Читать книгу A Field Guide to the Mammals of Egypt - Richard Hoath - Страница 10
ОглавлениеThe bats are unique amongst the mammals in their ability to fly. While other mammals, such as the flying squirrels, the scaly-tails, and the peculiar flying lemurs—none of which occur in Egypt—can glide on skin membranes between their outstretched limbs, it is only the bats that are capable of true, flapping flight. In order to do this, the bats have evolved a body plan radically different from any other group of mammals. The forelimbs have essentially become the wings with the fingers greatly elongated to form a framework over which the flight membrane (a slender membrane of skin and narrow layers of muscle fibers) is stretched. The membrane extends back to the much-reduced hind limbs and, in many species, to the tail as well. The extent and shape of the flight membrane is important in identification.
In devoting the forelimbs to flight, the bats have largely sacrificed their ability to move on the ground, although, amongst the Egyptian species, the free-tailed bats can move relatively rapidly across walls, etc., scuttling along using their folded wings as legs. Most bats roost upside down, suspended by their hind feet or clinging by their hind feet from a cave, tomb, or building wall. At rest, the wings may be wrapped around the bat, as in the horseshoe bats, or folded up on either side as in the rat-tailed bats.
Most bats are nocturnal, though the actual time of flight varies, some species emerging at dusk, others feeding later at night.
The Old World Fruit Bats—Suborder Megachiroptera Family Pteropodidae
Approx. 173 species with 1 in Egypt
The fruit bats are the largest bats and differ from other bats, not only in size but also in their prominent eyes, relatively small ears with no tragus, two wing claws, and the absence, or great reduction, of the tail and interfemoral (tail) membrane. There is only one Egyptian species, the Egyptian Fruit Bat Rousettus egyptiacus.
EGYPTIAN FRUIT BAT Rousettus egyptiacus (E. Geoffroy St-Hilaire, 1810) PL 3
Egyptian Fruit Bat (Rousettus egyptiacus)
Subspecies occurring in Egypt: R. e. egyptiacus.
Arabic: Khuffash al-fak-ha misri
Identification: Length 126–167mm; Tail 8–19mm; Forearm 84–99mm; Weight 130g. Male probably slightly larger than female. Large, short-tailed bat with fox-like face and prominent eyes. With a wingspan of up to 60cm, this is by far the largest Egyptian bat, identifiable by size alone, but in the hand, the second finger is clawed, tragus absent, and ear margin complete. Overall pale grayish to brown in color, slightly darker above. Male has elongated hair on the throat related to scent glands. Inter-femoral membrane much reduced and tail very short (appears tailless in flight).
Range and status: Eastern Mediterranean, including southern Turkey and Cyprus, east to Iran and Pakistan. Arabia and much of Africa. In Egypt, found throughout the Nile Valley south to Aswan. Also in cities including Cairo (inc. Mohandiseen, Giza, Zamalck, and Garden City) where common. Other records from north coast near Mersa Matruh, Port Said, and Suez.
Habitat: Cultivated areas to desert margins, towns, and cities. Preferred roosts are mosques, deserted buildings, tombs, monuments (inc. Giza pyramids), etc., that are generally humid with some indirect light.
Habits: Nocturnal with peaks at dusk and dawn. Often in large colonies of hundreds, even thousands. Although they have large eyes, these fruit bats can also echolocate and, thus, fly in complete darkness. Probably use sonar to find their way out of their roost and then fly by sight. Voice audible, metallic squeak emitted by clicking the tongue. Feeds mainly on fruit, e.g., mango, date, figs, etc., and leaves. Also seen at Bombax flowers although not proven to feed on them. Can be found by directing torchlight at fruiting tree and seeing orange-yellow eye reflection. Gestation 4 months, breeding February/March to May in Egypt, though elsewhere in region breeds twice a year. One occasionally 2 young. Predators include large falcons and owls, especially the Barn Owl Tyto alba.
Notes: Unpopular as they can deface monuments and eat fruit crops. However, research in Israel showed that Egyptian Fruit Bats ate only ripe fruit rather than fruit for packing, processing, and transport, which is picked green. Moreover, gassing of roosts resulted in decimation of insect-eating bats and a rise in the level of insect pests. In Africa, they have been shown to be important pollinators and seed dispersers.
Similar species: In Egypt, only Tadarida bats reach anything near the size of Egyptian Fruit Bats and can be further distinguished by much larger ears, darker color, and prominent tail.
The Insectivorous Bats—Suborder Microchiroptera
The insectivorous bats form a much larger group than the fruit bats and are represented in Egypt by twenty-one different species, although several are known only from very few records. Unlike the fruit bats, the insectivorous bats hunt actively for insects, which they find using echolocation, a form of sonar. The face of most bats may appear grotesque to human eyes, but it is actually adapted to emit and receive high frequency or ultra-sonic sound waves. The bat releases a constant series of clicks through the mouth or nostrils that are then reflected off any obstacle or prey. The rebounded sound is picked up by the ears that are often very large and possess a lobe known as the tragus (absent in the horseshoe bats) at the opening. The rapidity and sensitivity of the bats’ echolocation system can be seen by simply watching bats flying around at speed at dusk, rapidly dodging and weaving in pursuit of flying insects. The insect-eating bats are probably important agents in insect pest control in agricultural areas. Since the insectivorous bats hunt by echolocation, the eyes in many species have been reduced to a greater or lesser extent.
Note: All bat tragi and noseleaves after Qumsiyah (1985) and Harrison and Bates (1991).
Identification in the field of the twenty-one species of insectivorous bats is very difficult, and in trying to identify free-flying bats, the type of flight is important: high, low, over water, fast, slow, etc., as is the habitat, and the geographical location. For instance, a large-eared bat seen in arid desert is far more likely to be Hemprich’s Long-eared Bat Otonycteris hemprichii than the Gray Long-eared Bat Plecotus austriacus or the Egyptian Slit-faced Bat Nycteris the-baica. In the hand, identification to family level can be made by looking at ear and nose patterns, tail and interfemoral membrane form, wing shape, color, and bare areas. These will all be discussed under individual families.
Rat-tailed Bats—Family Rhinopomatidae
3 species worldwide with 2 in Egypt.
Distinguished from all other Egyptian bats by the greatly elongated and very slender tail and virtual absence of interfemoral membrane. In practice, this feature is impossible to see in flight and is so slender that it can only just be made out when the bat is at rest. Rat-tailed bats do not hang from their roosts but cling upside down to the roost wall. The tail is held slightly curved out over the bat. At closer quarters, further distinguished by the pig-like snout, ears meeting over the forehead, and simple tragus. Other than size, the two Egyptian species are very difficult to tell apart, the critical difference being the relative lengths of the tail and the forearm, the tail being shorter than the forearm in the Larger Rat-tailed Bat Rhinopoma microphyllum and longer in the Lesser Rat-tailed Bat Rhinopoma hardwickii. The Larger is a much rarer species.
LARGER RAT-TAILED BAT (GREATER MOUSE-TAILED BAT) Rhinopoma microphyllum (Brunnich, 1782) Pl. 4
Larger Rat-tailed Bat (Rhinopoma microphyllum)
Subspecies occurring in Egypt: R. m. microphyllum.
Arabic: Abu dhayl al-kabir
Identification: Length 124–146mm; Tail 52–65mm; Forearm 64–71mm. Rat-tailed bats distinguished by slightly upturned snout and long, slender tail though this feature is almost impossible to see in flight. At rest, e.g., on cave wall, tail curves forward in crescent. Largest of the rat-tailed bats, though size is not a useful field feature. Eyes distinct and well-developed ears with sickle-shaped tragus. Thumbs elongated and feet slender. Long tail surrounded by flight membrane only at base. Fur fine, pale gray-brown above, slightly paler below. Lower back and abdomen, face, lips, and upper throat naked. Specimens from Upper Egypt may relate to R. m. tropica.
Range and status: Africa from Morocco south to Nigeria, and east to Sudan and Egypt. Also further east to Arabia, Iran, Pakistan, India, and to Thailand and Sumatra. In Egypt, recorded from Delta, Cairo region, Luxor (mummified), and Aswan (?). Everywhere much rarer than Lesser Rat-tailed Bat.
Habitat: Cultivated areas of Nile Valley and Delta. Has been found in same roosts as Lesser Rat-tailed Bats, though always much rarer.
Habits: Little known. In India, breeding thought to be in June. No evidence from Egypt.
Similar species: See Lesser Rat-tailed Bat below.
LESSER RAT-TAILED BAT (LESSER MOUSE-TAILED BAT) Rhinopoma hardwickii Gray, 1831
Pl. 4
Lesser Rat-tailed Bat (Rhinopoma hardwickii)
Subspecies occurring in Egypt: R. h. arabium and R. h. cystops.
Arabic: Abu dhayl al-saghir
Identification: Length 101–144mm; Tail 46–73mm; Forearm 47–59mm; Weight 10–15g. Very delicately built rat-tailed bat with very long, slender tail only bounded by flight membrane at base. In hand, forearm-to-tail ratio important. Fur fine. Color uniform pale gray-brown, paler below but with some variation. Two subspecies in Egypt. R.h. arabium from northern Egypt, inc. Cairo and the Fayoum, browner above and below, though can be gray tinged. R.h. cystops from Luxor south to Sudanese border, on average smaller, paler, grayer, described as ‘pearl gray’ below. Flight peculiar, fluttery, and bird-like.
Range and status: East and North Africa. Arabia east to Iran, Pakistan, India to Indonesia. In Egypt, R. h. arabium in Cairo and its environs, inc Wadi Digla, recorded north to Wadi Natrun, and in the Fayoum (Qasr Qarun). R. h. cystops from Asyut region south to Luxor (common in Dendera Temple), and south to Aswan and Sudanese border.
Habitat: Dry caverns and caves, often roosting deep in rock, ruins, temples, tunnels, mosques, and buildings, often on desert margins. Roosts may be shared by much rarer Larger Rat-tailed Bat and with Egyptian Free-tailed Bat Tadarida aegyptiaca.
Habits: Emerges at dusk. Colonies fairly small though up to 200 have been recorded. Food probably small insects. In autumn, lays down fat reserves and, thus, can remain active year round. In roosts, voice is audible as high-pitched chirp. Females with suckling young observed just south of Aswan at Kalabsha in July. When sharing with Egyptian Free-tailed Bat, tends to roost higher than latter species and readily distinguished by smaller size, more rapid flight, and higher voice.
Similar species: Larger Rat-tailed Bat is larger, more heavily built and, most importantly, its tail is shorter than forearm (longer in present species).
Sheath-tailed and Tomb Bats—Family Emballonuridae
c. 50 species worldwide with 2 in Egypt.
Small- to medium-sized bats. Egyptian species small, with long ears and variable tragus. Eyes more prominent than in most insectivorous bats. In the hand, the tail is diagnostic, emerging from the interfemoral membrane about two-thirds of the way down its length with the latter third free, but often not exceeding the interfemoral membrane in length. When roosting, clings to walls not hanging free. Egyptian species difficult to tell apart except in the hand where differences are obvious, otherwise habits are best distinction.
GEOFFROY’S TOMB BAT (TOMB BAT) Taphozous perforatus (E. Geoffroy St-Hilaire, 1818)
Pl. 4
Subspecies occurring in Egypt: probably T. p. perforatus,
Arabic: Abu buz al-saghir, Khuffash al-maqabir
Identification: Length 94–112mm; Tail 20–27mm; Forearm 61–66mm. Male slightly smaller than Female. Small bat with narrow-based, almost mushroom-shaped tragus. Ears long and narrow Geoffrey’s Tomb Bat with hair tufts at the base of the back of each ear. Fur silky, extending to base of tail both above and below. Above, brown with hair bases white; below, variable grayish brown fur extending to tail root above and below. Wing membrane brownish with pale outer edge to forearm. Tail does not exceed interfemoral membrane in length.
Geoffroy’s Tomb Bat (Taphozous perforatus)
Range and status: Africa south of Sahara to Botswana, north to Sudan and Egypt. East to Arabia, Pakistan, and northwestern India. In Egypt, recorded from the Delta, Wadi Natrun, Cairo and environs (inc. Abu Rawash, Saqqara, and Giza), Fayoum, south along Nile Valley to Luxor and Aswan, down to Sudanese border. Red Sea coast near Quseir. Can occur in large numbers.
Geoffrey’s Tomb Bat Taphozous perforatus
Habitat: Roosts in deep caverns, limestone caves, sometimes near sea, and crevices, old buildings, and ruins. Degree of light does not seem to be important.
Habits: Poorly known. Roosts can be large but elsewhere reported to be between 6–10 individuals. Often hangs from wall close to ground. Flies at dusk (even recorded flying by day) but also at night. Breeding probably April/May in Egypt. Generally one young.
Similar species: Egyptian Sheath-tailed Bat Taphozous nudiventris, see below.
EGYPTIAN SHEATH-TAILED BAT (NAKED-BELLIED TOMB BAT, NAKED-RUMPED BAT) Taphozous nudiventris Cretzschmar, 1830
Pl. 4
Subspecies occurring in Egypt: T. n. nudiventris.
Arabic: Abu buz al-kabir
Egyptian Sheath-tailed Bat (Taphozous nudiventris)
Identification: Length 112–136mm; Tail 22–34mm; Forearm 26–29mm. Large sheath-tailed bat. Ears long, narrow, blunt-tipped, and set wide apart on head. Tragus distinctive, thick-based with clear lobes and flat top. Muzzle, chin, sides of face, and lower back and front are entirely naked. Fur short, pale brown on back, grayer and lighter below. Sexes distinguished in hand by presence of small gular sac in male. Tail length very variable.
Egyptian Sheath-tailed Bat Taphozous nudiventris
Range and status: Africa south to Democratic Republic of Congo. Arabia and southwestern Asia east to Burma. In Egypt, Delta (Gharbiya Governorate), Cairo and environs (inc. Giza where it roosts at each of the three pyramids), Fayoum, Nile Valley south to Luxor (Karnak). Red Sea near Quseir. Can be common.
Habitat: Roosts in very dense colonies in crevices in cliffs, often sandstone, old ruins, wells, mosques, etc.
Habits: Dense colonies can be detected by accumulated droppings and unpleasant ‘rubbery’ smell. Voice loud squeak, described as metallic Tends to hang from walls rather than roofs. May travel long distances from roosting to feeding sites. Flight fast, high, and direct. In Egypt, accumulates fat in autumn and Hies throughout the year. In the Delta, said to be especially common in July and August when it feeds on the adult moth of the Cotton Leaf Worm Spodoptera littoralis, a pest species. Remains have been found in Barn Owl pellets.
Similar species: Geoffrey’s Tomb Bat is fully furred with (in the hand) a differently shaped tragus. Egyptian Slit-faced Bat, also common around the pyramids, has a much more erratic flight, is fully furred, and tail is totally surrounded by flight membrane.
Slit-faced Bats—Family Nycteridae
11 species worldwide with 1 in Egypt
Small- to medium-sized insectivorous bats with large, elongated ears that are held straight up from the head, not angled outward. Tragus small. The name comes from the distinct slit or furrow down the center of the face, which runs from between the eyes to the snout. Eyes very small. Tail structure is unique in that the tip is T-shaped.
EGYPTIAN SLIT-FACED BAT Nycteris thebaka E. Geoffroy St-Hilaire, 1813
Pl. 4
Subspecies occurring in Egypt: N. t. thebaica.
Arabic: Khuffash tiba
Identification: Length 84–126mm; Tail 45–56mm; Forearm 43–49mm. Small, broad-winged bat with rather broad, erect ears up to 40mm long. Tragus simple, rounded, and relatively small. Tail long but entirely enclosed within flight membrane and, uniquely amongst Egyptian bats, tip T-shaped. Wings broad and rounded. Distinguished from other Egyptian bats by lobed groove running down center of face. Eyes small but distinct. Fur rather long. Brownish to brown-gray above, paler below. Naked skin of muzzle and base of ears pale pink.
Range and status: Throughout Africa except Sahara and rainforest regions. Palestine and Israel and western Arabia, vagrant in Corfu. In Egypt, Delta, Wadi Natrun, Cairo and its environs (inc. Giza pyramids), Fayoum (inc. Shakshuk), and Nile Valley south to Dendera, Luxor, Aswan, and Sudanese border. Records from Red Sea at Quseir.
Egyptian Slit-faced Bat (Nycteris thebaica)
Habitat: Wide habitat tolerance. Roosts in caves, tombs, ruins, houses, wells, etc. Not a desert species.
Egyptian Slit-faced Bat Nycteris thebaica
Habits: Roosts in colonies ranging from a few individuals to several hundred. Reported to fly early and feeds on insects, inc. moths, grasshoppers, beetles, and also, reportedly, scorpions. Prey carried to regular feeding points that can be told by the accumulation of inedible prey parts. Flight erratic. In Egypt, from early March males leave colonies and females form maternity roosts, though individual males remain. Breeding April-July. Generally 1 young. Outside breeding season may roost with Arabian Horseshoe Bat Rhinolophus clivosus.
Notes: According to Qumsiyah (1985), a further species Nycteris hispida may occur in southern Egypt since there is,, an unconfirmed record from northern Sudan.
Similar species: See Egyptian Sheath-tailed Bat. In the hand, the facial slit and the T-shaped tip to the tail make this species unique in Egypt.
Horseshoe Bats—Family Rhinolophidae
69 species worldwide, 3 in Egypt.
A well-defined family of bats, but identification of individual species—even in the hand—can be very difficult. In the hand, horseshoe bats can be told from all other bats, except the leaf-nosed bats, by the absence of a tragus and by the distinctive horseshoe-shaped nose structure to which they owe their name. The ears are large and broad. Hind limbs are poorly developed. Tail entirely enclosed in interfemoral membrane, though in many species the membrane comes to a point at the tail tip. The wings are relatively broad, making these bats amongst the most maneuverable flyers in the order. At rest, horseshoe bats wrap their wings around themselves. They roost hanging, rather than clinging, from walls and ceilings. Colonies may be huge, but some species are solitary and at least one species, the Lesser Horseshoe Bat Rhinolophus hipposideros, is known only from a single specimen in Egypt.
Horseshoe bats are very difficult to tell apart, even in the hand. Indeed, the identification of one species, Mehely’s Horseshoe Bat Rhinolophus mehelyi, is still in some doubt due to confusion with the extremely similar Mediterranean Horseshoe Bat Rhinolophus euryale. In this instance, the current author has followed Qumsiyah (1985). In the field, key considerations should be location and habitat. In the hand, size and detailed study of the noseleaf pattern is essential. For skull characteristics of most species, see Harrison and Bates (1991). At roosts, horseshoe bat colonies tend to be loose and wide-spaced as opposed to the very dense colonies formed by some species of vesper bats. At rest, the Rhinolophus bats hang with the wings wrapped tightly around them.
ARABIAN HORSESHOE BAT (GEOFFROY’S HORSESHOE BAT) Rhinolophus clivosus Cretzschmar, 1828
Pl. 5
Subspecies occurring in Egypt: R. c. clivosus and R. c. brachyg-nathus.
Arabic: al-Khuffash hadwat al-faras
Identification: Length 72–82mm; Tail 25–32mm; Forearm 48–50mm; Weight 17g. Large horseshoe bat. Connecting process of the sella blunt For nose pattern, see diagram. Nominate sub sp. R. c. clivosus color variable from smoky gray in Sinai to dark gray in Libya. Southern populations browner. Underside dull brown-gray. Wing and tail membranes dark brown. R. c. brachygnathus smaller and darker colored.
Arabian Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus clivosus)
Range and status: Across North Africa, most of East and southern Africa. Western and southwestern Arabia and southwestern Asia. In Egypt, R. c. clivosus recorded from North and South Sinai (al-Arish and Wadi Feiran), and Sudan Government Administration Area. R. c. brachygnathus recorded from the north coast, Wadi Natrun, Cairo and environs, and south along the Nile Valley. Everywhere scarce.
Arabian Horseshoe Bat Rhinolophus clivosus
Habitat: Old storehouses, stone buildings, and caves. A semi-desert and savanna species. Harrison and Bates (1991) note a preference for buildings.
Habits: Little known in Egypt. In Africa, colonies can number several thousand, though in Arabia much smaller roosts recorded. Due to the scarcity of Egyptian records, it would seem that roosts here are small. Females give birth to a single young in summer.
Similar species: Other horseshoe bats. Species identification very difficult unless the bat is in hand, see diagrams of sellae and noseleaves.
LESSER HORSESHOE BAT Rhinolophus hipposideros (Bechstein, 1800)
Pl. 5
Subspecies occurring in Egypt: R. h. minimus.
Identification: Length 58–67mm; Tail 19–24mm; Forearm 36–38mm (measurements from Jordanian specimens); Weight 3.5–10g. Smallest horseshoe bat of the region and distinguished by delicate form. Sella hook-like, pointing forward and down, Lesser Horseshoe Bat unique in region. Ears relatively large. Fur long and dense. Color rather variable, brown to gray-brown above, paler below.
Lesser Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus hipposideros)
Lesser Horseshoe Bat Rhinolophus hipposideros
Range and status: Southern Europe and northwestern Africa. Ethiopia and Sudan. Arabia, southwestern Asia to northwestern India. In Egypt, known only from one specimen taken in Wadi Feiran and assigned to R. h. minimus. In light of Afro-asian distribution, could prove more widespread.
Habitat: Roosts in caves, cellars, and buildings. Sole Egyptian specimen found deep inside a cave. Habits: Usually solitary at roost but females may roost colonially in summer. Elsewhere, flies late and throughout the night. Flight low (c. 2–3m) and fast with very rapid, vibrating, wing beats. Does not follow set routes when foraging. Voice pitched low. Generally 1 young born in summer. Individuals found hibernating in Jordan.
Similar species: Other horseshoe bats. See diagrams of sellae and noseleaves. In hand, small size distinctive.
MEHELY’S HORSESHOE BAT Rhinolophus mehelyi Matschie, 1901
Pl. 5
Subspecies occurring in Egypt: R. m. mehelyi.
Identification: Length 81–86mm; Tail 21–26mm; Forearm 46–50mm. Medium-sized horseshoe bat with relatively short and broad ears. Sella with sharply pointed upper appendage. Lancet very-narrow. Gray-brown to warm brown above, paler below.
Range and status: Southern Europe, North Africa, east to northern Arabia and Iran. In Egypt, recorded from north coast at Alexandria and to the west, and Cairo and Giza, south to Saqqara. Rare in Egypt.
Habitat: Roosts mainly in caves. Elsewhere, colonies of up to 30,000 bats have been recorded, but such records are unlikely in Egypt owing to its scarcity. Although recorded mainly from near urban areas in Egypt, it is considered more of a desert species. Habits: Little known, especially in Egypt. Litter size estimated at two.
Mehely’s Horeshoe Bat (Rhinolophus mehelyi)
Notes: Mehely’s Horseshoe bat is very similar to the Mediterranean Horseshoe Bat Rhinolophus euryale and can only safely be distinguished from it by detailed analysis of the noseleaf. The Mediterranean Horseshoe Bat was included on the Egyptian list but Qumsiyah (1985) examined all Egyptian specimens assigned to this species and identified them as Mehely’s Horseshoe Bat. However, the Mediterranean Horseshoe Bat occurs in the region and the possibility of it turning up in Egypt cannot be excluded. Details of the noseleaf and sella are thus included.
Mehely's Horseshoe Bat Rhinolophus mehelyi
Similar species: Other horseshoe bats. See diagrams of sellae and noseleavcs.
Leaf-nosed Bats—Family Hipposideridae
61 species worldwide, 1, possibly 2, in Egypt.
Small bats, similar (and closely related) to the true horseshoe bats. Like the true horseshoe bats they lack a tragus and have proportionately larger ears. They differ from the horseshoe bats in their facial structure. They lack the clearly defined horseshoe on the nose-leaf, lack a sella, and, instead of a lancet, have a broad, flattened extension to the noseleaf.
Noseleaves of leaf-nosed bats
TRIDENT LEAF-NOSED BAT (TRIDENT HORSESHOE BAT, COMMON TRIDENT BAT)Asellia tridens (E. Geoffroy St-Hilaire, 1813)
Pl. 5
Subspecies occurring in Egypt: probably A. t. tridens.
Arabic: Khuffash azalya waraqi al-anf
Trident Horseshoe Bat (Asellia tridens)
Identification: Length 66–89mm; Tail 18–28mm; Forearm 45–53mm. Male consistently larger than female. Differs from true horseshoe bats in structure of the noseleaf with 3 fleshy extensions on the upper surface rather than the lancet. Ears relatively large and longer than in horseshoe bats. Tragus absent. Tail extends beyond flight membrane by up to 5mm. Color very variable but generally pale gray, paler below. Appears very pale when seen in flight at night.
Range and status: Much of Africa, though not the south. Arabia, Asia Minor east to Pakistan. In Egypt, a wide-ranging species recorded from North and South Sinai, Cairo and its environs, Saqqara, Fayoum, and south along the length of the Nile Valley to the Sudanese border. Also the Western Desert including Kharga, Dakhla, Farafra, Bahariya, and Siwa, and along the Red Sea coast of the Eastern Desert.
Habitat: A species of desert and semi-desert. Roosts in caves, cliff crevices, ruins, old buildings, and temples (large roost at Dendera Temple).
Habits: Colonial species. Colonies large, hundreds (even thousands) of individuals. Flies late in the evening with rapid, twisting, turning flight likened to that of a butterfly. Flies low. Elsewhere, range thought to be migratory and numbers at roosts fluctuate. May also hibernate. Generally 1 young. Gestation 9–10 weeks. Reportedly preyed on by Sooty Falcon Falco concolor.
Notes: The Persian Leaf-nosed Bat Triaenops persicus has been reported in Egypt but the records were rejected by Qumsiyah (1985). This species is found over much of East Africa but no further north than the horn of Africa and in Arabia only occurs in the south and southeast. It is, therefore, unlikely to occur in Egypt. It differs from the Trident Horseshoe Bat in the structure of the noseleaf and in the tail not protruding beyond the interfemoral membrane. Emerges earlier in the evening than the previous species.
Similar species: True horseshoe bats. In the hand, the different noseleaf is diagnostic. Also note the tail protruding from the flight membrane. In flight appears paler. More widespread than any of the horseshoe bats.
Vesper Bats—Family Vespertilionidae
319 species worldwide, 10 species in Egypt.
A very large and complex group of bats; the number of species is constantly changing as new species are described. In Egypt, mostly small bats split into several distinct groups. Because of the size of the group, it is difficult to generalize about their features. However, they tend to be small bats with reduced eyes but distinct, well-separated ears with tragi that can be important for identification within genera. The heads are generally mousy and lack the complex noselcaves of other families. Pelage is generally short and dense. Tail either completely enclosed within interfemoral membrane or only extends a short distance beyond.
Tragi of various bat species With reference to Qumsiyah (1985), and Harrison and Bates (1991).
Pipistrelle Bats—Genus Pipistrellus
A large group of very small to small bats with relatively very small heads. Very difficult to tell apart, even in the hand. Five Egyptian species, only one of which is at all widespread. If in doubt, refer to the ranges of the various species, though these should be used with care. For example, Khul’s Pipistrelle Pipistrellus kuhlii, the most common species, has not yet been recorded south of Luxor, but is found in northern Sudan and extends south to South Africa. Habitat may be a better guide. In the hand, color of body and flight membranes important as are the size and shape of the tragi.
KUHL’S PIPISTRELLE Pipistrellus kuhlii (Natterer, 1819)
Pl. 6
Subspecies occurring in Egypt: P. k. marginatus.
Arabic: Bibistril kuli
Khul’s Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus kuhlii)
Identification: Length 75–92mm; Tail 32–42mm; Forearm 31–36mm; Weight c. 5–8.5g. Small bat but the largest pipistrelle in Egypt. Wing membrane has a narrow, white margin running from the foot to the fifth digit, but this can be obscure in pale specimens where whole membrane is pale, and appears to dull with age. Also, less distinct in desert specimens. Tail moderately long but entirely surrounded by membrane, except for last vertebra which projects beyond. Ears broad, narrowing toward the tip. Tragus tall and narrow, slightly broader at base. Color variable. Egyptian specimens recorded from russet to olive-brown to pale brown, paler below. Gets paler with age.
Kuhl’s Pipistrelle Pipistrellus kuhlii
Range and status: Much of Africa except Sahara and rainforest areas. Southern Europe, Middle East, and Arabia cast to Pakistan. In Egypt, very common especially in populated areas including cities. Recorded from Sallum and Mersa Matruh on the north coast, and North Sinai. Found throughout the Delta, inc. Lake Manzala, Cairo and its environs, inc. Saqqara, Fayoum south along Nile Valley, with one questionable record from Luxor. Not recorded south of Luxor.
Habitat: Roosts virtually anywhere including buildings on busy streets. Also caves, farms, roofs, tombs, crevices, and cracks in walls. Not a desert species.
Habits: A colonial species, colonies said to be detectable by buzzing and squeaking on approach. Individual colonies small, up to a dozen animals but may be more. Tends to emerge early and fly moderately high, skimming along walls. Flight rather fast, direct, and acrobatic. In Egypt, flies throughout year accumulating fat reserves in autumn. Does not hibernate but may reduce activity. Females give birth to normally 2 young in spring (May). Notes: In some areas of its range, including Libya, Kuhl’s Pipistrelle is thought to be migratory. No evidence of migration has been found in Egypt.
Similar species: Other pipistrelles. Kuhl’s is the largest but in the field this is not obvious. Range is a good clue, though see introduction to group. Desert Pipistrelle Pipistrellus aegyptius
