Asellia italosomalica, De Beaux, 1931

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Hipposideridae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 227-258 : 229

2.

Somalian Trident Leaf-nosed Bat Asellia italosomalica

French: Asellia de Somalie / German: Somalische Dreizackblattnase / Spanish: Asellia de Somalia

Other common names: Horn-of-Africa Trident Leaf-nosed Bat, Somalian Trident Bat

Taxonomy. Asellia tridens italo-somalica De Beaux, 1931 ,

“Oddur,” Somalia .

This species was previously considered a subspecies of. tridens , but recent molecular and morphometric work support its treatment as a separate species. Monotypic.

Distribution. Endemic to Somalia and Yemen ( Socotra I).

Descriptive notes. Head—body 41-60 mm, tail 16-29 mm, ear 14-22 mm, hindfoot 8—10 mm, forearm 43-4—48-2 mm; weight 6—13 g. Muzzle of the Somalian Trident Leaf-nosed Bat is relatively short with large, distinctive noseleaf that has three subtriangular projections from its posterior margin. Pelage is pale brownish gray dorsally, somewhat paler ventrally.

Habitat. Low-lying arid and semi-desert shrubland.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. The Somalian Trident Leaf-nosed Bat roosts during the day in caves. Echolocation call is not known.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Somalian Trident Leaf-nosed Bats roost in small groups, typically ofseveral dozen individuals; however, c.1000 individuals have been found roosting in a cave on Socotra.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Data Deficient on The IUCNRed List. This newly recognized species may be threatened by habitat destruction and disturbance at roost sites.

Bibliography. Benda (2017b), Benda, Vallo & Reiter et al. (2011), Harrison & Bates (1991).

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 Somalia and Yemen ( Socotra I).