275.

Marovaza Yellow Bat

Scotophilus marovaza

French: Scotophile de Marovaza / German: Marovaza-Hausfledermaus / Spanish: Scotofilo de Marovaza

Other common names: Marovaza House Bat

Taxonomy. Scotophilus marovaza Goodman, Ratrimomanarivo & Randrianandrianina, 2006,

“ Madagascar, Province de Mahajanga, Marovaza, 14°56’S, 47°16’E, 5 m above sea level.”

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. Known from three localities in W Madagascar (Marovaza, Ankarafantsika, and Mahabo); it might occur across much of W lowland Madagascar.

Descriptive notes. Head-body c.62 68 mm, tail 38-45 mm, ear 13-15 mm, hindfoot 6-6- 5 mm, forearm 41-45 mm; weight 12-5-16- 8 g. Dorsal pelage is relatively short, reddish brown, except for distinctly lighter, brownish red band across central back; venter and throat are uniform shiny light brownish yellow. Wings and uropatagium are dark brownish black. Muzzle is broad and short, with pug-like appearance. Distinct rostral swelling occurs anterior to eyes. Nostril openings are crescent-shaped and pointed outwardly. Tragus is notably long and sickle-shaped and tapers to fine point at apex; outer margin is convex and has circular lobe at its base. Antitragus is a well-developed,slightly asymmetric, semi-round structure (3 mm wide x 2 mm high) and is separated from ear by distinct notch. Baculum is flat and triangular, with rounded, expanded proximal part that gradually tapers to rounded distal tip. Skull is small (greatest skull lengths 16-4-16- 9 mm) for Scotophilus; sagittal crest is well developed, particularly in males, bifurcates at level of interorbital region, and extends as weak crest to front of orbits and posteriorly in a helmet; lambdoid crests are not well developed; rostrum is comparatively short and broad, without notable expansion or swelling in lacrimal region; zygomatic arches have slight ovoid flaring; interorbital constriction is not pronounced; anterior emargination of palate is relatively deep and broad; and posterior palatal extension terminates as small acute spine. I* is trifid; M' and M? have reduced mesostyle; M! has distorted W-shaped cusp pattern; M* has distinct W-shaped cusp pattern; M? is greatly reduced in size; and trigonid of lower premolarsis larger than talonid.

Habitat. Ecotones of savanna and disturbed dry lowland deciduous forest, in and around villages, open areas close to natural forests, dry riverbeds at edge of slightly disturbed dry deciduous forests from sea level up to elevations of ¢. 200 m.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. One Marovaza Yellow Bat captured at Ankarafantsika in late November had greatly enlarged mammae, appearing to be lactating. One male from Marovaza collected in early December had enlarged descended testes (8 x 3 mm) and convoluted epididymis. Three of four individuals obtained at Marovaza in late April were adult females, with large or slightly enlarged mammae, no embryos, and single placental scars in one uterine horn, and one was an adult male with enlarged descended testes (9 x 4 mm) and convoluted epididymis. A defined breeding season of females might coincide with start of rainy season (November—February); males seem to maintain reproductive capability during longer parts of the year.

Activity patterns. Two Marovaza Yellow Bats were captured c.1-5 hours after sunset and two hours before sunrise when they exited and entered roost sites. Holotype and two other individuals were collected in a day roost in dry palm leaves ( Bismarckia nobilis, Arecaceae) forming the roof of a building in a small pocket formed by curled dried leaves of the palm, just anterior to the leaf stem. Palm fronds are probably natural day roosting sites. Based on nine individuals, calls were broadband steep FM followed by QCIF, and individuals emitted LDC calls, with maximum energy at 45-9 kHz. Remains of one individual were found in pellets of bat hawk (Macheiramphus alcinus).

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Marovaza Yellow Bats formed groups of less than five individuals in huts made from palm leaves. Ectoparasites include Basilia (Paracyclopodia) sp. ( Diptera, Nycteribiidae).

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

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