Hipposideros caffer (Sundevall, 1846)

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Hipposideridae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 227-258 : 247-248

57.

Sundevall’s Leaf-nosed Bat

Hipposideros caffer

French: Phyllorhine de Cafrerie I German: Gewöhnliche Rundblattnase / Spanish: Hiposidérido de Cafreria

Other common names: Cape Leaf-nosed Bat, Common African Leaf-nosed Bat, Lesser Leaf-nosed bat, Sundevall’s Roundleaf Bat

Taxonomy. Rhinolophus caffer Sundevall, 1846 ,

near Durban, KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa.

Hipposideros caffer was formerly included in the bicolor species group, but is now placed in the ruber species group. There has been much confusion in the literature regarding the status of this species, particularly with respect to the rainforest H. ruber species complex. Recent molecular work suggests that H. caffer is present in southern Africa, but may also extend into East Africa. The validity of the proposed subspecies angolensis from Angola is uncertain, and the internal taxonomy of this species requires reassessment. Monotypic.

Distribution. Widely in S Africa, but N & W boundaries are not yet known; known to occur in S DR Congo, W Angola, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, N Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Swaziland. A species morphologically identical to Ä caffer occurs widely in East Africa but whether this refers to H. caffer or H. tephrus has not yet been established.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 45-60 mm, tail 25-38 mm, ear 10-17 mm, hindfoot 6-10 mm, forearm 42-52 mm; weight 5-11 g. No obvious sexual differences in pelage or size although males tend to average slightly larger than females, but with considerable overlap. Sundevall’s Leaf-nosed Bat has short, rounded wings. Muzzle is relatively short with large but simple noseleaf that has two lateral leaflets. A frontal sac is present in both sexes, but greatly reduced in females. Intemarial septum is not swollen and does not partially cover the nares. Ears are separate, and relatively small. Fur is fine and fluffy, gray or brownish gray dorsally, paler ventrally; an orange morph exists, which is bright orange or rusty brown dorsally and paler ventrally. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 32 and FN = 60.

Habitat. A wide range of wooded savanna habitats, including riparian forest, but avoids rainforest. In more arid regions, its distribution appears to be limited to riverine habitats.

Food and Feeding. Sundevall’s Leaf-nosed Bat is insectivorous, feeding predominandy on moths but possibly also caddisflies, beedes, and other arthropods. Moths are typically taken in proportion to availability, but clicking moths of the families Geometridae and Arctiidae are taken less frequently than would be expected.

Breeding. Breeding in South Africa, Uganda, and Kenya (the last two populations may or may not refer to this species) is seasonal with births of single young occurring at the beginning of the rains. In South Africa, copulation and fertilization occur in April followed by a period of retarded development during the cool dry season, with births in December. Hence, gestation is 220 days at these latitudes. In Uganda, females are pregnant between December and March with births in the latter month. Young are fed milk for 60 days.

Activity patterns. Sundevall’s Leaf-nosed Bat roosts during the day in a variety of cavities and structures including caves, hollow trees, holes in the ground, old mines, culverts under roads, and disused houses and outhouses. It remains active throughout the year, even at high latitudes in South Africa. This species, like its congeners, has a low wing loading and low aspect ratio, allowing it to fly in cluttered environments, such as thickets. Echolocation call includes a F component usually at (or near) 145 kHz, but which is highly variable by up to 15 kHz above and below.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Sundevall’s Leaf-nosed Bat typically roosts in colonies of up to several hundred individuals. However, it also roosts in small family groups, and occasionally may roost singly. In one study in Zimbabwe, a group of one adult male and seven lactating females roosted together in the same hollow tree, suggestive ofa harem mating system where a dominant male monopolizes several females. It occasionally shares its roosts with other bat species including Egyptian Slitfaced Bats (Nycteris thebaica), Rhinolophus spp. , Temminck’s Myotis (Myotis tricolor), and Natal Long-fingered Bats (Miniopterus natalensis).

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCNRed List. Sundevall’s Leaf-nosed Bat has a wide distribution, utilizes many different structures as day roosts, and usually occurs in good numbers.

Bibliography. Aldridge & Rautenbach (1987), Bell (1987), Bell & Fenton (1984), Bernard & Cumming (1997), Bernard & Happold (2013b), Bernard & Meester (1982), Bowie eta/. (1999), Cotterill (2001a), Fenton (1985a), Happold & Happold (1990), Hill (1963a), Monadjem & Reside (2008), Monadjem, Reside & Lumsden (2007), Monadjem, Schoeman eta/. (2010), Monadjem, Taylor eta/. (2010), Mutere (1970), O'Shea & Vaughan (1980), Rautenbach (1982), Rautenbach et a/. (1993), Schoeman & Jacobs (2008, 2011), Thorn & Kerbis Peterhans (2009), Vallo eta/. (2008), Van Cakenberghe eta/. (2017), Whitaker & Black (1976).

Figures

47. Short-tailed Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros curtus), 49. Aellen’s Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros marisae), 50. Schneider’s Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros speoris), 51. Spurred Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros calcaratus), 52. Fawn-colored Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros ceruinus), 53. Cox’s Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros coxi), 54. Cantor’s Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros galeritus), 55. Aba Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros abae), 56. Benito Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros beatus), 57. Sundevall’s Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros caffer), 58. Sooty Leaf-nosed (Bat Hipposiderosfuliginosus), 59. Lamotte’s Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros lamottei), 60. Noack’s Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros ruber), 61. Maghreb Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros tephrus), 62. Dusky Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros ater), 63. Bicolored Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros bicolor), 64. Short-headed Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros breviceps), 65. Least Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros cineraceus), 66. Large Mindanao Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros coronatus)

Distribution. Widely in S Africa, but N & W boundaries are not yet known; known to occur in S DR Congo , W Angola , Zambia , Malawi , Mozambique , Namibia , N Botswana , Zimbabwe , South Africa , and Swaziland . A species morphologically identical to Ä caffer occurs widely in East Africa but whether this refers to H. caffer or H. tephrus has not yet been established.