56.

Benito Leaf-nosed Bat

Hipposideros beatus

French: Phyllorhine du Benito / German: Benito-Rundblattnase / Spanish: Hiposidérido de Benito

Other common names: Benito Roundleaf Bat

Taxonomy. Hipposiderus [sic] beatus K. Andersen, 1906,

“ 15 miles [= 24 km] from Benito River,” Rfo Muni, Equatorial Guinea.

Hipposideros beatus was formerly included in the bicolor species group, but is now placed in the ruber species group. Validity of subspecies has not been tested with molecular data. Two subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

H. b. beatus K Andersen, 1906 — patchily in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon.

H. b. maximus Verschuren, 1957 patchily in Republic of the Congo, DR Congo, and extreme NW Uganda.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 43-50 mm, tail 20-31 mm, ear 12-17 mm, hindfoot 6-9 mm, forearm 39-48 mm; weight 6-9 g. The Benito Leaf-nosed Bat has short, rounded wings. Muzzle is relatively short with a large but simple noseleaf that has two lateral leaflets. A frontal sac is present in both sexes. 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.

Habitat. Inhabits lowland rainforest, and is usually associated with rivers and streams. May also occupy riparian forest in Guinea savanna.

Food and Feeding. The Benito Leaf-nosed Bat is insectivorous.

Breeding. In Gabon, mating seems to occur in June-July with births of single young four months later in October—November. Females reach sexual maturity at six months, males at one year of age.

Activity patterns. The Benito Leaf-nosed Bat roosts during the day under boulders and eroded roots of trees, in hollow trees, in holes in the ground, culverts under roads, and cavities under small rocks. It does not roost in large, deep caves. Echolocation call includes a F component at c.130-140 kHz.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Benito Leaf-nosed Bats roost singly, in pairs or in small family groups, typically numbering 3-4 individuals. In one study in Gabon, these family groups consisted of a mated pair with one young from the current year and one from the previous breeding season. These pairs broke up at the beginning of the next breeding season when new pairings were formed.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCNRed List. At present, the only significant threat appears to be the loss of rainforest The Benito Leaf-nosed Bat is present in several protected areas and forest reserves.

Bibliography. Brosset (1966b, 1982), Grubb eta/. (1998), Happold, D.C.D. (1987), Happold, M. (2013v), Hill (1963a), Koopman (1984a), Monadjem, Richards & Denys (2016), Rosevear (1965), Schütter et al. (1982), Thom & Kerbis Peterhans (2009), Verschuren (1957).