Abstract
Female reproduction was studied in sympatric populations of two species of African horseshoe bats in a seasonal tropical environment of central Zimbabwe. Both Rhinolophus simulator and its largest African congener, R. hildebrantii , were monotocous and monestrous, and reproduction was highly seasonal. In 3 consecutive years, R. simulator gave birth consistently later (15–20 days) than R. hildebrantii , and early embryonic development was retarded in the smaller R. simulator . Copulations occurred during June and July of the cooldry season, and both species gave birth to single offspring during separate synchronized periods of parturition at the start of the wet season. Lactation in both species coincided with the period of maximal rainfall, but the weaning period of R. hildebrantii was distinctly long.
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