Neoromicia capensis (A. Smith, 1829)

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Vespertilionidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 716-981 : 819

118.

Cape Serotine

Neoromicia capensis

French: Vespére du Cap / German: Kap-Zwergfledermaus / Spanish: Neoromicia de El Cabo

Other common names: Cape Bat, Cape House Bat, Cape Pipistrelle Bat, Cape Serotine, Cape Serotine Bat

Taxonomy. Vespertilio capensis A. Smith, 1829 ,

Grahamstown, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.

Neoromicia has variously been considered a subgenus of Pipistrellus or Eptesicus ; however, genetic data has shown that it is a separate genus within Vespertilionini . As currently recognized, however, Neoromicia appears to be paraphyletic with both Laephotis and some species of African Hypsugo (H. anchieta and H. bemainty ) being embedded within Neoromicia . To resolve this, further genetic and morphological studies incorporating all taxa within these genera are needed. Neoromicia capensis appears to be related to Laephotis based on very limited genetic data. Alternatively included in the separate genus Nycterikaupius. Monotypic.

Distribution. Widespread over sub-Saharan Africa, from Guinea Bissau E to Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia, and S to most of South Africa; also Bioko and Unguja ( Zanzibar) Is.

Descriptive notes. Head-body ¢.44-77 mm, tail 25-38 mm, ear 8-15 mm, hindfoot 7-9 mm, forearm 28-38 mm; weight 6-9 g. In some areas (e.g. South Africa), females are larger than males. Pelage of the Cape Serotine is soft and dense, with mid-dorsal hairs 5-6 mm long; dorsally pale to dark brown, sometimes with yellowish, grayish, or reddish tones (basal two-thirds of hairs dark brown or black); ventrally whitish, cream or buff (hairs mostly bicolored, with basal three-fifths brownish black to black, but some all-white hairs in pelvic region and adjacent flight membranes). Wings are yellowish-, grayish-, or blackish brown, sometimes with narrow white hind border; interfemoral membrane paler, more translucent, sometimes with yellowish border, and dark transverse lines. Ears are subtriangular with rounded tip. Tragus is ¢.45% of ear length, widest near middle, posterior margin smoothly convex for most of its length, and tip rounded. There are glands above eye, in corner of mouth, on either side of muzzle, and under chin. Skull is comparatively large and robust for a pipistrelle-like bat (greatest skull lengths 12-15-4 mm). Rostrum sometimes has well-developed lateral depressions just above infraorbital foramina. Profile of forehead is straight to weakly concave. Occipital helmet, formed by posterior end ofsagittal crest and backward-pointing lambdoid crest, is usually present. I? appears unicuspid, but is weakly bicuspid; I’ is less than one-half height of I? P? is usually absent; lower molars are myotodont. Dental formula for members ofthis genus (except nanus , grandidieri , tenwipinnis, and helios ; see also roberts: and roseveari ) is12/3,C1/1,P 1/2, M 3/3 (x2) = 32. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 32 and FNa = 50.

Habitat. Most vegetation zones south of Sahara, except large deserts and some coastal habitats. Commonly associated with human settlements. In South Africa, it seems to prefer open habitats surrounding wetlands. Most records are in lowlands.

Food and Feeding. The Cape Serotine forages by slow hawking in moderately clutterfree spaces, around and over canopies, and in clearings fairly close to vegetation. It is attracted to concentrations of insects around vegetation, over water, over termite mounds when winged termites are emerging, and around lights. In western South Africa, diet included Hemiptera , Diptera , Coleoptera , and Ephemeroptera among other unidentified material. Fecal analysis of 40 individuals in wet season and 13 in dry season in Zimbabwe yielded Coleoptera (68% wet season vs. 26% dry season), Lepidoptera (18-5% vs. 7-4%), Hemiptera (6% vs. 0%), Diptera (6% vs. 5-4%), and Trichoptera (0% vs. 45%).

Breeding. Gestation lasts c.12 weeks. In South Africa,littersize is usually 2-3 (1-4). At 24° S, reproductive timing is usually restricted seasonal monoestry with spermatogenesis peak in March-May,first copulations late March to early April, sperm storage by females and further copulations until ovulation and fertilization in second one-half of August, and parturition late October to early November.

Activity patterns. The Cape Serotine emerges at dusk and has several bouts of foraging per night, with peak activity at dusk and just before dawn; it reduces activity in moonlight apparently to reduce risk of predation. Aspect ratio is low and wing loading very low. Flight can be fairly slow and fluttering, or sometimes faster, moderately maneuverable. The species can take off from the ground, but cannot hover; it climbs and scuttles moderately well. It roosts during the day in cavities under tree bark, among leaves of aloes, in cracks or holes in plants and rocks, in ceilings, under roofs, and in walls of buildings. In South Africa, it apparently does not enter prolonged periods of torpor during winter, although it becomes torpid during the day, sometimes remaining torpid for a few days. In South Africa, low-duty echolocation calls are dominated by FM calls; one study gave maximum frequencies of 41-4-61-4 kHz, minimum frequencies 34-7-40-9 kHz, frequencies of the knee 37-42-4 kHz, characteristic frequencies 35:-8-41-2 kHz, and durations 2-1-5 milliseconds. Predators include common barnowls (Tyto alba), pied crows (Corvus albus), and possibly bat hawks (Macheiramphus alcinus). One was found in a spider’s web (Nephila sp.) in Serengeti, Tanzania.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Cape Serotine apparently roosts singly in natural roosts. In buildings, commonly in mixed-sex groups of ¢.20 individuals. It has been found sharing a roost with the African Yellow Bat ( Scotophilus dinganii ).

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List.

Bibliography. Fenton et al. (1977), Hill & Harrison (1987), Kearney (2013f), Kearney et al. (2002), Koopman (1993, 1994), Koubinova et al. (2013), Linden et al. (2014), Menu (1987), van der Merwe (1994), Minnaar et al. (2015), Monadjem etal. (2013), Schoeman & Jacobs (2003), Schoeman & Waddington (2011), Simmons (2005), Sirami et al. (2013), Taylor, Monadjem & Steyn (2013), Taylor, Sowler et al. (2013), Volleth et al. (2001).

Figures

118. Cape Serotine (Neoromicia capensis), 119. Malagasy Serotine (Neoromicia matroka), 120. Isalo Serotine (Neoromicia malagasyensis), 121. Roberts’s Serotine (Neoromicia robertsi), 122. Stanley’s Serotine (Neoromicia stanleyi), 123. Zulu Serotine (Neoromicia zuluensis), 124. Tiny Serotine (Neoromicia guineensis), 125. Somali Serotine (Neoromicia somalica), 126. Banana Serotine (Neoromicia nanus), 127. Rendall’s Serotine (Neoromicia rendalli), 128. Dark-brown Serotine (Neoromicia brunnea), 129. Rosevear’s Serotine (Neoromicia roseveari), 130. Isabelline Serotine (Neoromicia isabella), 131. Grandidier’s Serotine (Neoromicia grandidieri), 132. White-winged Serotine (Neoromicia tenuipinnis), 133. Heller’s Serotine (Neoromicia helios), 134. De Winton’s LLong-eared Bat (Laephotis wintoni), 135. Angolan Long-eared Bat (Laephotis angolensis), 136. Botswanan Long-eared Bat (Laephotis botswanae), 137. Namib Long-eared Bat (Laephotis namibensis), 138. Sind Bat (Rhyneptesicus nasutus), 139. Collared Sprite (Thainycteris aureocollaris), 140. Necklace Sprite (Thainycleris torquatus), 141. Bronze Sprite (Arielulus circumdatus), 142. Social Sprite (Arelulus societatis), 143. Coppery Sprite (Arielulus cuprosus)

Distribution. Widespread over sub-Saharan Africa, from Guinea Bissau E to Sudan , Eritrea , Ethiopia , and Somalia , and S to most of South Africa ; also Bioko and Unguja ( Zanzibar ) Is.