Nycteris nana, K. Andersen, 1912

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Nycteridae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 374-386 : 383

3.

Dwarf Slit-faced Bat

Nycteris nana

French: Nyctére nain / German: Kleinste Schlitznase / Spanish: Nicterio enano

Taxonomy. Petalia nana K. Andersen, 1912 ,

“Benito R[iver]., French Congo [= Equatorial Guinea].”

Nycteris nana belongs to the arge group.

Monotypic.

Distribution. Patchily distributed in tropical forests in Ivory Coast, Ghana, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, DR Congo, South Sudan, W Uganda, W Kenya, W Burundi, and N Angola.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 38-45 mm, tail 37-49 mm, ear 19-23 mm, hindfoot 7-10 mm, forearm 32-37 mm; weight 4-7 g. The Dwarf Slit-faced Bat is smallest member of the arge group, with short rounded wings. Longitudinal cleft runs along top of muzzle, covering noseleaves. Fur is long and fluffy, medium to dark brown dorsally, and slightly lighter ventrally. Ears are very long. Wing membranes are dark brown. There are no obvious sexual differences in pelage.

Habitat. Variety of tropical lowland and montane forests up to elevations of 2100 m and swamp forests. Dwarf Slitfaced Bats appear to select drier forests, or forest-savanna transition zones, compared with other members of the arge group.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. In north-eastern DR Congo, pregnant and lactating Dwarf Slit-faced Bats have been captured in January-April and March—May respectively, suggesting seasonal breeding at this site. Litter size is one, and young are nursed for 45-60 days.

Activity patterns. Dwarf Slitfaced Bats roost during the day in sheltered structures including hollow trees, caves, mines, and road culverts, with single observations from a bridge and a burrow Giant Pangolin (Manis gigantea). They leave day roosts at dusk and typically foraging close to the ground, gleaning prey off foliage and the forest floor.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Dwarf Slitfaced Bat roosts singly or in small groups of 2—4 individuals, often including a male and female.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. Although the DwarfSlit-faced Bat is not currently under threat of extinction, extent ofits rainforest habitat is decreasing.

Bibliography. Fahr (2013r), Kingdon (1974), Monadjem, Taylor et al. (2010), Rosevear (1965), Thomas et al. (1994), Van Cakenberghe & De Vree (1985), Verschuren (1957).

Figures

1. Bates’s Slit-faced Bat (Nycteris arge), 2. Intermediate Slitfaced Bat (Nycteris intermedia), 3. Dwarf Slit-faced Bat (Nycteris nana), 4. Dja Slitfaced Bat (Nycteris major), 5. Malayan Slit-faced Bat (Nycteris tragata), 6. Javan Slit-faced Bat (Nycteris javanica), 7. Andersen’s Slit-faced Bat (Nycteris aurita), 8. Large Slitfaced Bat (Nycteris grandis), 9. Hairy Slitfaced Bat (Nycteris hispida), 10. Large-eared Slit-faced Bat (Nycteris macrotis), 11. Madagascar Slitfaced Bat (Nycteris madagascariensis), 12. Parisi’s Slitfaced Bat (Nycteris parisii), 13. Wood's Shitfaced Bat (Nycteris wood), 14. Gambian Slitfaced Bat (Nycteris gambiensis), 15. Egyptian Slitfaced Bat (Nycteris thebaica)

Distribution. Patchily distributed in tropical forests in Ivory Coast , Ghana , Cameroon , Equatorial Guinea , DR Congo , South Sudan , W Uganda , W Kenya , W Burundi , and N Angola .