Nycteris woodi, K. Andersen, 1914

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Nycteridae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 374-386 : 386

13.

Wood's Shitfaced Bat

Nycteris woodi

French: Nyctere de Wood / German: \Wood-Schlitznase / Spanish: Nicterio de Wood

Other common names: Wood's Long-eared Bat

Taxonomy. Nycteris woodi K. Andersen, 1914 ,

“Chilanga, N.W. Rhodesia [= Zambia], 4100’ [= 1250 m].”

Nycteris wood : belongs to the macrotis group. Monotypic.

Distribution. Restricted distribution in Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, C Mozambique, and extreme NE region of South Africa (Limpopo).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 40-48 mm, tail 40-45 mm, ear 28-35 mm, hindfoot 8-10 mm, forearm 35-42 mm; weight 7-9 g. Wood's Slit-faced Batis small, with short rounded wings. Longitudinal cleft runs along top of muzzle, covering noseleaves. Fur is long and flufty, silvery brown to rusty brown dorsally, and paler to much paler ventrally, occasionally off-white. Ears are long. Wing membranes are translucent gray to light rusty brown. There are no obvious sexual differences in pelage. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 42 and FNa = 78. Echolocation call is multiharmonic and involves a steep FM sweep with peak frequencies at 35 kHz, 43 kHz, and 55 kHz.

Habitat. Miombo ( Brachystegia ) and mopane ( Colophospermum ), both Fabaceae , woodlands generally below elevations of 1000 m but recorded up to 1250 m.

Food and Feeding. Wood's Slit-faced Bat eats various insects including moths and beetles. It appears to forage in highly cluttered situations by gleaning.

Breeding. In Zimbabwe, births of Wood's Slit-faced Bats seem to occur in November, and young are free-flying byJanuary. Litter size is one.

Activity patterns. Wood's Slit-faced Bat roosts during the day in sheltered structures including hollow trees, caves, road culverts, and disused mines.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Wood's Slit-faced Bat roosts in small to large colonies of up to ¢.50 individuals.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red Lust.

Bibliography. Cotterill (1996a, 2013g), Fenton & Bell (1981), Monadjem, Schoeman et al. (2010), Monadjem, Taylor et al. (2010), Smithers & Wilson (1979), Thomas et al. (1994), Van Cakenberghe & De Vree (1985), Whitaker & Black (1976).

Figures

1. Bates’s Slit-faced Bat (Nycteris arge), 2. Intermediate Slitfaced Bat (Nycteris intermedia), 3. Dwarf Slit-faced Bat (Nycteris nana), 4. Dja Slitfaced Bat (Nycteris major), 5. Malayan Slit-faced Bat (Nycteris tragata), 6. Javan Slit-faced Bat (Nycteris javanica), 7. Andersen’s Slit-faced Bat (Nycteris aurita), 8. Large Slitfaced Bat (Nycteris grandis), 9. Hairy Slitfaced Bat (Nycteris hispida), 10. Large-eared Slit-faced Bat (Nycteris macrotis), 11. Madagascar Slitfaced Bat (Nycteris madagascariensis), 12. Parisi’s Slitfaced Bat (Nycteris parisii), 13. Wood's Shitfaced Bat (Nycteris wood), 14. Gambian Slitfaced Bat (Nycteris gambiensis), 15. Egyptian Slitfaced Bat (Nycteris thebaica)

Distribution. Restricted distribution in Zambia , Malawi , Zimbabwe , C Mozambique , and extreme NE region of South Africa (Limpopo).