55.

Aba Leaf-nosed Bat

Hipposideros abae

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

Other common names: Aba Roundleaf Bat

Taxonomy. Hipposideros abae J. A. Allen, 1917,

“Aba, Uele district, Belgian Congo [= DR Congo].”

Hipposideros abae was formerly included in the speoris species group, but is now placed in the ruber species group (7 species). Monotypic.

Distribution. Patchily in Africa N of the equator from Guinea Bissau and Guinea E to South Sudan and extreme NW Uganda.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 60-70 mm, tail 28—40 mm, ear 18-24 mm, hindfoot 7—13 mm, forearm 54—65 mm; weight 17— 19 g. The Aba Leaf-nosed Bat has short, rounded wings. Muzzle is relatively short with a large but simple noseleaf that has three lateral leaflets. A frontal sac is present in males only. Intemarial septum is not swollen and does not partially cover the nares. Ears are separate, and relatively small. Fur is fine and short, dark brown dorsally, paler ventrally; an orange morph exists, which is bright orange or rusty brown dorsally and paler ventrally.

Habitat. Inhabits Guinea savanna, including derived savanna, dry forest, and recently cleared rainforest. Apparently avoids intact rainforest.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. Births of single young have been reported in March throughout its range.

Activity patterns. The Aba Leaf-nosed Bat roosts during the day in caves, under boulders, and in burrows of mammals.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Aba Leaf-nosed Bat roosts in small to large colonies of up to several hundred individuals. In one study, sex ratio was 1:2 with females doubling males. The species may share its roost with a number of other Hipposideridae and Rhinolophus.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Aba Leaf-nosed Bat is widespread and relatively common with no major known conservation threats.

Bibliography. Decher (1997), Grubb eta/. (1998), Happold, D.C.D. (1987), Happold, M. (2013u), Hill (1963a), Koch-Weser (1984), Rosevear (1965), Schütter eta/. (1982).