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| Rhinolophus webalai Patterson, Dick, Bartonjo & Demos, in Patterson, Demos, Torrent, Grunwald, Montauban, Peterhans, McDonough, ... et Juste, 2024. , |
Abstract
Roughly a third of all horseshoe bat species (Rhinolophidae: Rhinolophus) are found in Africa, where a recent continent-wide genetic survey suggested the presence of both undescribed and apparently invalid species. Here, we focus on the R. landeri species complex and the recent elevation of R. lobatus Peters, 1852, to species rank. That action created ambiguity in the taxonomy of East African members of the group—are both R. landeri Martin, 1838, and R. lobatus sympatric in East Africa or is another, unnamed species present there? Here, we refine genetic, morphological, and behavioral characterizations of R. landeri and its erstwhile synonyms with samples from the vicinity of their type localities. The distribution of R. landeri appears to be limited to Central and West Africa; existing genetic records attributed to this species from Mali clearly represent another taxon. We marshal genetic evidence for the species-level distinction of R. dobsoni Thomas, 1904, from Sudan, which was previously considered a synonym of R. landeri. We reject R. axillaris J. A. Allen, 1917, as a synonym of the R. landeri complex, provisionally regarding it as a valid member of the landeri species group. Finally, we demonstrate that East Africa is home to a fourth species of the landeri complex that is named herein. Final resolution of the systematics of this species complex awaits expanded characterizations (especially of genetics, vocalizations, and noseleaves) and studies of variation in regions of contact.
Afrotropical, Chiroptera, genetics, Rhinolophidae, species complex, systematics, vocalizations
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| Cranial and mandibular views of the Rhinolophus landeri species complex, all to same scale: (a) R. dobsoni, FMNH 48714; (b) R. landeri, FMNH 240685; (c) R. lobatus, FMNH 229146; and (d) Rhinolophus webalai sp. nov., FMNH 215894 (holotype). |
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| External characteristics of Rhinolophus webalai sp. nov., showing nose leaf, axillary tufts, and typical grayish-brown pelage condition of FMNH 233830, adult male from Marsabit National Park and Reserve, Kenya. |
Rhinolophus webalai Patterson, Dick, Bartonjo, and Demos, new species
Webala’s Horseshoe Bat
Diagnosis: A small member of the R. landeri species complex with spade-shaped sella, acutely triangular connecting process, lancet with strongly concave tip, and the presence of rust-colored axillary tufts in a majority of adult males (Fig. 6). Middle lower premolar tiny, displaced labially and barely reaching the cingula of flanking premolars (Fig. 7). Echolocation call (Supplementary Data SD6) dominated by long constant-frequency signal flanked by brief initial and terminal frequency-modulated elements, the latter with a greater frequency span, making call bandwidth very broad. Peak frequency averages 109.7 kHz, end frequency 80.2 kHz, and bandwidth 30.2 kHz. Unlike other sampled members of the landeri complex, the fundamental (first) harmonic of the call is conspicuous.
Etymology: We are pleased to name the new species after one of Africa’s foremost bat biologists, Dr. Paul Waswa Webala, in recognition of his important contributions as a field biologist, conservation scientist, prolific author, and mentor to Africa’s next generation. We suggest Webala’s horseshoe bat as a common name for this species.
Bruce D Patterson, Terrence C Demos, Laura Torrent, Amanda L Grunwald, Cecilia Montauban, Julian C Kerbis Peterhans, Molly M McDonough, Carl W Dick, Michael Bartonjo, M Corrie Schoeman, Luis A Ruedas, Javier Juste. 2024. Systematics of the Rhinolophus landeri complex, with evidence for 3 additional Afrotropical bat species. Journal of Mammalogy. gyae085. DOI: doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyae085
