16. Sao Tome Leaf-nosed Bat Macronycteris thomensis

French: Phyllorhine de Sao Tomé / German: Sâo-Tomé-Rundblattnase I Spanish: Macronicterio de Sao Tomé

Other common names: SaoTome Roundleaf Bat

Taxonomy. Phyllorhina [sic] commersoni [sic] var. thomensis Bocage, 1891,

Säo Tomé Island, Säo Tomé and Principe.

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. Endemic to Sâo Tomé I.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 102-106 mm, tail 29-30 mm, ear 25-35 mm.

Males are larger than females. The Sao Tome Leaf-nosed Bat has a distinctive noseleaf that is divided into four cells on its posterior margin with three lateral leaflets. Pelage is dense and short, uniform blackish brown dorsally, and paler ventrally. Armpits are white. Ears are long and narrow. Difficult to distinguish from the Giant Leaf-nosed Bat ( M. gigas), but slightly smaller.

Habitat Lowland rainforest, secondary forest, degraded forest, and certain plantations.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. The Sao Tome Leaf-nosed Bat roosts in caves and disused mines that it may share with Sundevall’s Leaf-nosed Bat ( Hipposideros coffer). Echolocation call is not known.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Sao Tome Leaf-nosed Bats may roost in colonies of up to 100 individuals.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCNRed List (as Hipposideros thomensis). The Sao Tome Leaf-nosed Bat is a common species, and it appears to be facing no major threats.

Bibliography. Bocage (1891), Foley eta/. (2017), Goodman, Schoeman eta/. (2016), Juste & Ibänez (1994b), Monadjem, Juste et al. (2017), Russo eta/. (2011), Simmons (2005).