Short-tailed roundleaf bat

The short-tailed roundleaf bat (Hipposideros curtus) is a species of bat in the family Hipposideridae. It is found in Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and caves. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Short-tailed roundleaf bat
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Chiroptera
Family: Hipposideridae
Genus: Hipposideros
Species:
H. curtus
Binomial name
Hipposideros curtus
Short-tailed roundleaf bat range

Taxonomy

It was described as a new species in 1921 by American mammalogist Glover Morrill Allen. The holotype had been collected in 1920 by Reverend George W. Schwab in Sackbayeme, Cameroon.[2] Its species name "curtus" is Latin for "short".[3] Morrill noted that it could be distinguished from other closely related bats by its very short tail.[2]

As the bat genus Hipposideros is very speciose, it is traditionally subdivided into species groups. The short-tailed roundleaf bat is within the bicolor species group.[4]

Description

Its forearm length ranges from 42–47 mm (1.7–1.9 in). Based on one individual, they weigh approximately 7.1 g (0.25 oz).[4]

Range and habitat

It has been confirmed in Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea; additionally, its range may include Nigeria. It has been documented at a range of elevations from 0–500 m (0–1,640 ft) above sea level. Its habitat is lowland tropical forest.[1]

In 2016 a population of the species was discovered near to the Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary in southern Nigeria by the ecologist Iroro Tanshi, who worked with local people to conserve the population.[5][6]

Conservation

It is listed as endangered by the IUCN. It meets the criteria for this designation because its suitable caves are probably confined to an area less than 2,000 km2 (770 sq mi); its habitat is fragmented; and its habitat is declining in quality in extent.[1]

References
  1. Tanshi, I. (2020). "Hipposideros curtus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T10125A22096364. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T10125A22096364.en. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  2. Allen, G. M. (1921). "A new horseshoe bat from West Africa". Revue zoologique africaine. 9: 193–196.
  3. Skeat, W. W. (1993). The Concise Dictionary of English Etymology. Wordsworth Editions. p. 106. ISBN 9781853263118.
  4. Happold, M. (2013). Kingdon, J.; Happold, D.; Butynski, T.; Hoffmann, M.; Happold, M.; Kalina, J. (eds.). Mammals of Africa. Vol. 4. A&C Black. p. 379-380. ISBN 9781408189962.
  5. "Meet Nigerian lady who won 2021 Whitley Awards for saving short-tailed roundleaf bat from extinction". Tribune Online. 2021-08-12. Retrieved 2022-03-12.
  6. Unah, Linus. "Young Nigerian researcher goes to bat against forest fires". Retrieved 2022-03-12.
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