125.

Somali Serotine

Neoromicia somalica

French: Vespére de Somalie / German: Somalia-Zwergfledermaus / Spanish: Neoromicia de Somalia

Other common names: Somalian Pipistrelle Bat, Somali Pipistrelle Bat, Somali Serotine Bat

Taxonomy. Vespertilio minutus somalicus Thomas, 1901,

Hargeisa, Northwest Province, Somalia.

Placed in Nycterikaupius by H. Menu in 1987. It was formerly treated as including N. malagasyensis as a race. It also included N. zuluensis when the latter was thought to be restricted to southern Africa; after their split, most records for somalica in southern Africa were transferred to zuluensis, but there is now strong evidence that they two occur sympatrically. Often considered polytypic, with the recognition of races humbloti, and ugandae. Monotypic.

Distribution. W, C & E Africa, from Senegal E to Sudan, Eritrea, and Somalia, and S to S DR Congo and N Tanzania; it may occur in Senegal and Malawi.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 39-53 mm, tail 24-33 mm, ear 7-14 mm, forearm 22-31 mm (males) and 26-32 mm (females); weight 2-5 g. Females average c. 1 mm longer than males in forearm and metacarpals. Pelage of the Somali Serotine is long, dense, and fairly fluffy; dorsally brownish (hairs dark brown with brownish tips, middorsal hairs ¢.5-8 mm long); ventrally slightly paler (hairs brown with paler tips), rarely with pale to whitish spot on throat. Wings are dark brown, interfemoral membrane is slightly paler, sometimes with narrow white hind border. Ears are dark brown,relatively short, with convex outer margin at base, then slightly concave, and then straight, with rounded tip; tragus is about one-half ear length, but apparently very variable, being broadest near mid-height, with anterior margin almost straight, posterior margin smoothly convex for most of length, basal lobe triangular and prominent, and tip rounded. Skull is small compared to other African pipistrelle-like bats (greatest skull lengths 11-3-12-9 mm); relatively medium in braincase height and breadth, and rostrum length and breadth; interorbital region is relatively narrow; profile of forehead is weakly concave to almost straight, without occipital helmet. I? usually unicuspid, occasionally bicuspid; I’ very small, slightly higher than cingulum of I?; P* usually absent;if present, barely if at all visible above gum; C' and P* are in contact; lower molars are myotodont. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 28 and FNa = 50 (Senegal); in Somalia, reported as 2n = 26 and FNa = 48, but identity of the specimen has been questioned.

Habitat. In Pandam, central Nigeria, mist-netted over a track through riverine forest, on border with Guinea savanna. Found year-round in areas of dense thorn scrub dominated by Combretum (Combretaceae) shrubs and stands of Commiphora (Burseraceae) and Acacia (Fabaceae) trees, with scattered patches of grassland, and riverine woodland along the Athi River. Elevation ranges from 380 m to 2150 m.

Food and Feeding. Somali Serotines forage for small, flying insects by slow hawking, 2-6 m aboveground, in open spaces, more than 1 m from vegetation. Diet is unknown.

Breeding. In Masalani, Kenya (02°19° S), restricted seasonal monoestry with parturition in November, the wettest month of the wet season. Litter size is two.

Activity patterns. Echolocation parameters in Kenya: search-phase call shape FM sweep, intensity high, start frequency 70 kHz, end frequency 35 kHz.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List.

Bibliography. Cockle et al. (1998), Happold & Happold (1997), Hill & Harrison (1987), Koopman (1993, 1994), Koubinova et al. (2013), McBee et al. (1987), Menu (1987), Monadjem, Richards & Denys (2016), Monadjem, Richards, Taylor & Stoffberg (2013), O'Shea & Vaughan (1980), Simmons (2005), Van Cakenberghe & Happold (20130).