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Epomophorus gambianus

Order: Chiroptera > Family: Pteropodidae > Genus: Epomophorus > Species: Epomophorus gambianus

Type Description

Ogilby, W. 1835. Descriptions of Mammalia and birds from the Gambia. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 1835:97-105.

Type Locality

Gambia, Banjul (restricted by Kock et al., 2002).

Measurements

Head and body: 130-160 mm
Forearm Length: 79-85 mm
Weight: 40-120 g

Description

Like all Epomophorus, this species is a brownish fawn or light brown with white patches of fur at the base of the ears. The ventral fur is paler than the dorsal and varies in color from the light brown to white. The males have scented white tufts on the shoulders used to attract females. Of the Epomophorus that occur in Tanzania, this species is one of the largest. It is one of only twospecies within the genus with a forearm length that is greater than 67 mm. The specimens from Tanzania are referred to as E. g. crypturus, and some people treat this group as a separate species, (E. crypturus) (Bergmans, 1988, 1997; Boulay and Robbins, 1989).E. gambianus has an elongated skull due to the long rostrum and palate (

Comparisons

Compared to the other species of Epomophorus that occur in Tanzania, there is only one other species, E. wahlbergi, that has a forearm length as long as E. gambianus. There are two transverse palatal ridges behind the cheekteeth on E. gambianus, but only one transverse ridge behind the cheekteeth on E. wahlbergi (Bergmans, 1988, 1997; Boulay and Robbins, 1989).

Distribution

Epomophorus gambianus is found throughout savannas, woodlands and forest mosaics from Senegal in the west to Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania in the east and south to South Africa but is not very common at higher altitudes (Kingdon, 1984, 1997) (Wilson and Reeder, 2005). Bergmans (1988) identified specimens of this species from Tanzania in only the southeastern corner of the country.Ecological,Notes:Found in savannahs, woodlands, and along the forest edge, Epomophorus gambianus is like many bats, it is responsible for the dispersal of seeds and pollination of flowers, and so is an important part of the ecosystem in which it lives (Kingdon, 1984). E. gambianus roosts either in small group of 12-20 or larger groups of 50 or more (Boulay and Robbins, 1989). They typically perch in various,trees like banana, mango and palm, but can also be seen roosting under the eaves of tall buildings (Kingdon, 1984, 1997)

Key References

1. Bergmans, W., 1988. Taxonomy and biogeography of African fruit bats (Mammalia, Megachiroptera). 1. General introduction; material and methods; results: the genus Epomophorus Bennett, 1836. Beaufortia 38, 75-146.
2. Bergmans, W. 1997. Taxonomy and biogeography of African fruit bats (Mammalia, Megachiroptera). 5. The genera Lissonycteris Anderson, 1912, Myonycteris Matschie, 1899 and Megaloglossus Pagenstecher, 1885; general remarks and conclusions; annex: Key to all species. Beaufortia 47: 11-90.
3. Boulay, M. C. and C. B. Robbins 1989. Epomophorus gambianus. Mammalian Species, 344:1-5.
4. Kingdon, J. 1984. East African mammals: An atlas of evolution in Africa. (Insectivores and Bats). University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 2A:153-156.
5. Kingdon, J. 1997. The Kingdon field guide to African mammals, AP Natural World Academic Press, Harcourt Brace & Company, San Diego, p. 115-116.
6. Nowak, R. M. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World. Sixth ed. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, 1:258-260, 281-282.
7. Simmons, N.B. 2005. Order Chiroptera, pp. 312-529. In Wilson, D. E., and D. M. Reeder, eds., Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, 3rd edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore.