Striped leaf-nosed bat

Distribution and habitat

The striped leaf-nosed bat can be found primarily in eastern and southern Africa. In east Africa, the species ranges from Ethiopia and Somalia, through Kenya, and to Zambia and Mozambique. In the south, the species appears in Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Namibia. However, smaller populations are also scattered throughout west and central Africa, in Angola, Central African Republic, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guinea and Nigeria. The striped leaf-nosed bat can be found locally within caves and occasionally, roosting in trees and under the eaves of buildings. The species is most likely to appear in woodland savannas. However, they have also been found in lowland tropical moist forests, as well as at altitudes up to 1700 m.

Conservation

There are no major threats to this species as a whole. However, its population is declining due to habitat destruction by excessive mining of limestone caves, disturbance by tourist, and overhunting. A number of colonies are present in some protected areas in east Africa, notably Tsavo National Park in Kenya. They have also been found in parts of Kruger National Park in South Africa.

References

References

1. Mickleburgh, S.. (2020). "''Macronycteris vittatus''".
2. (June 2017). "Towards navigating the Minotaur's labyrinth: cryptic diversity and taxonomic revision within the speciose genus ''Hipposideros'' (Hipposideridae)". Acta Chiropterologica.
3. {{MSW3 Chiroptera