Revised distribution for Otomops martiensseni (Chiroptera: Molossidae) in southern Africa

We provide new data on the distributional range and abundance of the giant mastiff bat, Otomops martiensseni for which information on distribution and ecology are sorely needed. Because this species can forage at high altitudes, it is difficult to capture and most observations have been from caves a...

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Main Authors: Rick A. Adams, Frank J. Bonaccorso, John R. Winkelmann
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2015-01-01
Series:Global Ecology and Conservation
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989415000323
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author Rick A. Adams
Frank J. Bonaccorso
John R. Winkelmann
author_facet Rick A. Adams
Frank J. Bonaccorso
John R. Winkelmann
author_sort Rick A. Adams
collection DOAJ
description We provide new data on the distributional range and abundance of the giant mastiff bat, Otomops martiensseni for which information on distribution and ecology are sorely needed. Because this species can forage at high altitudes, it is difficult to capture and most observations have been from caves and buildings. With the advent of new sonar gathering devices and analysis software, recording of echolocation calls can give unprecedented information on evasive bat species. Previous records from South Africa were restricted to the Durban area where several colonies in buildings were documented. No published records were available for Botswana. Our data expand the range of O. martiensseniin South Africa about 870km northward. However, this species’ relative occurrence continues to be rare, composing <0.74% of all our recorded call sequences across the region. We provide the first evidence of O. martiensseni in Kruger National Park (KNP) and Mapungubwe National Park (MNP) in South Africa and from Molema Bush Camp in the Tuli Block of Botswana. Of the 13,449 call sequences analyzed in our study, 91 were determined to be from O. martiensseni and of these, 84 occurred in KNP. Our data show that O. martiensseni is more widely distributed in eastern South Africa than previously thought; however, this species is rare throughout the region and thus faces an uncertain future.
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spelling doaj.art-e1e4be56d005474d8f04e6802c4b249c2022-12-22T02:56:28ZengElsevierGlobal Ecology and Conservation2351-98942015-01-013C70771410.1016/j.gecco.2015.03.006Revised distribution for Otomops martiensseni (Chiroptera: Molossidae) in southern AfricaRick A. Adams0Frank J. Bonaccorso1John R. Winkelmann2School of Biological Sciences, University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO 80639, USAKilauea Field Station, P. O. Box 417, Volcano, HI 96785, USADepartment of Biology, Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, PA 17325, USAWe provide new data on the distributional range and abundance of the giant mastiff bat, Otomops martiensseni for which information on distribution and ecology are sorely needed. Because this species can forage at high altitudes, it is difficult to capture and most observations have been from caves and buildings. With the advent of new sonar gathering devices and analysis software, recording of echolocation calls can give unprecedented information on evasive bat species. Previous records from South Africa were restricted to the Durban area where several colonies in buildings were documented. No published records were available for Botswana. Our data expand the range of O. martiensseniin South Africa about 870km northward. However, this species’ relative occurrence continues to be rare, composing <0.74% of all our recorded call sequences across the region. We provide the first evidence of O. martiensseni in Kruger National Park (KNP) and Mapungubwe National Park (MNP) in South Africa and from Molema Bush Camp in the Tuli Block of Botswana. Of the 13,449 call sequences analyzed in our study, 91 were determined to be from O. martiensseni and of these, 84 occurred in KNP. Our data show that O. martiensseni is more widely distributed in eastern South Africa than previously thought; however, this species is rare throughout the region and thus faces an uncertain future.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989415000323ChiropteraMolossidaeOtomops martiensseniSouth AfricaBotswanaMastiff bat
spellingShingle Rick A. Adams
Frank J. Bonaccorso
John R. Winkelmann
Revised distribution for Otomops martiensseni (Chiroptera: Molossidae) in southern Africa
Global Ecology and Conservation
Chiroptera
Molossidae
Otomops martiensseni
South Africa
Botswana
Mastiff bat
title Revised distribution for Otomops martiensseni (Chiroptera: Molossidae) in southern Africa
title_full Revised distribution for Otomops martiensseni (Chiroptera: Molossidae) in southern Africa
title_fullStr Revised distribution for Otomops martiensseni (Chiroptera: Molossidae) in southern Africa
title_full_unstemmed Revised distribution for Otomops martiensseni (Chiroptera: Molossidae) in southern Africa
title_short Revised distribution for Otomops martiensseni (Chiroptera: Molossidae) in southern Africa
title_sort revised distribution for otomops martiensseni chiroptera molossidae in southern africa
topic Chiroptera
Molossidae
Otomops martiensseni
South Africa
Botswana
Mastiff bat
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989415000323
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