Sundevall’s Roundleaf Bat
( Sundevall's leaf-nosed bat )
- Hipposideros caffer
- IUCN Status: Least Concern
- Trend: decreasing
General Information
Sundevall’s roundleaf bat (Hipposideros caffer) is a species of bat in the family Hipposideridae.
These bats are very similar in appearance to the closely related Noack’s roundleaf bat, and the two have in the past been considered to be the same species. Although more recent research suggests that they are distinct, taken together, they possibly represent a species group containing a number of cryptic species or subspecies that have yet to be distinguished.
Description
Sundevall’s roundleaf bat is a medium-sized bat, with a head-body length of 8 to 9 cm, and a wingspan of 20 to 29 cm. Adults have a body weight of 8 to 10 g. They have long fur, which may be either grey or a bright golden-orange in colour, and brown wings. The fur is generally paler on the underside of the body.
The bats have large, rounded, ears with a well-developed antitragus, and a horseshoe-shaped nose-leaf, with a distinctive small projection on either side. There is also an additional serrated ridge of skin behind the main nose-leaf. Both females and males have an extra pair of teats in the pubic region. Although these are vestigial in the males, they can be as long as 4 cm in some females (almost half the body length), yet are never functional. These false teats may be only present to allow the young something to hold on to while clinging to their mothers.
Ecology & Behaviour
The bats are relatively slow-flying, but highly maneuverable in the air, even being able to hover in place for brief periods.
During the day, Sundevall’s roundleaf bats roost in caves, tree hollows, or manmade structures such as mines or attics. Some cave roosts may host exceptionally large colonies, with as many as 500,000 individuals having been reported from one cave in Gabon. The colonies seem to have a “harem” structure, with dominant males monopolizing access to a number of females. Although they do not truly hibernate, they do sometimes enter torpor during cold weather.
Distribution & Habitat
Sundevall’s roundleaf bat is a relatively common species, and is found in almost every African country south of the Sahara, as well as in Morocco, Yemen, and parts of Saudi Arabia. Four subspecies are currently recognised, although the precise geographic range of each is not yet clear:
H. c. angolensis
H. c. caffer
H. c. nanus
H. c. tephrus
The bat is most commonly found in savannah habitats, and avoids the dense rainforests of central Africa. It is, however, very wide-ranging, and has also been reported in Acacia shrubland, bushveld, and in coastal and mopane forests.
Communication
The calls consist of a constant frequency component lasting about 6 ms, followed by a short frequency-modulated downward sweep. The frequency of the calls varies with geographic locality, but is typically about 140 kHz.
Diet
The bats are relatively slow-flying, but highly maneuverable in the air, even being able to hover in place for brief periods.
During the day, Sundevall’s roundleaf bats roost in caves, tree hollows, or manmade structures such as mines or attics. Some cave roosts may host exceptionally large colonies, with as many as 500,000 individuals having been reported from one cave in Gabon. The colonies seem to have a “harem” structure, with dominant males monopolizing access to a number of females. Although they do not truly hibernate, they do sometimes enter torpor during cold weather.
Predators
Known predators on this species include bat hawks.
Reproduction
The bats are relatively slow-flying, but highly maneuverable in the air, even being able to hover in place for brief periods.
During the day, Sundevall’s roundleaf bats roost in caves, tree hollows, or manmade structures such as mines or attics. Some cave roosts may host exceptionally large colonies, with as many as 500,000 individuals having been reported from one cave in Gabon. The colonies seem to have a “harem” structure, with dominant males monopolizing access to a number of females. Although they do not truly hibernate, they do sometimes enter torpor during cold weather.
References
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- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Mammalia
- Order: Chiroptera
- Family: Hipposideridae
- Genus: Macronycteris
- Length: up to 9 cm
- Weight: 8 to 10 g
