49.

Aellen’s Leaf-nosed Bat

Hipposideros marisae

French: Phyllorhine d'Aellen / German: Aellen-Rundblattnase / Spanish: Hiposidérido de Aellen

Other common names: Aellen's Roundleaf Bat

Taxonomy. Hipposideros marisae Aellen, 1954,

White Leopard Rock, Duékoué, Ivory Coast.

Hipposideros marisae was previously included in the bicolor species group, but is now placed in the speoris species group. Monotypic.

Distribution. Very patchily in W Africa with records in Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Ivory Coast

Descriptive notes. Head—body 41—47 mm, tail 19-21 mm, ear 15-17 mm, hindfoot 6-8 mm, forearm 38—42 mm; weight 5 g. There are no obvious sexual differences in pelage or size. Aellen’s Leaf-nosed Bat has short, rounded wings. Muzzle is relatively short with large but simple noseleaf that has one lateral leaflet. A frontal sac is present in both sexes posterior to noseleaf. Intemarial septum is swollen and partially covering the nares. Ears are separate, and relatively large. Fur is fine and short, gray-brown dorsally and slightly lighter ventrally.

Habitat. Tropical forest in lowland and hilly situations.

Food and Feeding. Exact diet of Aellen’s Leaf-nosed Bat is not known, but it is insectivorous.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. Aellen’s Leaf-nosed Bat rests up in caves and old mine adits. Echolocation call includes a F component at 146 kHz.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Aellen’s Leaf-nosed Bat roosts singly or in small groups, typically consisting of 2-6 individuals. It may share its roost with other species of Hipposideros .

Status and Conservation. Classified as Vulnerable on The IUCNRed List due to its small, fragmented distribution, which is under threat of deforestation. Disturbance ofits cave roosting sites is another threat.

Bibliography. Fahr (2013h), Monadjem, Richards & Denys (2016), Rosevear (1965), Wolton et al. (1982).