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Rousettus aegyptiacus
Order: Chiroptera > Family: Pteropodidae > Genus: Rousettus > Species: Rousettus aegyptiacus
Common Name: Egyptian Rousette [English]
Type Description
Ann. Mus. Natn. Hist. Nat. Paris, 15:96.
Type Locality
Egypt, Giza (Great Pyramid).
Measurements
Total length: 140-158 mm
Head and body: 130-155 mm
Tail length: 16-20 mm
Hindfoot length: 15-25 mm
Ear length: 21-24 mm
Forearm Length: 85-106 mm
Weight: 110-170 g
Head and body: 130-155 mm
Tail length: 16-20 mm
Hindfoot length: 15-25 mm
Ear length: 21-24 mm
Forearm Length: 85-106 mm
Weight: 110-170 g
Description
This species is brown, with sparse hair on the back at the shoulders. The flight membrane is attached to the first toe. The cheekteeth are stout.
Comparisons
Rousettus aegyptiacus resembles Myonycteris relicta, but is larger (the forearm is greater than 65 mm in R. aegyptiacus and less than that for Myonycteris). R. aegyptiacus also resembles Lissonycteris angolensis and R. lanosus. The former has thicker hair on the back, a stiff collar in males and the flight membrane attaches to the second toe. The latter has cheekteeth that are much narrowerthan those of R. aegyptiacus.
Distribution
Rousettus aegyptiacus resides throughout the whole sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal and Guinea in the west to Somalia in the east down to Tanzania, Mozambique and the southeast coastline of South Africa. (Kingdon, 1997) It is also found through the Nile River Valley into Egypt, the Middle Eastern Coast and the eastern Mediterranean. In Tanzania, R. aegyptiacus is found in a variety of forest and,coastal environments. This bat can be found in almost any habitat from sea-level to montane forests like the Ruwenzoris Mountains and the forested areas of the Eastern Arc Mountain range. (Kingdon, 1984)
Key References
1. Bergmans, W. 1994. Taxonomy and biogeography of African fruit bats (Mammalia, Megachiroptera). 4. The genus Rousettus Gray, 1821. Beaufortia 44: 79-126.
2. Kingdon, J. 1984. East African mammals: An atlas of evolution in Africa. (Insectivores and Bats). University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 2A:127-132.
3. Kingdon, J. 1997. The Kingdon field guide to African mammals, AP Natural World Academic Press, Harcourt Brace & Company, San Diego, p. 114.
4. Nowak, R. M. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World. Sixth ed. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, 1:258-263.
4. 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.
5. Swynnerton, G. H., and R. W. Hayman. 1951. A checklist of the land mammals of the Tanganyika Territory and the Zanzibar Protectorate. Journal of the East African Natural History Society, 20(6):274-392.
2. Kingdon, J. 1984. East African mammals: An atlas of evolution in Africa. (Insectivores and Bats). University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 2A:127-132.
3. Kingdon, J. 1997. The Kingdon field guide to African mammals, AP Natural World Academic Press, Harcourt Brace & Company, San Diego, p. 114.
4. Nowak, R. M. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World. Sixth ed. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, 1:258-263.
4. 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.
5. Swynnerton, G. H., and R. W. Hayman. 1951. A checklist of the land mammals of the Tanganyika Territory and the Zanzibar Protectorate. Journal of the East African Natural History Society, 20(6):274-392.