Paremballonura tiavato (Goodman, Cardiff, Ranivo, Russell & Yoder, 2006)

Bonaccorso, Frank, 2019, Emballonuridae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 350-373 : 361-362

27 . Western Sheath-tailed Bat

Paremballonura tiavato

French: Emballonure des rochers /German: Westliche Madagaskar-reischwanzfledermaus / Spanish: Embalonuro occidental

Other common names: Rock-dwelling Sheath-tailed Bat

Taxonomy. Emballonura tiavato Goodman et al., 2006,

“ Madagascar: Province d’Antsiranana, Réserve Spéciale d’Ankarana, 2.6 km E of Andrafiabe, in forest near Andrafiabe Cave , 12°55.9’S, 49°03.4’E, ± 50 m. ”

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. W Madagascar, from Daraina region to Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park, including Nosy Be and Nosy Romba, with an isolated record from Toliara at exfreme S of its distribution.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 40-46 mm, tail 15-18, ear 11-14 mm, hindfoot 5-6 mm, forearm 35-41 mm; weight 2-7-3-8 g. Dorsal fur of the Western Sheathtailed Bat is long, shaggy, and silky. It is uniformly pale to medium grayish brown. Basal one-quarter of hairs are lighter, approaching medium gray. Venter is paler buff-brown, with grayish brown cast, and basal one-third of hairs are distinctiy lighter and medium gray. Ear is long (11-15 mm), terminating with slightly pointed tip. Inner part of tragus is convex, with hatchet-shaped sharp anterior projection. Calcar is shorter than tibia. Cranium has distinct rostral expansion across nasal and maxilla bones. Postorbital processes are greatly reduced in size. Postorbital crest is not confluent with sagittal crest. Nasal bones are hourglass-shaped, with welldefined, deep, and broad nasal sulcus that terminates well before anterior margin of nasal. There is a narrow diastema between P1 and P2. Dental formula of species of ParembaUonura is I 2/3, C 1/1, P 2/2, M 3/3 (x2) = 34.

Habitat. Lowland karst dry forests from sea level to elevations of c.350 m.

Food and Feeding. The Western Sheath-tailed Bat forages for insects, including moths, using a slow and delicate flight in forest understories and above small streams lined with vegetation.

Breeding. Gestation ofWestern Sheath-tailed Bats occurs from December to February, and young are bom in February. All females examined had one embryo.

Activity patterns. The Western Sheath-tailed Bat is crepuscular and begins to forage in twilight conditions in shaded forest understories. It roosts in cave entrances and rock overhangs in dim sunlight. It will use night roosts in buildings between bouts of foraging but does not use anthropomorphic structures for day roosts.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Roosting colonies of Western Sheath-tailed Bats are usually less than 20 individuals.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Western Sheath-tailed Bat currently has a large distribution, but it has experienced some population decline due to loss of foraging habitat. It is not abundant anywhere in its distribution, and close population monitoring and periodic reassessment are needed. It is threatened by habitat loss from slash-and-burn agriculture, logging, and charcoal collecting. Other potential threats include cave disturbance from tourism activities, fire, and mining. It is protected in Parc National Tsingy de Bemaraha, Réserve Spéciale d’Ankarana and Réserve Spéciale d’Analamerana.

Bibliography. Cardiff (2006), Goodman, Andriafidison et al. (2005), Goodman, Cardiff et al. (2006), Jenkins et al. (2007), Kofoky et al. (2007), Monadjem, Cardiff et al. (2017b), Peterson et al. (1995), Razakarivony et al. (2005), Robinson et al. (2006).

Figures

On following pages: 22. New Guinea Sheath-tailed Bat (Emballonura furati); 23. Beccari's Sheath-tailed Bat (Emballonura beccarti); 24. Large-eared Sheath-tailed Bat (Emballonura dianae); 25. Seri'sSheath-tailed Bat (Emballonura sertii); 26. Pacific Sheath-tailed Bat (Emballonura semicaudata); 27. Western Sheath-tailed Bat (Paremballonura tiavato); 28. Peters's Sheath-tailed Bat (Paremballonura atrata); 29. African Sheath-tailed Bat (Coleura afra); 30. Seychelles Sheath-tailed Bat (Coleura seychellensis); 31. Madagascar Sheath-tailed Bat (Coleura kibomalandy); 32. Dark Sheath-tailed Bat (Mosia nigrescens); 33. Chestnut Sac-winged Bat (Cormura brevirostris); 34. Gray Sac-winged Bat (Balantiopteryx plicata); 35. Thomas's Sac-winged Bat (Balantiopteryx io); 36. Ecuadorian Sac-winged Bat (Balantiopteryx infusca).

Distribution. W Madagascar, from Daraina region to Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park, including Nosy Be and Nosy Romba, with an isolated record from Toliara at exfreme S of its distribution.