Short-tailed roundleaf bat
{{Short description|Species of bat}}
{{speciesbox
| image =
| status = EN
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| genus = Hipposideros
| species = curtus
| authority = G.M. Allen, 1921
| synonyms =
| range_map = Short-tailed Roundleaf Bat area.png
| range_map_caption = Short-tailed roundleaf bat range
}}
The short-tailed roundleaf bat (Hipposideros curtus) is a species of bat in the family Hipposideridae. It is found in Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and caves. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Taxonomy
It was described as a new species in 1921 by American mammalogist Glover Morrill Allen. The holotype had been collected in 1920 by Reverend George W. Schwab in Sackbayeme, Cameroon.{{cite journal|last=Allen| first=G. M.| year=1921| journal=Revue zoologique africaine| volume=9| title=A new horseshoe bat from West Africa| url=https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/11299923| pages=193–196}}
Its species name "curtus" is Latin for "short".{{cite book| url=https://archive.org/details/concisedictionar0000skea| url-access=registration| title=The Concise Dictionary of English Etymology| publisher=Wordsworth Editions| year= 1993| page=[https://archive.org/details/concisedictionar0000skea/page/106 106]|first=W. W.| last=Skeat| isbn=9781853263118 }} Morrill noted that it could be distinguished from other closely related bats by its very short tail.
As the bat genus Hipposideros is very speciose, it is traditionally subdivided into species groups. The short-tailed roundleaf bat is within the bicolor species group.
Description
Its forearm length ranges from {{cvt|42-47|mm|in}}. Based on one individual, they weigh approximately {{cvt|7.1|g|oz}}.{{cite book| last=Happold| first=M.|editor-last1=Kingdon| editor-first1= J.| editor-last2= Happold| editor-first2= D.| editor-last3= Butynski| editor-first3= T.| editor-last4= Hoffmann| editor-first4= M.| editor-last5= Happold| editor-first5= M.| editor-last6= Kalina| editor-first6= J.| date= 2013| title= Mammals of Africa| volume=4| publisher= A&C Black| pages=379–380|isbn=9781408189962}}
Range and habitat
It has been confirmed in Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea; additionally, its range may include Nigeria. It has been documented at a range of elevations from {{cvt|0-500|m|ft}} above sea level. Its habitat is lowland tropical forest.
In 2016 a population of the species was discovered near to the Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary in southern Nigeria by the ecologist Iroro Tanshi, who worked with local people to conserve the population.{{Cite web |date=2021-08-12 |title=Meet Nigerian lady who won 2021 Whitley Awards for saving short-tailed roundleaf bat from extinction |url=https://tribuneonlineng.com/meet-nigerian-lady-who-won-2021-whitley-awards-for-saving-short-tailed-roundleaf-bat-from-extinction/ |access-date=2022-03-12 |website=Tribune Online |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=Unah |first=Linus |author-link= Linus Unah|title=Young Nigerian researcher goes to bat against forest fires |url=https://news.mongabay.com/2020/04/young-nigerian-researcher-goes-to-bat-against-forest-fires/ |access-date=2022-03-12 |language=en-US}}
Conservation
It is listed as endangered by the IUCN. It meets the criteria for this designation because its suitable caves are probably confined to an area less than {{cvt|2000|km2|mi2}}; its habitat is fragmented; and its habitat is declining in quality in extent.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Hipposideridae}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q1765797}}
Category:Mammals described in 1921