Dent's horseshoe bat

Rhinolophus denti

TAXONOMY

Rhinolophus denti Thomas, 1904, Kuruman, Cape Province, South Africa.

OTHER COMMON NAMES

None known.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Head and body length 1.7–2.2 in (4.3–5.7 cm); tail 0.75–0.9 in (1.9–2.3 cm); forearm 1.6–1.7 in (4–4.4 cm); mean weight 0.2 oz (6.2 g). Upperparts pale gray, pale brown, or pale cream; underparts off-white; wings pale brown, edged in white.

DISTRIBUTION

Namibia south to northwestern Botswana and west-central South Africa; isolated population in Guinea (West Africa).

HABITAT

Arid habitats with caves or rock outcrops.

BEHAVIOR

Gregarious; roosts in clusters in caves, crevices, and rocky caverns, and also under thatched roofs.

FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET

Insectivorous; feeding habits not described.

REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY

Species is probably polygynous; nothing else is known.

CONSERVATION STATUS

Not threatened, but poorly known.

SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS

None known.