274.

Malagasy Yellow Bat

Scotophilus tandrefana

French: Scotophile d'Andadoany / German: \WestmadagaskarHausfledermaus / Spanish: Scotofilo de Andadoany

Other common names: \ Vestern Yellow Bat

Taxonomy. Scotophilus tandrefana Goodman, Jenkins & Ratrimomanarivo, 2005,

“ Madagascar, Province de Mahajanga,just outside the limit of the Parc national de Bemaraha, 1.8 km SE from Bekopake and 0.6 km NE from Andadoany, 19°08.454’S, 44°48.732’E, 50 m above sea-level.”

Cytochrome-b divergence of 0-6% occurs between S. tandrefana and S. marovaza, indicative of within-species divergence, but it does not provide support for recognition oftandrefana as a valid species; additional research is needed. Monotypic.

Distribution. W Madagascar, confirmed from two localities near Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park and Sarodrano; possible record from Kirindy Forest.

Descriptive notes. Head-body ¢.65—- 68 mm, tail 43-46 mm, ear c. 13 mm, hindfoot c. 7 mm, forearm 44-47 mm; weight c. 14 g. Dorsalfur is long, soft, and dark chocolatebrown, with basal parts distinctly lighter brown. Throat and ventral pelage are shorter and finer, lighter medium brown, with grayish brown bases. Wings and uropatagium are dark brownish black. Ears are black and short. Tragus is long, projecting forward, with slightly complex peduncle, and tip is slightly rounded. Muzzle is pronounced, relatively short, and rounded. Nostrils open slightly antero-laterally and are slightly elongated. Skull is small (greatest skull lengths 16-:9-17- 9 mm) for Scotophilus; rostrum is slightly short and broad, without expanded lacrimal processes; braincase is expanded; sagittal and lambdoidal crests are relatively well developed, forming helmet, but less prominent than in adults of most other species of Scotophilus; posterior palatal extension terminates as acute spine; zygomatic arches are slightly flared; anterior emargination of palate is deep and broad; and pterygoids are expanded posteriorly and wing-shaped. I* is trifid; M' and M? have reduced mesostyle and distorted W-shaped cusp pattern; M* is greatly reduced in size; and trigonid of lower premolarsis larger than talonid.

Habitat. Holotype from open grassy clearing adjacent to ricefields and disturbed deciduous forest and within 100 m of a limestone outcrop; original natural habitat dry semideciduous forest and capture site ¢. 200 m from relatively intact natural forest formations in Parc national de Bemaraha.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. A Malagasy Yellow Bat in a flight cage emitted broadband FM/QCF calls at LDC, with frequency containing most energy at 48-2 kHz.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Data Deficient on The [UCN Red List.

Bibliography. Goodman, Jenkins & Ratrimomanarivo (2005), Goodman, Ratrimomanarivo & Randrianandrianina (2006), Kofoky et al. (2009), Trujillo et al. (2009).