72.

Hayman’s Epauletted Fruit Bat

Epomophorus intermedius

French: Epomophore de Hayman / German: Hayman-Epaulettenflughund / Spanish: Epoméforo de Hayman

Other common names: Hayman’'s Dwarf Epauletted Fruit Bat, Hayman’s Lesser Epauletted Fruit Bat

Taxonomy. Micropteropus intermedius Hayman, 1963,

Dundo, Lunda, Angola.

Epomophorus intermedius is only known from one adult male and four adult females. Monotypic.

Distribution. N Angola and SE & S DR Congo.

Descriptive notes. Tail 3 mm (single male) and 5 mm (single female), ear 15 mm (single male) and 14- 3-17 mm (females), hindfoot 16 mm (single male) and 17- 18 mm (females), forearm 58 mm (single male) and 57-67 mm (females); weight 35-40 g. Head is round, and muzzle is rather short and blunt. Eyes are very large; ears are rounded and naked, with brown pigmentation and anterior and posterior light ear patches. Adult males have white epaulettes; adult females have curl of hairs on shoulders of same color and length as dorsal hairs. Dorsum is pale fawn to medium brown, paler on shoulders; hairs are medium sepia-brown at bases; and pelage is soft and moderately long. Venter is pale brown, darker on flanks. Wings have claw on second digits, and membranes are light to dull brown and attach to second toes; uropatagium is narrow; and calcars are present. Skull is short; rostrum is of medium relative length; braincase is more globose than in other species of Epomophorus, zygomatic arches are weak; and post-dental palate is almost flat, with prominent rim. There are six thick palatal ridges, one hastate and five deeply divided by wide median groove and two are post-dental; ridges 2-6 are divided by medial gap; and ridges 2-3 are underdeveloped, sometimes fused.

Habitat. Southern Rainforest-Savanna Mosaic biotic zone in open secondary grasslands and possibly woodland savannas of Zambezian Woodland biotic zone at elevations of ¢. 600 m.

Food and Feeding. Hayman'’s Epauletted Fruit Bat is frugivorous and nectarivorous.

Breeding. One pregnant Hayman’s Epauletted Fruit Bat was recorded in June-July.

Activity patterns. Hayman'’s Epauletted Fruit Bats are nocturnal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. One Hayman'’s Epauletted Fruit Bat was collected from a cave entrance.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Data Deficient on The [UCN Red List (as Micropteropus intermedius). Habitat loss due to deforestation might be a threat to Hayman’s Epauletted Fruit Bat, but additional research is needed to clarify its population and conservation status. It occurs in Mangroves National Park in DR Congo.

Bibliography. Bergmans (1989), Happold, M. (2013), Mickleburgh, Hutson, Bergmans & Fahr (2008), Monadjem, Taylor et al. (2010).