134.

De Winton’s LLong-eared Bat

Laephotis wintoni

French: Vespere de De Winton / German: De-Winton-Langohrfledermaus / Spanish: Laefotis de De Winton

Other common names: \ Winton's Long-eared Bat

Taxonomy. Laephotis wintoni Thomas, 1901,

“ Kitui, British East Africa [= Kenya]. Altitude about 3,500 feet [= 1067 m].”

The genus Laephotis appears to be closely related to Neoromicia capensis based on limited genetic data, making Neoromicia paraphyletic since Laephotis is embedded within it. Laephotis namibensis might be a junior synonym of L. wintoni . Monotypic.

Distribution. Disjunct distribution, from C Ethiopia S through parts of Kenya and Tanzania to S Zambia to Lesotho and E South Africa.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 53-64 mm, tail 38-50 mm, ear 21-24 mm, hindfoot 6-9 mm, forearm 37-41 mm; weight 7-7-11 g. Dorsal pelage of De Winton’s Longeared Bat is yellowish brown to reddish brown (hairs distinctly bicolored, with dark brown bases of ¢. 6 mm and yellowish or reddish-brown tips of ¢. 2 mm; mid-dorsal hairs c. 8 mm long); ventral pelage is yellowish orange, reddish brown or pale brown on chin, paler on throat, becoming cream or white in pelvic region (hairs in pelvic region pure white; elsewhere blackish brown with yellowish-orange, reddish-brown, cream or white tips). Wings are dark brown or blackish brown; interfemoral membrane is paler and more translucent. Ears are dark brown, roughly triangular but very elongated, with rounded tips, and inner margins almost meeting on forehead but not joined; tragus is large and triangular. Skull is medium-long compared to congeners (greatest skull lengths 15:6-16-3 mm); braincase is slightly flattened; rostrum is narrow; zygomatic arches are slender;sagittal crest is absent; lambdoidal crests are low. P* is sharply pointed and rises above molars. Dental formula for all species of Laephotisis 12/3, C 1/1, P1/2,M 3/3 (x2) = 32. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 34 and FNa = 50.

Habitat. A montane species that occurs above 1000 m. In Ethiopia, recorded at 1700 m, near a large Rift Valley reservoir on the Awash River surrounded by degraded Acacia (Fabaceae) woodland. In East Africa, it has been found in both forest and savanna biomes. Records are in highland and mountainous areas with mosaics of evergreen bushland, secondary Acacia wooded grassland and farmland, and forests. In Free State Province of South Africa and Lesotho, recorded amongst large exotic trees in a drainage line flanked by sandstone cliffs.

Food and Feeding. Diet of three individuals from Western Cape Province of South Africa was dominated by tympanate moths, whereas that of a fourth was dominated by beetles. Hemiptera and Trichoptera were also present in both but in smaller proportions.

Breeding. In Lesotho, one of three females had one embryo in November.

Activity patterns. De Winton’s Long-eared Bat has been caught foraging for insects in early evening. Association of these bats with cliffs in South Africa may indicate that they roost in cracks and crevices of cliff faces. One individual was found under exfoliating rock.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

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

Bibliography. Jacobs et al. (2005), Kearney (2013d), Kearney & Seamark (2005).