A review of the bats (Chiroptera) of the Republic of Congo, including eight species new to the country Author Bates, Paul J. J. Harrison Institute, Centre for Systematics and Biodiversity Research, Bowerwood House, St Botolph’s Road, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN 13 3 AQ, United Kingdom & Corresponding author: E-mail: pjjbates 2 @ hotmail. com pjjbates2@hotmail.com Author Cameron, Kenneth Wildlife Conservation Society, 2300 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, New York 10460, USA Author Pearch, Malcolm J. Harrison Institute, Centre for Systematics and Biodiversity Research, Bowerwood House, St Botolph’s Road, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN 13 3 AQ, United Kingdom Author Hayes, Benjamin Monadh, Inveruglas, Kingussie, Inverness-shire, United Kingdom text Acta Chiropterologica 2013 2013-12-01 15 2 313 340 journal article 21486 10.3161/150811013X678955 69c434f8-762e-4e43-bc29-d0da90994625 1733-5329 3943563 Triaenops afer Peters 1877 African trident bat Triaenops afer Peters, 1877: 913 ; Mombassa , Kenya . Triaenops persicus majusculus Aellen and Brosset, 1968: 450 . Grotte de Doumboula, Loudima, Congo , 4°15’S , 13°00’E . New material HZM.39.40178 , ♂ , 29 July , 2012 , Airport Road , Lekoumou , 2°45.724’S , 13°34.953’E ; HZM. 40.40179 , ♀ and HZM.41.40180 , ♀ , 30 July , 2012 and 3 August , 2012 , Lebayi Cave , Lekoumou , 2°42.045’S , 13°35.968’E . Previous records included in Appendix I ; the known distribution corresponds to localities 17, 19, 26, and 29 in Fig. 1 . This species is considered by Happold and Happold (2013) to be very common in some areas of Africa. FIG. 6. Bacula (dorsal view [left] and lateral view [right]) of (A): Hipposideros ruber , HZM.78.40176 and (B): Triaenops afer , HZM.39.40178. Scale = 0.5 mm Description A medium-small species with a forearm length of 54.4–57.5 mm ( Table 2 ). The face is characterised by a distinctive noseleaf, which includes three vertical processes projecting from the upper part and a fourth smaller vertical process situated at the base of the middle upper process (for further details of the noseleaf morphology see Monadjem et al ., 2010 : Figure 93a and b). The second phalanx of the fourth digit is unique in possessing a transverse spicule of bone, which projects from the outer side of its base for a distance of 2.5 to 3 mm into the membrane. The skull (SL: 18.73–20.12) is narrow and elongated with a well developed rostrum. The zygomata are not outwardly flared but are very greatly expanded dorsally. In the upper dentition, the third molar (M 3 ) is not reduced, having three commissures and a well developed metacone. The baculum is short ( 1.8 mm ); it has a straight shaft with an expanded tip and bilobate base ( Fig. 6B ). Taxonomic notes The taxon afer is variably treated as a subspecies of T. persicus ( Simmons, 2005 ; Monadjem et al ., 2010 ) or as a distinct species ( Happold and Happold, 2013 ). Benda and Vallo (2009) considered it to be a discrete species confined to Africa based on differences in the skull, baculum and Cytochrome b . Specimens previously collected from southern Congo were described as a new subspecies majusculus Aellen and Brosset, 1968 on the basis of their large size; Cotterill (2001) suggested that majusculus may prove to be a distinct species but this is contrary to Benda and Vallo (2009) , who considered even its subspecific status to be questionable. The three specimens from Lekoumou are referred to T. afer majusculus being comparable in size to specimens previously collected from Congo .