Macronycteris cryptovalorona (Goodman, Schoeman, Rakotoarivelo & Willows-Munro, 2016)

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Hipposideridae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 227-258 : 232-233

14.

Madagascar Cryptic Leaf-nosed Bat

Macronycteris cryptovalorona

French: Phyllorhine cryptique I German: Madagaskar-Rundblattnase / Spanish: Macronicterio de Madagascar

Other common names: Cryptic Leaf-nosed Bat, Madagascar Cryptic Roundleaf Bat

Taxonomy. Hipposideros cryptovalorona Goodman et al, 2016 ,

“ Madagascar: Province de Fianarantsoa, Parc National de l’lsalo, along Sahanafa River, near foot of Bevato, 28 km south-east of Berenty-Betsileo, 22°19.0’S, 45°17.6’E, 550 m a.s.l.”

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. Endemic to Madagascar, where it is just known from type locality and Androimpano Cave, near Itampolo, Toliara Province.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 89—92 mm, tail 30—34 mm, ear 26—27 mm, hindfoot 15-18 mm, forearm 80-81 mm; weight 26-42-5 g. The Madagascar Cryptic Leafnosed Bat has a distinctive noseleaf that is divided into four cells on its posterior margin with four lateral leaflets. Pelage is dense and short, reddish brown to dark brown dorsally, and somewhat paler ventrally. Armpits are white. Ears are long and narrow. Slightly smaller than Commerson’s Leaf-nosed Bat (M commersonii ), but otherwise difficult to distinguish.

Habitat. Dry deciduous forest and spiny bush.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. The Madagascar Cryptic Leaf-nosed Bat is thought to roost in caves. Echolocation call is not known, but bats captured at Isalo National Park and originally identified as Commerson’s Leaf-nosed Bat (but possibly belonging to the Madagascar Cryptic Leaf-nosed Bat) had a F component at c.76 kHz.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Not assessed on The IUCN Red List due to its recent recognition as a species. Due to its restricted distribution and the fact that Macronycteris species are under intensive hunting pressure in Madagascar, the Madagascar Cryptic Leafnosed Bat may well be threatened.

Bibliography. Foley, Goodman eta/. (2017), Foley, Thong Vu Dinh eta/. (2015), Goodman, Schoeman eta/. (2016), Rakotoarivelo eta/. (2015), Ramasindrazana eta/. (2015), Ranivo & Goodman (2007).

Figures

1. Arabian Trident Leaf-nosed Bat (Asellia arabica), 2. Somalian Trident Leaf-nosed Bat (Asellia italosomalica), 3. Patrizi’s Trident Leaf-nosed Bat (Asellia patrizii), 4. Geoffroy’s Trident Leaf-nosed Bat (Asellia tridens), 5. Greater Leaf-nosed Bat (Doryrhina camerunensis), 6. Telefomin Leaf-nosed Bat (Doryrhina corynophyllus), 7. Cyclops Leaf-nosed Bat (Doryrhina cyclops), 8. Hill’s Leaf-nosed Bat (Doryrhina edwardshilli), 9. Fly River Leaf-nosed Bat (Doryrhina muscinus), 10. Semon’s Leaf-nosed Bat (Doryrhina semoni), 11. Northern Leaf-nosed Bat (Doryrhina stenotis), 12. Wollaston’s Leaf-nosed Bat (Doryrhina wollastoni), 13. Commerson’s Leaf-nosed Bat (Macronycteris commersonii), 14. Madagascar Cryptic Leaf-nosed Bat (Macronycteris cryptovalorona), 15. Giant Leaf-nosed Bat Macronycteris gigas rench: (Phyllorhine géante), 16. Sao Tome Leaf-nosed Bat Macronycteris thomensis rench: Phyllorhine de (Sao Tomé), 17. Striped Leaf-nosed Bat (Macronycteris vittatus), 18. Dong Bac Trident Bat (Aselliscus dongbacanus), 19. Stoliczka’s Trident Bat (Aselliscus stoliczkanus), 20. Temminck’s Trident Bat (Aselliscus tricuspidatus), 21. East Asian Tailless Leaf-nosed (Bat Coelopsfrithii), 22. Malayan Tailless Leaf-nosed Bat (Coelops robinsoni), 23. Solomons Leaf-nosed Bat (Anthops omatus)

Distribution. Endemic to Madagascar , where it is just known from type locality and Androimpano Cave, near Itampolo, Toliara Province.