Macronycteris commersonii (E. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1813)

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Hipposideridae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 227-258 : 232

13.

Commerson’s Leaf-nosed Bat

Macronycteris commersonii

French: Phyllorhine de Commerson / German: Commerson-Rundblattnase / Spanish: Macronicterio de Commerson

Other common names: Commerson's Roundleaf Bat

Taxonomy. Rhinolophus commersonii É. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1813 ,

“fort Dauphin, île de Madagascar.” Based on neotype selection, identified by Goodman and colleagues in 2016 as “ Madagascar: Province de Fianarantsoa, Parc National de l’lsalo, along Sahanafa River, near foot of Bevato Mountain, 28 km south-east of Berenty-Betsileo, 22°19.0’S, 45°17.6’E, 550 m a.s.l.”

Widely used specific epithet commersoni changed as the original name is valid and thus retained. Monotypic.

Distribution. Endemic to Madagascar, where it is widely distributed.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 104—110 mm, tail 31-45 mm, ear 29-31 mm, hindfoot 13—18 mm, forearm 80—103 mm; weight 39-5— 98 g. Males are larger than females. Commerson’s Leaf-nosed Bat has a distinctive noseleaf that is divided into four cells on its posterior margin with three or four lateral leaflets. Pelage is dense and short, reddish brown to dark brown dorsally, and somewhat paler ventrally. Flanks and armpits are white, and there is dark band across shoulders. Ears are long and narrow. A frontal sac is present in both sexes. It is difficult to distinguish from the Madagascar Cryptic Leaf-nosed Bat (M cryptaualorond), but is slightly larger. Dental formula for all members of Macronycteris is 11/2, C 1/1, P 2/2, M 3/3 (x2) = 30. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 52 and FN = 60.

Habitat. Commerson’s Leaf-nosed Bat inhabits a variety of forested and wooded habitats, including degraded forest and the ecotone between forest and agricultural landscapes. It occurs at elevations up to 1350 m.

Food and Feeding. Commerson’s Leaf-nosed Bat is insectivorous, feeding predominantly on large beetles (Coleoptera) and, to a lesser degree, on bugs ( Hemiptera ). A large variety of other insects are taken in smaller amounts, and even possibly small vertebrates (e.g. frogs). It forages by sallying out from a perch to capture prey, which is returned to the perch to be consumed. It puts on significant amounts of fat at the end of the rainy season.

Breeding. Females segregate into maternity roosts during the birthing season, with males and non-reproductive females roosting together in separate caves.

Activity patterns. Commerson’s Leaf-nosed Bat roosts predominantly in caves, but may occasionally also use tall forest trees. Echolocation call includes a GF component at C.65 kHz.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Some populations are thought to be migratory, as individuals disappear seasonally from certain caves.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Near Threatened on The IUCNRed List (as Tfrpposideros commersoni) because of extensive hunting pressure. This is partially mitigated by its widespread distribution and tolerance of habitat degradation.

Bibliography. Bader eta/. (2015), Bogdanowicz & Owen (1998), Eger & Mitchell (2003), Foley, Goodman eta/. (2017), Foley, Thong Vu Dinh eta/. (2015), Goodman (2006, 2011), Goodman, Andriafidison eta/. (2005), Good man, Ratrimomanarivo et al. (2008), Goodman, Schoeman et al. (2016), Hill (1963a), Jenkins & Racey (2008), Kofoky, Andriafidison et al. (2007), Kofoky, Randrianandrianina et al. (2009), Raharinantenaina et al. (2008), Rakotoarivelo, Ralisata et al. (2009), Rakotoarivelo, Ranaivoson et al. (2007), Rakotoarivelo, Willows-Munro et al. (2015), Ramasindrazana et al. (2015), Ranivo & Goodman (2007), Razakarivony et al. (2005).

Figures

1. Arabian Trident Leaf-nosed Bat (Asellia arabica), 2. Somalian Trident Leaf-nosed Bat (Asellia italosomalica), 3. Patrizi’s Trident Leaf-nosed Bat (Asellia patrizii), 4. Geoffroy’s Trident Leaf-nosed Bat (Asellia tridens), 5. Greater Leaf-nosed Bat (Doryrhina camerunensis), 6. Telefomin Leaf-nosed Bat (Doryrhina corynophyllus), 7. Cyclops Leaf-nosed Bat (Doryrhina cyclops), 8. Hill’s Leaf-nosed Bat (Doryrhina edwardshilli), 9. Fly River Leaf-nosed Bat (Doryrhina muscinus), 10. Semon’s Leaf-nosed Bat (Doryrhina semoni), 11. Northern Leaf-nosed Bat (Doryrhina stenotis), 12. Wollaston’s Leaf-nosed Bat (Doryrhina wollastoni), 13. Commerson’s Leaf-nosed Bat (Macronycteris commersonii), 14. Madagascar Cryptic Leaf-nosed Bat (Macronycteris cryptovalorona), 15. Giant Leaf-nosed Bat Macronycteris gigas rench: (Phyllorhine géante), 16. Sao Tome Leaf-nosed Bat Macronycteris thomensis rench: Phyllorhine de (Sao Tomé), 17. Striped Leaf-nosed Bat (Macronycteris vittatus), 18. Dong Bac Trident Bat (Aselliscus dongbacanus), 19. Stoliczka’s Trident Bat (Aselliscus stoliczkanus), 20. Temminck’s Trident Bat (Aselliscus tricuspidatus), 21. East Asian Tailless Leaf-nosed (Bat Coelopsfrithii), 22. Malayan Tailless Leaf-nosed Bat (Coelops robinsoni), 23. Solomons Leaf-nosed Bat (Anthops omatus)

Distribution. Endemic to Madagascar , where it is widely distributed.