Hipposideridae
Author
Don E. Wilson
Author
Russell A. Mittermeier
text
2019
2019-10-31
Lynx Edicions
Barcelona
Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats
227
258
book chapter
http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3739808
b7e93c79-44a6-4d9c-8b78-dcb62033fb0d
978-84-16728-19-0
3739808
2.
Somalian Trident Leaf-nosed Bat
Asellia italosomalica
French:
Asellia de
Somalie
/
German:
Somalische Dreizackblattnase
/
Spanish:
Asellia de
Somalia
Other common names:
Horn-of-Africa Trident Leaf-nosed Bat
,
Somalian Trident Bat
Taxonomy.
Asellia tridens italo-somalica De Beaux, 1931
,
“Oddur,”
Somalia
.
This species was previously considered a subspecies of.
tridens
, but recent molecular and morphometric work support its treatment as a separate species. Monotypic.
Distribution.
Endemic to
Somalia
and
Yemen
(
Socotra
I).
Descriptive notes.
Head—body 41-60 mm, tail 16-29 mm, ear 14-22 mm, hindfoot
8—10 mm
, forearm 43-4—48-2 mm; weight
6—13 g
. Muzzle of the Somalian Trident Leaf-nosed Bat is relatively short with large, distinctive noseleaf that has three subtriangular projections from its posterior margin. Pelage is pale brownish gray dorsally, somewhat paler ventrally.
Habitat.
Low-lying arid and semi-desert shrubland.
Food and Feeding.
No information.
Breeding.
No information.
Activity patterns.
The Somalian Trident Leaf-nosed Bat roosts during the day in caves. Echolocation call is not known.
Movements, Home range and Social organization.
Somalian Trident Leaf-nosed Bats roost in small groups, typically ofseveral dozen individuals; however, c.1000 individuals have been found roosting in a cave on
Socotra
.
Status and Conservation.
Classified as Data Deficient on The IUCNRed List. This newly recognized species may be threatened by habitat destruction and disturbance at roost sites.
Bibliography.
Benda (2017b), Benda, Vallo & Reiter et al. (2011), Harrison & Bates (1991).