Rhinopoma hadramauticum, Benda, 2009

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Rhinopomatidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 164-176 : 174-175

3.

Hadramaut Mouse-tailed Bat

Rhinopoma hadramauticum

French: Rhinopome du Yémen / German: Hadramaut-Mausschwanzfledermaus / Spanish: Rhinopoma de Yemen

Other common names: Yemeni Mouse-tailed Bat

Taxonomy. Rhinopoma hadramauticum Benda in Benda et al, 2009,

“ Republic of Yemen, coastal part of the Hadramaut Province, town of Ash Sheher , 14° 46’ N, 49° 36’ FE, ca. 65 m a. s. 1... uninhabited house on the northern outskirts of town.”

Rhinopoma hadramauticum was first reported as a large form of R. muscatellum from a single site in Yemen. Molecular genetic analyses and morphological comparisons on additional specimens from the same site by P. Hulva and colleagues in 2007 revealed considerable differences from topotypic R. muscatellum (e.g. 9% in cytochrome-b), and a distinct position of the Yemen form was confirmed by extensive comparison with other species of Rhinopoma . Monotypic.

Distribution. Known only from type locality, expected to be an endemic form of S Yemen.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 58-68 mm,tail 54-62 mm, ear 19-6-21-6 mm, forearm 52-55-7 mm; weight 7-11-2 g. The Hadramaut Mouse-tailed Bat is medium-sized but somewhat larger that the Muscat Mouse-tailed Bat ( R. muscatellum ). Condylo-canine lengths of skull are 15-7-16-8 mm, with relatively short tail (100-116% of forearm) resembling the Greater Mouse-tailed Bat ( R. microphyllum ). Adult pelage is pale gray, with marked yellowish-brown collar on throat and anterior part of chest—a pattern not observed in other species of Rhinopoma . Skin offace, ears, belly, and extremities is almost unpigmented or pale gray. Wing membranes,fingers, tail, and distal parts of ears are gray. Noseleafis elliptical to rhomboidal, without pointed upper margin as in the Greater Mouse-tailed Bat and the Lesser Mouse-tailed Bat ( R. hardwickii ). Braincase of the Hadramaut Mouse-tailed Bat is elongated;sagittal crest is relatively low, almost indistinct behind frontal region. Nasal inflations are very large in dorsal and lateral view, even more than in the Muscat Mouse-tailed Bat, and project anteriorly (overlevel of canine alveoli). In dorsal view, their rhomboid outline exceeds posterior margin of intermaxillary notch and maxillary outline of rostrum. Interspace between narial inflations is very narrow, without medial slit. Posterior palatal incision is more or less V-shaped and terminates distinctly behind level of M®. Tympanic bullae are large and broad but relatively smaller than in the Muscat Mouse-tailed Bat. Dental characteristics of the Hadramaut Mouse-tailed Bat resemble the Greater Mouse-tailed Bat and the Muscat Mouse-tailed Bat. Talons of P4, M!, and M,are relatively small, with low cingular walls without hypoconal emargination or cusp-like mesial margins. Metacrista of M” is dot-like but distally oriented in most specimens. Lingual cingular ridge of C, is restricted to distinct mesial cusp; P, is narrow, tricuspid, and nearly of the same size as P; and P, has distinct inflexion ofits lingual wall, separating mesially tapered anterior part.

Habitat. Presumably arid and semi-desert vegetation zone of southern Arabia. A colony of ¢.150 Hadramaut Mouse-tailed Bats occupied a newly built butstill uninhabited house on the outskirts of town.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. All Hadramaut Mouse-tailed Bats were collected on November and had no signs of reproductive activity.

Activity patterns. No information.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Endangered on The IUCN Red List. The Hadramaut Mouse-tailed Bat is known from one site and a single colony of ¢.150 individuals. Regarding limited distribution expected for the Hadramaut Mouse-tailed Bat,it could rank among the most threatened bat species in the Middle East or even in the world. Main threats are human disturbance in the roost site and roost destruction (i.e. occupation of house by people).

Bibliography. Benda & Vallo (2017), Benda et al. (2009), Hulva, Horaéek & Benda (2007), Kock et al. (2001).

Figures

1. Greater Mouse-tailed Bat (Rhinopoma microphyllum), 2. Muscat Mouse-tailed Bat (Rhinopoma muscatellum), 3. Hadramaut Mouse-tailed Bat (Rhinopoma hadramauticum), 4. Lesser Mouse-tailed Bat (Rhinopoma hardwicku), 5. Arabian Mouse-tailed Bat (Rhinopoma cystops)

Distribution. Known only from type locality, expected to be an endemic form of S Yemen .