Nycteris Thebaica Research Articles

First record of the Egyptian Slit-faced Bat, Nycteris thebaica, from Jordan

The Egyptian Slit-faced Bat, Nycteris thebaica, was recorded for the first time from Jordan in 1999, in a barren mountainous area overlooking the Dead Sea.

Resource use by two morphologically similar insectivorous bats (Nycteris thebaicaandHipposideros caffer)

Studies of morphologically dissimilar insectivorous bats have lead to the conclusion that morphology is the prime correlate of habitat use, and consequently of diet. This has lead to the prediction that morphologically similar bats should have similar diets. We examined the diet and morphology of two morphologically similar species, the slit-faced bat, Nycteris thebaica, and Sundevall's leaf-nosed bat, Hipposideros caffer, in the context of this prediction. Although both species foraged in the same habitat, they had distinctly different diets. The diet of N. thebaica consisted mainly of non-volant prey, primarily orthopterans and arachnids, and the diet of H. caffer, mainly of moths. Differences in wing design between the two taxa were small. The only significant difference was in aspect ratio. There were no differences in wing loading and wingtip shape ratio between the two species. The flying abilities reported for these two species are very similar, suggesting that these small differences in wing design do not translate into differences in flying ability, and cannot explain the dietary differences between these two species. On the other hand, there are marked differences in their prey detection systems which correspond to differences in their diets. H. caffer uses echolocation to detect the flapping wings of insect prey, whereas N. thebaica depends on prey-generated sounds (fluttering or scuffling) to locate its targets.

Roosting, Vocalizations, and Foraging by the African Bat, Nycteris thebaica

Journal Article Roosting, Vocalizations, and Foraging by the African Bat, Nycteris thebaica Get access H. D. J. N. Aldridge, H. D. J. N. Aldridge 5 Buckingham Place, Clifton Bristol BS8 1LM, United KingdomZoologisches Institut, Universitat Munchen, 8 Munchen 2, Federal Republic of GermanyDepartment of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1S 5B6Department of Biology, York University, North York, Ontario, Canada MS] 1P3 Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar M. Obrist, M. Obrist 5 Buckingham Place, Clifton Bristol BS8 1LM, United KingdomZoologisches Institut, Universitat Munchen, 8 Munchen 2, Federal Republic of GermanyDepartment of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1S 5B6Department of Biology, York University, North York, Ontario, Canada MS] 1P3 Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar H. G. Merriam, H. G. Merriam 5 Buckingham Place, Clifton Bristol BS8 1LM, United KingdomZoologisches Institut, Universitat Munchen, 8 Munchen 2, Federal Republic of GermanyDepartment of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1S 5B6Department of Biology, York University, North York, Ontario, Canada MS] 1P3 Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar M. B. Fenton M. B. Fenton 5 Buckingham Place, Clifton Bristol BS8 1LM, United KingdomZoologisches Institut, Universitat Munchen, 8 Munchen 2, Federal Republic of GermanyDepartment of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1S 5B6Department of Biology, York University, North York, Ontario, Canada MS] 1P3 Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Journal of Mammalogy, Volume 71, Issue 2, 21 May 1990, Pages 242–246, https://doi.org/10.2307/1382175 Published: 21 May 1990 Article history Received: 20 March 1989 Accepted: 17 July 1989 Published: 21 May 1990

New Mammal Records for the Karoo National Park, with Notes on Several Other Species

Five species of mammal are recorded for the first time in the Karoo National Park: Suncus varilla, Nycteris thebaica, Aethomys granti, Petromyscus collinus and Desmodillus auricularis. The presence of a golden mole, Chrysochloridae, is noted. Notes on three previously recorded species are presented.

Cervical Vertebrae in Relation to Roosting Posture in Bats

We examined the cervical vertebrae of the following bats: Penthetor lucasi, Micropteropus pusillus, Hypsignathus monstrosus, Rhinopoma hardwickei, Taphozous melanopogon, Noctilio leporinus, Nycteris thebaica, Rhinolophus affinus, Hipposideros armiger, Macrotus waterhousii, Glossophaga longirostris, Artibeus jamaicensis, Myotis lucifugus, Otomops martiensseni , and Molossus molossus to identify specializations associated with dorso-ventral flexibility. The specializations of the cervical vertebrae of Megachiroptera and Microchiroptera were distinctly different, and none of the species examined shows evidence of an intermediate condition. Specializations for dorso-ventral flexibility included the thickness of the neural arches, the plane of articulation between adjacent centra, the ventral interlocking of adjacent centra, and the angles of articulation reflected by the anterior zygapophyses. These differences correlate with difference in roosting posture because the Megachiroptera typically roost with the head facing ventrad, and many Microchiroptera roost with the head facing dorsad, 180° different from the megachiropteran posture.

Two New Species of Chiggers (Acari: Trombiculidae) from East African Bats (Chiroptera)1

Microtrombicula (Eltonella) tanzaniae is described from specimens collected from Noack's African Leaf-nosed Bat, Hipposideros ruber ruber , Persian Leaf-nosed Bat, Triaenops persicus afer , and Egyptian Slit-faced Bat, Nycteris thebaica , and Whartonia novemsetosa from Egyptian Fruit Bat, Rousettus aegyptiacus , taken in Tanzania, Africa. New host and locality records are given for Whartonia oweni .

Prey Selection by the Slit-Faced Bat Nycteris thebaica (Chiroptera: Nycteridae) in Natal, South Africa

Prey Selection by the Slit-Faced Bat Nycteris thebaica (Chiroptera: Nycteridae) in Natal, South Africa

On a new trematode, Prohemistomum azimi n. sp. (Trematoda: Cyathocotylidae) from the Egyptian slit-faced bat.

Prohemistomum azimi n. sp. is described from one out of four Egyptian slit-faced bats, Nycteris thebaica Geffroy, 1910 captured from Giza, Egypt. The new species is compared with other related species of the genus and its specific diagnosis is outlined. The new species is the first record of the genus Prohemistomum Odhner, 1913 from Chiroptera.

Studies on the helminth parasites of bats in Egypt and the factors influencing their occurrence with particular reference to digenetic trematodes

The results of the helminthological examination of 1264 bats belonging to eight different species collected from different localities in Egypt are presented and analysed. The species of bats included Rousettus aegyptiacus aegyptiacus, Rhinopoma hardwickei cystops, Rhinopoma microphyllum, Taphozous nudiventris nudiventris, Nycteris thebaica, Rhinolophus clivosus brachygnathus, Otonycteris hemprichi and Asellia tridens tridens. An attempt has been made to study the factors influencing the host-parasite system particularly host specificity, diet and sex of the host and the interrelationship between individual members of the parasitic fauna. 108 fruit bats, Rousettus aegyptiacus aegyptiacus, did not harbour any parasites, but seven other species of bats were infected with different helminth parasites. The incidence of helminths was almost equal in males and females of two species of bats, but in another species the incidence was higher in females than males. Strict host specificity was not a marked feature of trematode infections but a definite preference of certain genera of trematodes to certain species of bats was observed. Infections with trematodes, cestodes and nematodes were found in some cases to be antagonistic to each other. Similarly, infections with certain trematode genera were found to be antagonistic to infection with other genera but this antagonism appears to be dependent on the species of the host involved. On the contrary, certain genera of trematodes occurred only in the presence of other genera of parasites.

Two new species of the nematode genus Spirura Blanchard, 1849 from bats in Tanzania

AbstractSpirura hipposidcrosi n.sp. from the stomach of Hipposideros ruber resembles S. diplocyphos but differs in the head structure, the shape and size of the spicules, the position of the vulva and the presence of a tuft of spines in the male tail. Spirura nycterisi n.sp. from Nycteris thebaica and Hipposideros ruber resembles S. spinicaudata but differs in the presence of a membrane round the posterior half of the left spicule, the presence of a tuft of spines at the tip of the male tail, the position of the vulva and the size of the eggs. A key to the African species of Spirura is given.

Blood protozoa of insectivores, bats and primates in Central Africa*

A survey was made of blood protozoa of wild mammals in Central Africa and the parasites from Insectivora, Chiroptera and Primates are described. Trypanosoma petrodromi was rediscovered in Petrodromus tetradactylus and redescribed. A similar trypanosome found in Elephantulus brachyrhynchus is considered to be a new subspecies, Trypanosoma petrodromi chitali. This elephant‐shrew was also infected with “Plasmodium” [gen. indet.] brodeni and probably represents a new host record. Rhynchocyon cirnei also appears to be a new host record for Sarcocystis sp. An unidentified trypanosome was found in a Crocidura sp. of shrew.A Hepatocystis sp. (probably H. epomophori) was found in Epomophorus labiatus and a Nycteria sp. (probably N. medusiformis) in Nycteris thebaica. So called “broad trypano‐somes” were found in four species of insectivorous bats and Trypanosoma vespertilionis in Hipposideros caffer. Trypanosoma perodictici was found in Galago crassicaudatus; Hepatocystis kochi in Cerco‐pithecus aethiops and a Hepatocystis in Papio ? cynocephalus.No parasites were found in the insectivores, Crocidura luna and C. flavescens or in the bats, Tadarida (Mops) condylura and T. (Chaerephori) pumila.There was no evidence that any of the parasites were pathogenic.

Zur Wasserversorgung der Microchiropteren Eptesicus Zuluensis Vansoni (Vespertilionidae) und Sauromys Petrophilus Erongensis (Molossidae) in der Namibwüste

On the central Kuiseb in the southern Namib insectovorous bats are to be found at an important density. The following species could be approved: Eptesicus hottentotus pallidior (Vespertilionidae), Eptesicus zuluensis vansoni (Vespertilionidae), Sauromys petrophilus erongensis (Molossidae) and Nycteris thebaica damarensis (Nycteridae). Under the extreme climatic conditions the microchiroptera find prey enough, at least during the summer months, because this dry river-bed with its trees that partially are compact like a forest, offers favourable conditions of development to insects (above all to Coleoptera, Lepidoptera and Hymenoptera). It is being examined in which way these desert bats provide for their need of water in a region where we hardly find open water places during a large period of year. Feeding experiments have shown that Eptesicus zuluensis vansoni and Sauromys petrophilus erongensis can do without having water for several months if they find enough insects. During the observation period a female of E. zuluensis vansoni gave birth to twins, one young of which was nourished up to the end of the lactation period.

Bat ticks of the genus Argas (Ixodoidea, Argasidae). 7. A. (Chiropterargas) cordiformis, new species, a heart-shaped parasite from South-West Africa.

Nymphs of Argas (Chiropterargas) cordiformis , new species, and larvae presumed to represent this species are described. Larval hosts were Nycteris thebaica damarensis Peters in the Uis tin mine, Omaruru District, South-West Africa. The larva resembles those of A. (C.) boueti Roubaud and Colas-Belcour and of A. (C.) confusus Hoogstraal. The nymph differs from those of these species chiefly in the remarkable cordiform body shape and in the absence of posterior paired organs.