Epaulette bats
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| Gray , 1866 |
The epauleted (Epomophorini) are a generic group of the family of flying foxes (Pteropodidae). The group includes around 17 species in eight genera.
distribution
Epaulette batons are the only genus group of fruit bats that are exclusively restricted to Africa , where they are found in most areas south of the Sahara .
description
Epaulette bats get their name from their white or yellowish tufts of hair on the shoulders of the male animals, which are reminiscent of epaulettes (shoulder pieces of a uniform). In addition, they have white spots in front of the ear, sometimes between the eyes. The rest of the fur is gray-brown in color, with the underside often being lighter than the top. The snout of the animals is rather elongated, some species have stretchy, drooping lips. Most genera lack a tail. The length of the head body is five to 30 centimeters, depending on the species, and the weight is between 20 and 400 grams, with the hammer head being the largest species.
Way of life
Epaulette bats live in forests and savannahs, but they are not found in drier areas because of their fruit diet. They rest in small groups in trees or bushes during the day and go foraging for food at night. Some species are also culture followers that look for food in orchards and are therefore pursued. Epaulette bats make high-pitched noises during flight.
food
The diet of these animals consists mainly of fruits (such as figs , mangoes , guavas or bananas ), whereby they mostly consume the juice and the softer parts. The movable lips surround the fruit, the canine teeth scratch the skin, with the tongue they press the fruit against the palate and suck it out. Some species also consume nectar and pollen.
Reproduction
Little is known about the reproduction of many species. Many species give birth to offspring twice a year, usually just a single young. The gestation period is five to six months, and young animals are suckled for two to three months.
The genera
- The hammer head ( Hypsignathus monstrosus ) is characterized by its striking head.
- The genus Epomops includes three species:
- Büttikofer epaulette bat ( Epomops buettikoferi (Matschie, 1899))
- Dobsonian epaulette bat ( Epomops dobsoni (Bocage, 1889))
- Franquet's epaulet bat ( Epomops franqueti (Tomes, 1860))
They are distributed from Guinea and southern Sudan to Angola and Botswana . With a length of 14 to 18 centimeters, they are medium-sized animals.
- The genus Epomophorus comprises six to seven species, depending on how they are counted, which are distributed in large parts of sub-Saharan Africa. With a head body length of up to 25 cm, they are the largest epaulette bats next to the hammer head. A characteristic are the stretchy, drooping lips. For example:
- Wahlberg epaulette bat ( Epomophorus wahlbergi )
- The dwarf epauletted batfish ( Micropteropus ) are divided into two types:
Their distribution area extends from Senegal and Ethiopia to Angola. They are relatively small with a length of six to ten centimeters and their snout is shorter than that of other species.
- The Veldkamps pygmy bat , Nanonycteris veldkampi, lives from Guinea to the Central African Republic . Because of its allegedly cattle-like face, the species is called " Little Flying Cow " in English . With a head body length of five to seven centimeters and a weight of 20 to 30 grams, it is the smallest representative of the epaulette bats. Their diet consists mainly of nectar.
- The genus Scotonycteris includes only one species:
- Zenker's harlequin fruit bat ( Scotonycteris zenkeri )
It is widespread from Liberia to the Democratic Republic of the Congo , has a white spot between the eyes and one in each corner of the eye, but the shoulder tufts have receded. The animals feed on fruits and live solitary.
- The genus Casinycteris includes three species:
- The golden short- palate fruit bat ( Casinycteris argynnis ) lives in Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The species is similar to Scotonycteris , but has larger ears and a higher snout.
- Casinycteris campomaanensis was only discovered in 2014, which is why little is known about this species.
- The serpent- toothed harlequin fruit bat ( Casinycteris ophiodon ) belonged to the genus Scotonycteris until recently .
- The anchietas broad- faced fruit bat ( Plerotes anchietae ) is common in Angola, Zambia and in the south of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It differs from the other species in the absence of the calcar (a thorn on the ankle that serves to tighten the tail skin) and in the small, relatively soft teeth that indicate a diet of flowers or nectar.
annotation
The systematics of the fruit bats is largely based on the phylogenetic study of Kate E. Jones et al. a .: A Phylogenetic Supertree of Bats . The authors do not use a rank in the classical sense for the taxa . The designation of this group as a tribe with the ending -ini is therefore chosen arbitrarily, sometimes this taxon is also found as Epomophorinae or Epomophorina.
Individual evidence
- Jump up ↑ A. Hassanin (2014) Description of a new bat species of the tribe Scotonycterini (Chiroptera, Pteropodidae) from southwestern Cameroon. Comptes Rendus Biologies, 337, pp. 134-142.
- ↑ KE Jones, A. Purvis, A. MacLarnon, OR Bininda-Emonds, NB Simmons: A phylogenetic supertree of the bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) . In: Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc . tape 77 , no. 2 , 2002, p. 223-259 , doi : 10.1017 / S1464793101005899 (English, uni-oldenburg.de [PDF; 5.2 MB ; accessed on April 3, 2014]).