African Bats Research Articles

Field studies on the African fruit bat Epomophorus wahlbergi (Sundevall), with special reference to male calling.

Social interactions, site attachment and group cohesion were studied in a free-living colony of Epomophorus fruit bats. Daily activites in an undisturbed colony were recorded. Special attention was paid to the peculiar calling behavior of courting male during the night. Structure and repetition rate of their sounds were analyzed in the laboratory. A special mode of acoustic interaction was found and related to the observed spacing out of calling males. By following feeding animals in the field and by analysis of their faeces we found that besides fruits they eat special leaves which afford steroidal sapogenins.

Studies on the digestive enzymes of the african fruit bat Eidolonhelvum (Kerr)

1. 1. Trypsin, pepsin amd amylase occur throughout the length of the alimentary canal of Eidolon helvum. 2. 2. Invertase and maltase were not found in the oesophagus and stomach but were present in the rest of the alimentary canal. 3. 3. Peptidase, lipase, lactase or cellulase activity was not detected. 4. 4. All the enzymes detected were also found in the colon.

Control of epidermal cell renewal in the bat web

On the ventral side of the African fruit bat web 12 × 50 mm areas of epidermis were removed by adhesive tape strippings. The regenerative reaction close to the wound was studied on both sides of the web by the Colcemid method and by counting cells.

Der Einflu� des Mondlichtes auf die Aktivit�tsperiodik nachtaktiver S�ugetiere

1. Several months' measurements of activity under natural illumination conditions near the equator (Colombia) show that changes in night illumination over the lunar cycle influence the activity of nocturnal mammals in various ways. 2. Night monkeys (Aotus trivirgatus) largely limit their activity to dusk and dawn during the new moon period. During the full-moon period they are very active throughout the night (Fig. 5). In the case of the neotropical phyllostomatid batArtibeus lituratus, moonlight has the effect of reducing activity. Accordingly when the moon waxes, this species decreases its activity in the first half of the night, when the moon wanes in the second half of the night, and when there is a full moon throughout the whole night (Fig. 6). African fruit bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus) reach their maximum activity when the moon waxes, the phyllostomatid batPhyllostomus hastatus when it wanes (Figs. 8 and 9). Both show least activity when there is a full moon. In the case of golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) no light-induced changes in activity and activity pattern were observed under natural illumination conditions. 3. The results point to a division into 3 basic types of reaction to lunarinduced changes in the intensity of night illumination (Aotus, Artibeus, andMesocricetus Types), as well as various transitional forms. They suggest that light influences activity not only through the circadian system but also directly, and also that these two components can be developed in a greater or lesser degree, and there are proportional and differential effects of light in both of them. 4. In the case ofRousettus a direct relation between behaviour under natural illumination conditions and the "optimum function" of the dependence of activity on the light intensity can be observed. It is to be expected that this is true of all species in which similar light-dependent activity optima or activity changes under natural illumination conditions have been observed.

A comparative study of reproduction in two populations of the insectivorous bats, Otomops martiensseni, at latitudes 1°5′S and 2°30′S

The insectivorous bat under review, Otomops martiensseni (Matschie) is essentially an African bat with a distribution from down south to as far north as Kenya. It is cave‐dwelling and does not appear to occur in West Africa. In this study, reproduction of two populations, one at Suswa in the Rift Valley, latitude 1°5′S and the other at Ithundu in the Chyulu Hills, latitude 2°30′S was investigated and compared. Regular monthly samples from both populations were collected commencing in March 1970 and running on to February 1972. The bats were processed in the laboratory for pregnancies, weights of testes and foetuses and other measurements and observations. Seasonality in the occurrence of pregnancies was observed in both populations, that is, from October to January only. Also the adult males realized a peak in their mean testicular weight in August, a short period just before the onset of pregnancies thus indicating the most likely time of mating. The female sexual cycle at Ithundu appears to be geared to the rainfall regime as measured at Makindu Meteorological Station about 10 km away. The male sexual cycle, on the other hand, shows a peak in the very dry months suggesting that such a dry spell may be more important than the rain. Molossid bats exhibit variation in their breeding cycles.SummaryThe breeding cycles of two populations of the cave dwelling insectivorous bat, O. martiensseni have been elucidated. In one population at Ithundu, the adult females show evidence of pregnancies from October to January and the adult males exhibit a peak in their sexual cycle in August. In the Suswa population, a similar state of affairs obtains. In both populations, there is the curious tendency for pregnancies to occur also in May at Suswa and Ithundu; and also in June in Ithundu. But as such pregnancies are not sustained in the ensuing months and are of extremely low magnitude, they cannot be regarded as constituting another breeding season. The peak in the adult male cycle occurred during the dry spell from June to September. The peak in pregnancies at Ithundu appears to coincide with the peak rainfall and it is possible that the same is true of Suswa. Considering that these bats are seasonal in their breeding and that they are only monotocous, their recruitment rate as shown by their age distribution is low.

The first known female of the African long-eared bat Laephotis wintoni (Vespertilionidae: Chiroptera).

A subadult Laephotis wintoni Thomas taken west of Mount Kenya in Kenya on 22 June, 1972, represents the fourth specimen and the first known female of that taxon. Measurements are compared with those of three males, and systematic relations within the genus are discussed. The soft palate is illustrated for the first time.

Notes on the African long-eared bats of the genus Laephotis (family Vespertilionidae)

The third known specimen of Laephotis wintoni is compared with the other two known examples, and morphological details are analyzed and compared with examples of Laephotis angolensis. Details of the face and ear of L. wintoni are illustrated, and photographs of the skulls of both species are provided for the first time.

The breeding biology of equatorial vertebrates: reproduction in the fruit bat, Eidolon helvum, at latitude 0°20′N

The African fruit bat, Eidolon helvum Kerr, is known to occur only south of the Sahara where its distribution is localized. At 0°20′ N, this bat exhibits seasonal and synchronized breeding the rhythm of which appears to correspond with the two rainfall peaks typical of Uganda. Quite unexpectedly and unprecedently, this bat exhibits delayed implantation lasting about three months. Evidence for this phenomenon comes from the histological examination of the adult female genital tracts which indicate that mating occurs only in April‐June, but implanted embryos are only in evidence in October‐November. The male sexual cycle corresponds to such a rhythm and shows a maximum testicular weight at the mating time. Births take place in February‐March thus giving a gestation period of about four months. Only one young is born at a time and births occur just before the onset of the higher of the two rainfall peaks, presumably creating favourable conditions for the maximum survival of the young bats when weaned.

ASCODIPTERINAE OF AFRICA (DIPTERA: STREBLIDAE).

Five new species of Ascodipteron are described from African bats of the genera Rhinopoma, Rhinolophus, Hipposideros and Miniopterus. A. africanum rhinolophi Job 1 is suppressed as a synonym of A. lophotes Montic. Most of the previously known species are here redescribed, and a key to all 10 continental African ones is given. An annotated bibliography of the subfamily is also appended.

Extension of Range of the African Bat, Myotis bocagei cupreolus Thomas

Extension of Range of the African Bat, Myotis bocagei cupreolus Thomas

A second specimen of an African bat, Plerotes anchietae (Seabra)

A second specimen of an African bat, Plerotes anchietae (Seabra)

XXXV.—On the taxonomic value of the subgenus Lophomops (Nyctinomine bats), with remarks on the breeding times of African Bats

(1933). XXXV.—On the taxonomic value of the subgenus Lophomops (Nyctinomine bats), with remarks on the breeding times of African Bats. Annals and Magazine of Natural History: Vol. 11, No. 63, pp. 269-274.

XXXVII.—On African bats and shrews

XXXVII.—<i>On African bats and shrews</i>

XL.—On some African bats and Rodents

(1906). XL.—On some African bats and Rodents. Annals and Magazine of Natural History: Vol. 18, No. 106, pp. 294-299.

Note on Haematozoa observed in a Bat and the occurrence of Acanthia pipistrelli Jenyns in South Africa

Some months ago a bat flew into my house at Grahamstown and was captured. Unfortunately the animal was fatally injured. It was placed in a tobacco-box and on opening the box next day a lively insect like a common bed-bug (Acanthia lectularia) and emiting a similar odour was found in the fur behind the bat's neck. The bug was sent to Mr C. W. Mally, M. Sc., Entomologist to the Eastern Province, for identification and he kindly determined the species as being Acanthia pipistrelli Jenyns, adding that the specimen agreed very well with the description given by Jenyns. Mr Mally wrote, “In the absence of the Northern specimens of this species I cannot express an opinion as to varietal characters. This specimen is of especial importance because there is apparently no record of its occurrence in these parts, nor has the species of bat in connection with which it was first discovered been found at the Cape”. Through the kind intermediation of Mr Mally the bat was forwarded to Professor Duerdin of the Rhodes University, who determined the species to be Vespertilio capensis, “The Cape Serotine Bat”. Prof. Duerdin states it is “apparently one of the commonest of South African bats, but we do not seem to have many”.

VII.—Some new African Bats (including one from the Azores) and a new Galago

VII.—<i>Some new African Bats (including one from the Azores) and a new</i> Galago