Epomops
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| Gray , 1870 |
Epomops is a genus within the taxon epaulette bats with three species that occur in Africa .
Types and distribution
The genus includes the following species:
- Büttikofer epaulette bat ( Epomops buettikoferi ), western Africa from Senegal to Nigeria .
- Dobsonian epaulette bat ( Epomops dobsoni ), from Angola to Tanzania and in the southeast to Mozambique .
- Franquet's epaulette bat ( Epomops franqueti ), from the Ivory Coast to Uganda and in the south to Angola and Zambia .
features
The species reach a head-trunk length of 13.5 to 18 cm and have no tail. The length of the forearms varies between 7.5 and 10 cm. The heaviest are the males of Epomops buettikoferi , weighing 160 to 200 g. Females of this species and the other species weigh 60 to 160 g. The fur can be colored differently from specimen to specimen and is usually gray or brown. White or yellow tufts of hair reminiscent of epaulettes appear on the shoulders . Males, especially Epomops franqueti , have well-developed throat pouches with which they utter widely audible calls.
Way of life
These flying foxes can be found in various forests and in open landscapes with groups of trees. They rest in the treetops 4 to 6 meters above the ground or in thick bushes. The animals sleep individually or in smaller groups of two to three members. The Epomops species eat soft fruits as well as the juice of other fruits. The fruits are scratched with the pointed canine and pre-grinding teeth and then pressed against the upper palate with the tongue.
In the known populations of Epomops franqueti , mating occurs in April and September. After a gestation of five to six months, the approximately 20 g young animal is born at the beginning of the rainy season or a little later. Similar reproductive behavior was observed or suspected in the other species. Young animals are suckled for 7 to 13 weeks. In females, sexual maturity occurs after 6 months, whereas males become reproductive after 11 months.
status
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists the three species as not endangered ( Least Concern ).
swell
- Ronald M. Nowak: Walker's Mammals of the World. Volume 1. 6th edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD et al. 1999, p. 280, ISBN 0-8018-5789-9 . Epomops
- Wilson & Reeder (Eds.): Mammal Species of the World . 3. Edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore 2005, ISBN 0-8018-8221-4 (English, Epomops ).
- Epomops on the2015 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved January 2, 2016.
