninsula; Ixodes simplex; Ixodes vespertilionis; Ixodida; Macronyssidae; Macronyssus diversipilis; Macronyssus flavus; Macronyssus rhinolophi; Madeira; Miniopteridae; Miniopterus schreibersii; Molossidae; Morocco; Myotis blythii; Myotis emarginatus; Myotis myotis; Myotis mystacinus; Myotis nattereri; North Africa; Nyctalus lasiopterus; Nyctalus leisleri; parasitism; Parasteatonyssus hoogstraali; Pipistrellus kuhlii; Pipistrellus maderensis; Pipistrellus pipistrellus; Plecotus auritus; Plecotus austriacus; Plecotus teneriffae; Portugal; Rhinolophidae; Rhinolophus euryale; Rhinolophus ferrumequinum; Rhinolophus mehelyi; Spain; Spinturnicidae; Spinturnix acuminatus; Spinturnix emarginatus; Spinturnix myoti; Spinturnix mystacinus; Spinturnix plecotinus; Spinturnix psi; Spinturnix punctatus; Steatonyssus balcellsi; Steatonyssus longipes; Steatonyssus periblepharus; Steatonyssus teidae; Tadarida teniotis; Vespertilionidae

Patterns of Leydig cell and LH gonadotroph activity, and plasma testosterone concentrations in the seasonally reproducing Schreibers’ long-fingered bat (Miniopterus schreibersii) - Bernard, R. T. F.; Bojarski, C.; Millar, R. P. (J. Reprod. Fert., 1991)
Spermatogenesis in Schreibers’ long-fingered bat from   33° S in South Africa was seasonal, and occurred in the 3 months (February-April) preceding ovulation. The ultrastructure of the Leydig cells indicated a period of increased steroidogenesis at this time, and plasma testosterone concentrations were elevated from March to May (10·3 ng/ml). The reproductive accessory glands were secretorily active between March and May, and copulation occurred at the end of this period of activity. Changes in LH-â immunoreactivity suggest that the LH gonadotrophs were secretorily active 1 month before the onset of spermatogenesis and that peak activity coincided with peak plasma testosterone concentrations, spermiogenesis and spermiation. During winter (May-August) there was no reproductive activity and the bats remained active, only entering prolonged periods of torpor during particularly cold spells. A secondary elevation in plasma testosterone concentration, during reproductive inactivity (October; 9·3 ng/ml), was not accompanied by any change in Leydig cell ultrastructure, and the biological significance of this peak is unknown. Such synchronous activity of the pituitary, Leydig cells, seminiferous epithelium and accessory glands is associated with the typical reproductive cycle of long-fingered bats in which copulation and fertilization are restricted to a brief period at the end of summer, and in which neither sperm storage nor a prolonged period of copulation occur.
Keywords: Chiroptera; endocrinology; gametogenesis; hormones; Miniopteridae; Miniopterus schreibersii; pituitary gland; reproduction; seasonality; South Africa; spermatogenesis

The Pemba fruit bat – on the edge of extinction? - Seehausen, O. (Oryx, 1991)
The population of endemic fruit bats on Pemba Island, which lies off the coast of Tanzania, appears to have undergone a drastic decline. The author made a short survey in 1989 in some of the areas where the fruit bat was reported to have been numerous, but found that few now exist in these places. The change from traditional hunting methods to the use of shotguns as well as destruction of the island’s rain forest are believed to be the principal causes. The author makes a plea for a ban on hunting, a public education campaign, protection of the surviving remnants of forest and a captive-breeding effort as a safeguard against extinction.
Keywords: bushmeat; Chiroptera; conservation; East Africa; hunting; Indian Ocean; Pemba; Pteropodidae; Pteropus voeltzkowi; Tanzania

Plasma progesterone and luteinizing hormone concentrations and the role of the corpus luteum and LH gonadotrophs in the control of delayed implantation in Schreibers’ long-fingered bat (Miniopterus schreibersii) - Bernard, R. T. F.; Bojarski, C.; Millar, R. P. (J. Reprod. Fert., 1991)
In Schreibers’ long-fingered bat from South Africa ( 33°S) copulation, ovulation and fertilization occurred in April and May, implantation was delayed until August, and parturition occurred in December. Delayed implantation coincided with winter, during which the bats remained active, only entering prolonged periods of torpor during particularly cold spells. Plasma progesterone concentration was low during non-pregnancy (1·54 ng/ml) and during delayed implantation (1·67 ng/ml), and thereafter increased to reach a peak mean of 64·82 ng/ml in late pregnancy. Changes in size and ultrastructure of the luteal cells indicated periods of steroidogenesis just after formation of the corpus luteum, and for about 2 months after implantation; reduced steroidogenic activity during delayed implantation; and luteolysis in the last 2 months of pregnancy. Plasma luteinizing hormone (LH) concentration and pituitary LH-? immunoreactivity were highest during follicular development and peaked just before ovulation. During early delayed implantation, plasma LH concentration was low, and both plasma LH and pituitary LH-? immunoreactivity increased from July, reaching peaks in late pregnancy. LH may be required to activate the corpus luteum and terminate delayed implantation, or, as in some small carnivores, it may be required for luteal maintenance.
Keywords: Chiroptera; delayed implantation; development; embryonic development; endocrinology; gonads; hormones; Miniopteridae; Miniopterus schreibersii; reproduction; South Africa

Scaling of body weight in bats and rodents - Cristoffer, C. (J. Mamm., 1991)
The scaling of body weight on length of head and body apparently differs between bats (Chiroptera) and nonvolant mammals. For the countries of Nigeria and Thailand, least-squares linear regressions of log-transformed body weight of bats had significantly shallower (P < 0.01) slopes than did regressions for nonvolant mammals.
Keywords: Africa; Asia; body mass; Chiroptera; ecology; evolution; Mammalia; morphology; Nigeria; Rodentia; Thailand

Systematic and taxonomic notes on the Epomophorus anurus-labiatus-minor complex with the description of a new species (Mammalia: Chiroptera: Pteropodidae) - Claessen, C. J.; De Vree, F. (Senckenbergiana biol., 1991)
Two groups are present in the E. anurus-labiatus-minor complex: a first group with an obvious clinal size variation, consisting of specimens formerly identified as E. anurus, E. labiatus and partly as E. minor, and a second group with no geographic variation in size consisting of specimens formerly identified as E. minor. These two groups obviously belong to two different species, mainly differing in body measurements. We identified the first group as representatives of E. labiatus. Since the type specimen of E. minor also belongs to this group, we concluded that E. minor Dobson 1879 is a junior synonym of E. labiatus (Temminck 1837). As a consequence no valid name is available for the second group. E. minimus n. sp. is described for this second group and a holotype is appointed with type locality Bahadu, Ethiopia.
Keywords: Africa; Chiroptera; Epomophorus anurus; Epomophorus labiatus; Epomophorus minimus sp. nov.; Epomophorus minor; Faunistik; morphology; Pteropodidae; species description; systematics; taxonomy; zoogeography

The systematic relationships of Emballonura nigrescens to other species of Emballonura and to Coleura (Chiroptera: Emballonuridae) - Griffiths, T. A.; Koopman, K. F.; Starrett, A. (Am. Mus. Novitates, 1991)
Dissection of the hyoid musculature and examination of ear, penial, and skull morphology of eight species of Emballonura and one species of Coleura reveal that, with the exception of Embalonura nigrescens, all species share a derived character of the hyoid region. The stenohyoid muscle in all species except nigrescens is deflected dorsally and laterally by a prominent postlaryngeal tracheal expansion. Additionally, E. nigrescens is clearly derived in having a distinctive penis, in contrast with other species of Emballonura as well as Coleura. These observations strongly suggest that non-nigrescens species of Emballonura are more closely related to species of Coleura than either is to Emballonura nigrescens. We conclude therefore that the available generic name Mosia Gray, 1843, shoud be used for the species currently called Emballonura nigrescens. We continue to recognize Coleura as a valid third genus.
Keywords: Africa; Chiroptera; Coleura afra; ears; Emballonura alecto; Emballonura atrata; Emballonura beccarii; Emballonura furax; Emballonura monticola; Emballonura raffrayana; Emballonura semicaudata; Emballonuridae; evolution; Fledermäuse; hyoid bone; hyoid muscles; Mammalia; morphology; Mosia; Neotropics; penis; phylogeny; systematics; Taphozous georgianus; Taphozous mauritianus; Taphozous melanopogon; Taphozous nudiventris; Taphozous theobaldi; taxonomy

Taxonomy and biogeography of African fruit bats (Mammalia, Megachiroptera). 3. The genera Scotonycteris Matschie, 1894, Casinycteris Thomas, 1910, Pteropus Brisson, 1762, and Eidolon Rafinesque, 1815 - Bergmans, W. (Beaufortia, 1991)
The genera Scotonycteris Matschie, 1984, Casinycteris Thomas, 1910, Pteropus Brisson, 1762 and Eidolon Rafinesque, 1815 are characterized. An effort is made to assess the possible relationship between the genera Scotonycteris and Casinycteris. Within Scotonycteris zenkeri Matschie, 1894 a number of geographically disjunct or probably disjunct and morphologically distinct populations groups are recognized. The available material of Scotonycteris ophiodon Pohle, 1943 suggests that this species may also consist of a number of geographically disjunct and possibly morphologically distinguishable groups. Its distribution shadows that of S. zenkeri. The genus Casinycteris and the nature and function of its peculiarly shortened bony palate are discussed, in relation to the condition of the postdental palate in Neopteryx Hayman, 1946. The genus Pteropus and its species inhibiting islands in the western part of the Indian Ocean are treated less extensively than the other African fruit bats. It is shown that subspecific divisions in P. rufus E. Geoffroy St.-Hilaire, 1903 cannot be maintained, consequently P. r. princeps Andersen, 1908 is synonymized with P. rufus. The type locality of P. seychellensis Milne Edwards, 1877 is identified as the Island of Mariane - an altogether new locality for the species. P. s. seychellensis and P. s. comorensis M. J. Nicoll, 1908 are more closely related than formerly recognized, whereas P. aldabrensis True, 1893, is more distant and considered a good species instead of a subspecies of P. seychellensis. The genus Eidolon shows agreement with Rousettus Gray, 1821 in braincase deflection and morphology. E. helvum (Kerr, 1792) is shown to be practically absent from the Sudan woodland zone south of the Sahara, and most probably from eastern Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa, and only very locally distributed in central East Africa and in most of southern Africa. The alleged monotypy of the genus Eidolon is shown to be based on a misinterpretation of the literature. The form described from Madagascar, Eidolon dupreanum (Pollen, 1867) is considered an independent species.
Keywords: Africa; Casinycteris argynnis; Chiroptera; Eidolon dupreanum; Eidolon helvum; Indian Ocean; Madagascar; Pteropodidae; Pteropus aldabrensis; Pteropus livingstonii; Pteropus niger; Pteropus rodricensis; Pteropus rufus; Pteropus seychellensis; Pteropus subniger; Pteropus voeltzkowi; revision; Scotonycteris ophiodon; Scotonycteris zenkeri; systematics; Vegetation; zoogeography

Validation of subcutaneous temperature as a measure of deep body temperature in small bats - Brown, C. R.; Bernard, R. T. F. (J. Zool. (Lond.), 1991)
Keywords: body temperature; Chiroptera; day roosts; Mammalia; methods; Miniopteridae; Miniopterus schreibersii; physiology; Rhinolophidae; Rhinolophus capensis; roosting behaviour; South Africa; subcutaneous temperature; thermoregulation; torpor

Zoogeographical notes on Moroccan bat fauna - Aulagnier, S. (Myotis, 1991)
Twenty seven species of bats are presently listed from Morocco. Five main pattern of distribution are observed, they can be sensibly linked with the main climatic zones of the country. The biogeographical origin of the Moroccan bat fauna is diversified (8 faunic types), but there are mainly Palaearctic-boreal (11) and mediterrean (8) species according to the general climate. Concerning bats, Morocco, and the whole Maghreb, is closely similar to Western Europe. Bats are really good zoogeographical informers.
Keywords: biogeography; Chiroptera; climate; distribution; Europe; Mammalia; Mediterranean; Morocco; North Africa; Palaearctic

An annotated check list of the land mammal fauna of the West Coast National Park - Avery, D. M.; Rautenbach, I. L.; Randall, R. M. (Koedoe, 1990)
Some 4 000 barn owl pellets with small mammal remains have been collected over a period of nine years from two locations at the south end of the Langebaan lagoon. Two small samples of bones from archaeological sites on the Churchhaven peninsula provide evidence for past mammal occurrences. The remains of small mammals from the owl pellet collections provide an initial list of 18 species that occur within theWest Coast National Park. Subsequent conventional censusing by means of trapping and observational techniques to assess the small and large mammal species diversity of the area were conducted during 1989. This study documents the definite occurrence of 63 mammal species in the park, seven of which are exotics. The presence of a further five species requires confirmation. Interesting insight is gained into how direct censusing and owl pellet analyses augment each other in establishing the presence of small mammal taxa of an area.
Keywords: Aves; Chiroptera; Eptesicus hottentotus; Mammalia; Molossidae; Neoromicia capensis; Nycteridae; Nycteris thebaica; predation; Rhinolophidae; Rhinolophus capensis; Rhinolophus clivosus; Rodentia; South Africa; Strigiformes; Tadarida aegyptiaca; Tyto alba; Tytonidae; Vespertilionidae

The bats (Chiroptera) of Malawi, Central Africa: Checklist and keys for identification - Happold, D. C. D.; Happold, M. (Nyala, 1990)
Keywords: checklist; Chiroptera; Fledermäuse; identification key; Malawi; Mammalia; Pteropodidae; Southern Africa; species richness

Chromosomes of five species of vespertilionid bats from Africa - Ruedas, L. A.; Lee jr., T. E.; Bickham, J. W.; Schlitter, D. A. (J. Mamm., 1990)
Herein, we present karyotypes of five species of African vespertilionids. These include the first reported karyotypes for Nycticeius schlieffenii, Scotophilus nux, and Miniopterus inflatus. Differentially stained karyotypes are presented for S. dinganii and S. nux, showing lack of interspecific variation. Results of these investigations increase understanding of the patterns of chromosomal evolution within the Vespertilionidae.
Keywords: Cameroon; Chiroptera; chromosomes; evolution; Fledermäuse; genetics; karyotypes; Mammalia; Miniopteridae; Miniopterus inflatus; Namibia; Nycticeinops schlieffenii; phylogeny; Scotophilus dinganii; Scotophilus nux; Scotophilus viridis; Somalia; South Africa; speciation; species richness; systematics; taxonomy; Vespertilionidae

Comparative macro- and microanatomy of the stomach in macroglossine bats (Megachiroptera: Pteropodidae) - Forman, G. L. (J. Mamm., 1990)
Stomachs of a single species from each of four genera of macroglossine bats were examined grossly and histologically. Newly reported features in bats include follicular-esophageal glands in Melonycteris, and deep invaginations of the gastric wall into the stomach lumina of all species studied. Many features of gross gastric morphology and mucosal histology are strikingly similar to those of the ecologically analogous New World glossophagines (Microchiroptera: Phyllostomidae), suggesting convergent evolution in conjunction with diet in these nectar- and pollen-feeding taxa.
Keywords: anatomy; Chiroptera; Eonycteris spelaea; Macroglossus lagochilus; Megaloglossus woermanni; Melonycteris melanops; morphology; Pteropodidae

Detection of rabies virus antibodies in fruit bats (Eidolon helvum) from Nigeria - Aghomo, H. O.; Ako-Nai, A. K.; Oduye, O. O.; Tomori, O.; Rupprecht, C. E. (J. Wildl. Dis., 1990)
Fruit bats (Eidolon helvum) were collected from three different localities in western Nigeria: Oti, Ibadan and Idanre. Fifty serum samples were analyzed using a modified rapid fluorescent focus inhibition technique against rabies, Mokola, Lagos bat and Duvenhage viruses. Twenty-five brain samples were screened for rabies and related lyssavirus antigens by direct fluorescent antibody microscopy and by an indirect fluorescent antibody technique with rabies anti-nucleocapsid monoclonal antibodies. All brain samples were negative. Two serum samples had relatively high anti-rabies activity; no neutralizing activity was detected against Mokola, Lagos bat or Duvenhage viruses.
Keywords: Chiroptera; Eidolon helvum; infectious diseases; lyssaviruses; Nigeria; parasitism; Pteropodidae; rabies; virology; West Africa

Die Waldohreule (Asio otus) in ägypten - Handwerk, J. (Bonn. zool. Beitr., 1990)
First summer observations and breeding evidence of long-eared owls (Asio otus) from the Nile Valley in Egypt are given. Analysis of pellets from Egypt proved that the average prey-weight is somewhat similar to that of Middle Europe but far less than in long-eared owls (Asio (otus) abyssinicus) from Ethiopia.
Keywords: Asellia tridens; Asio otus; Aves; body mass; Chiroptera; Egypt; Hipposideridae; Mammalia; North Africa; Nycteridae; Nycteris thebaica; owl pellets; Pipistrellus kuhlii; predation; prey; Pteropodidae; reproduction; Rodentia; Rousettus aegyptiacus; Soricidae; Strigidae; Strigiformes; Vespertilionidae

The domiciles, reproduction, social organization and sex ratio of the banana bat Pipistrellus nanus (Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae) in Malawi, Central Africa - Happold, D. C. D.; Happold, M. (Z. Säugetierk., 1990)
Investigated were the domiciles, reproduction, social organisation and sex ratios of the Banana Bat, Pipistrellus nanus, in Malawi. The bats were taken from furled banana leaves at fortnightly or monthly intervals from September 1984 to June 1985. The furled leaves were ephemeral domiciles lasting one to three days. A surplus of domiciles was always available. Females were monoestrus with the birth of twins in November and lactation lasted about eight weeks. The testes in males were scrotal from April to October, and attained maximal size in May. During lactation adult males roosted single, while females with their young roosted singly or in maternity groups. Post-lactating females roosted singly or with groups of subadults and/or other post-lactating females, and the adult males continued to roost singly. In April, by which time the testes of all males have become scrotal, all bats were assumed to have reached sexual maturity and they began to live in harems (one adult male with one or more females). An equal number of males and females were born, but females outnumbered males for at least seven months of the year. The data from Malawi are compared with data from Kenya (O’Shea 1980), South Africa (LaVal and LaVal 1977), and elsewhere. Geographical variation in domiciles and reproduction, and the relationships between different aspects of the biology of P. nanus, are discussed.
Keywords: behaviour; Chiroptera; ecology; Fledermäuse; habitat preferences; Hangplätze; harem; Malawi; Mammalia; mating systems; Musa; Neoromicia nana; parental care; plants; reproduction; roosting behaviour; seasonality; social behaviour; social organization; Southern Africa; Vegetation; Vespertilionidae

Données récentes sur les Mammifères de l’Adrar des Iforas (Mali) - Ag Sidiyène, E.; Tranier, M. (Mammalia, 1990)
The Adrar des Iforas, in Mali, is zoologically a poorly known massif. Located in Southern Sahara, and with some 100 mm annual rainfall, it retains some elements of the Ethiopian fauna. In 50 years, largest mammals disappeared almost completely through the combined effect of drought, gun and car. Only Barbary sheep, Ammotragus lervia, common gazelle, Gazella dorcas, and striped hyaena, Hyaena striata, remain there. Three bat species were recently caught: Nycteris thebaica (first record for Mali), Asellia tridens (first record for Mali), and Nycticeius schlieffeni. Three rodents species, too, were hand-caught: the Southern gundi Massoutiera mzabi (first record in Mali, where it was expected, as it is known from nearly Hoggar), the small sand gerbil, Gerbillus gerbillus, and the Nile rat, Arvicanthis sp. (northernmost capture in Mali for this genus).
Keywords: Asellia tridens; Chiroptera; distribution; Faunistik; Fledermäuse; Hipposideridae; Mammalia; Mauritania; Niger; Nycteridae; Nycteris thebaica; Nycticeinops schlieffenii; Senegal; Verbreitung; Vespertilionidae; West Africa

Faune du Sahara. 2. Mammifères - Le Berre, M. (Lechevalier - R. Chabaud, 1990)
Keywords: Chiroptera; deserts; distribution; Mammalia; Mauritania; Niger; North Africa; Sahara

Fine structure of subendocardial (Purkinje) cells of the insect-eating bat (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) - Ayettey, A. S.; Tagoe, C. N. B.; Yates, R. D. (J. Anat., 1990)
Subendocardial cells of the right ventricular myocardium of the West African bat, Pipistrellus pipistrellus, were investigated at the ultrastructural level. The prominent features of these cells include a well-developed T-tubule system and numerous mitochondria with closely packed cristae. Additionally, the cells display large stores of lipid bodies. These unusual features confirm that Purkinje cells are heterogeneous in structural detail.From the paucity and poor structure of myofibrils of these cells, it is likely that the T-tubules may have a primary nutritional role in the regulation of electrolytes in an animal in which the cardiac cycle is particularly rapid. The well-developed mitochondria and the large stores of lipid bodies are appropriate for such active cells in which metabolism is probably of the aerobic type.
Keywords: Chiroptera; Ghana; Pipistrellus pipistrellus; Vespertilionidae; West Africa

Foraging behavior and prey selection by large slit-faced bats (Nycteris grandis; Chiroptera: Nycteridae) - Fenton, M. B.; Swanepoel, C. M.; Brigham, R. M.; Cabek, J.; Hickey, M. B. C. (Biotropica, 1990)
Analysis of prey remains from beneath feeding perches in Mana Pools National Park in Zimbabwe between 1 March 1987 and 30 April 1988, showed that Nycteris grandis fed mainly on frogs, bats, and arthropods, and occasionally took birds and fish. There was marked seasonal variation in the prey taken, with bats and frogs dominating the biomass at different times. In November 1987, all-night radio-tracking over 15 bat nights revealed significant differences in habitat use between individuals, with one bat foraging along and over the Zambezi River, and another foraging in Acacia albida woodland and over the river. The bats alternated between foraging from continuous flight and making short flights from perches, although foraging over the river usually entailed continuous flight. Significant differences in the use of these foraging strategies between 1987 and an earlier study coincided with differences in November rainfall, and a drastic reduction in the amount of food the bats consumed daily.
Keywords: Beutespektrum; Biotopwahl; carnivory; Chiroptera; diet; feeding habits; Fledermäuse; foraging; Hangplätze; Nahrungsspektrum; Nahrungswahl; Nycteridae; Nycteris grandis; opportunistic feeder; roosting behaviour; Southern Africa; Zimbabwe

The foraging behaviour and ecology of animal-eating bats - Fenton, M. B. (Can. J. Zool., 1990)
The results of recent studies of the foraging behaviour of animal-eating bats are considered in this review. The advent of small (< 1 g) radio transmitters has made it possible to collect data on individual variations in foraging behaviour for species with body mass over 15 g. These data can be combined with those from wing morphology and echolocation call design to assess the flexibility achieved by some bats. The information concerning bats can be placed in a broader perspective by considering it in the light of current ideas about foraging theory. In this review, information about bat foraging is considered in the context of structural and functional features, the former relating to bats’ access to habitats of different complexity and the latter to their behavioural responses. Mechanical features involving wing morphology and perceptual features, such as the ability of echolocating bats to deal with clutter, combine to influence the behavioural flexibility of individuals. This, in turn, affects access to prey and patterns of community structure. Bats relying on airborne prey appear to be limited to small prey items, whereas those hunting nonairborne targets may take much larger prey. Variation in individual behaviour means that terms such as gleaning, perch hunting, piscivory, and carnivory do not accurately define the foraging of animal-eating bats. Morphological and behavioural data suggest that sympatric animal-eating bats of similar size will show considerable overlap in prey taken and in patterns of habitat use.
Keywords: behaviour; Beutespektrum; biodiversity; Chiroptera; communities; competition; diet; echolocation; ecology; feeding habits; Fledermäuse; food distribution; guilds; habitat preferences; Mammalia; morphology; Nahrung; Nahrungsspektrum; Nahrungswahl; niche overlap; optimal foraging; prey detection; review; species richness; sympatric; Vegetation

Foraging ecology of bats observed at De Hoop Provincial Nature Reserve, southern Cape Province - McDonald, J. T.; Rautenbach, I. L.; Nel, J. A. J. (S. Afr. J. Wildl. Res., 1990)
Prey preferences, foraging strategies, foraging zones, activity regimes and habitat selections of the five species of insectivorous bats at the Guano Cave on the De Hoop Provincial Nature Reserve, were investigated. It is evident that the cave is used on a seasonal basis by the different species. A measure of temporal and spatial separation of resources between species could be demonstrated, particularly of airspace and prey, and this differentiation correlates with differences in specific wing morphology and echolocation attributes. It would appear that bats do not feed extensively over nearby wheat fields, and available evidence suggests that the potentially deleterious effect of insecticide poisoning does not presently seem to be a major threat to the bat populations.
Keywords: activity patterns; behaviour; Beutespektrum; Chiroptera; communities; conservation; diet; echolocation; ecology; feeding habits; Fledermäuse; food distribution; foraging; habitat preferences; Mammalia; Miniopteridae; Miniopterus schreibersii; Myotis tricolor; Nahrung; Nahrungsspektrum; Nahrungswahl; Nycteridae; Nycteris thebaica; predation pressure; prey selection; Rhinolophidae; Rhinolophus capensis; Rhinolophus clivosus; seasonality; South Africa; speciation; sympatric; Vespertilionidae; wing morphology

Home range and activity of African goshawks Accipiter tachiro in relation to their predation on bats - Rautenbach, I. L.; Fenton, M. B.; Kemp, A. C.; van Jaarsveld, S. J. (Koedoe, 1990)
Winter radio-tracking of three African goshawks Accipiter tachiro showed that they each occupied well-wooded home ranges of at least 28 hectares. They perched and roosted mainly within densely foliaged trees and an adult female changed perches on average 4.7 times per hour. No crepuscular predation of bats was recorded, in contrast to regular summer predation on colonies of little free-tailed bats, Tadarida pumila, but winter emergence rates of these bats at dusk had dropped to =< 5% of the previous summer. We predict that many accipiters will be regular predators of bats and that skewed sex ratios and high fecundity may be two means by which bats counter this predation.
Keywords: activity patterns; Aves; behaviour; Beutespektrum; Chaerephon pumilus; Chiroptera; diet; ecology; Fledermäuse; foraging; Hangplätze; Kruger-National Park; Mammalia; Molossidae; Nahrung; predation pressure; predator avoidance; prey selection; reproduction; roosting behaviour; roosts; South Africa; telemetry

Eptesicus (Eptesicus) bottae (Peters 1869) in Saudi Arabia with notes on its subspecies and distribution (Mammalia: Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) - Nader, I. A.; Kock, D. (Senckenbergiana biol., 1990)
Eptesicus bottae is an additional species to the bat fauna of Saudi Araibai and data for the nominate subspecies are given for the first time since its original description. Additional measurements and notes are given for recognition of the known subspecies innesi, hingstoni, anatolicus (new material), taftanimontis, and ognevi (new material); lists of synonyms are attempted for these subspecies and their distribution is mapped. Data on reproductive activity are included. E. hingstoni collected at Shanna/SE-Arabia actually represents E. nasutus; E. nilssoni recorded for Iraq had been re-identified as E. bottae.
Keywords: Arabia; Chiroptera; distribution; Eptesicus bottae; Eptesicus nasutus; Faunistik; Fledermäuse; Mammalia; morphology; reproduction; Saudi Arabia; systematics; taxonomy; Verbreitung; Vespertilionidae

Hypsignathus monstrosus - Langevin, P.; Barclay, R. M. R. (Mammalian Species, 1990)
Keywords: Africa; Chiroptera; Hypsignathus monstrosus; Pteropodidae; review

An investigation of the diet of Verreaux’s eagle owl, Bubo lacteus, and the barn owl, Tyto alba, at Lake Naivasha, Kenya - Smart, A. C.; Taylor, C. (Afr. J. Ecol., 1990)
Keywords: Aves; Bubo lacteus; Chiroptera; diet; East Africa; Kenya; Mammalia; predation; prey; Rodentia; Soricidae; Strigiformes; Tyto alba

The Mammals of the Southern African Subregion - Skinner, J. D.; Smithers, R. H. N. (University of Pretoria, 1990)
Keywords: Chiroptera; Mammalia; Southern Africa