The Natal free-tailed bat (''Mormopterus acetabulosus'') is a species of
bat in the family
Molossidae, the free-tailed bats. It is endemic to the island of
Mauritius. It is known from fewer than five locations in its range, but it is common at a few sites. It roosts in caves, and it is considered to be an endangered species due to disturbance of its cave habitat.
Taxonomy and etymology
It was
described as a new species in 1804 by French naturalist
Johann Hermann. Hermann placed it in the genus ''Vespertilio''.
In 2008, the Natal free-tailed bat was
split into two taxa with the description of a new species, ''
Mormopterus francoismoutoui''. The species is called the "Natal" free-tailed bat because of another species Hermann described, ''Dysopes natalensis'', named after the
Natal Province
The Province of Natal (), commonly called Natal, was a province of South Africa from May 1910 until May 1994. Its capital was Pietermaritzburg. During this period rural areas inhabited by the black African population of Natal were organized into ...
of South Africa.
''Dysopes natalensis'' was later
synonymized with the Natal free-tailed bat.
Its
species name "''
acetabulosus''" is
Latin for saucer-shaped.
Description
The Natal free-tailed bat is a very small species of bat. Its upper lip is very wrinkled. Its ears are small and connected in the back by a thin interaural membrane. Males have a
sebaceous gland, as with some other free-tailed bats, but they do not have an interaural crest. Its
dental formula is for a total of 30 teeth.
Range and habitat
It is
endemic to
Mauritius. There is one "doubtful" record from
Madagascar and two records from
South Africa which may be
vagrants.
Conservation
As of 2017, it is listed as
endangered by the
IUCN
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN; officially International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natu ...
. From 1999–2017, its population likely declined by more than 80%. Its caves are being disturbed for tourism.
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q741241
Mormopterus
Mammals described in 1804
Bats of Africa
Mammals of Mauritius
Mammals of Réunion
Taxa named by Johann Hermann