Damara woolly bat

The Damara woolly bat (Kerivoula argentata) is a nocturnal insectivorous species of vesper bat in the family Vespertilionidae found in Africa.^[1] This species typically has reddish brown fur on its back and white fur on its abdomen. Its natural habitat is moist savanna, although it has also been shown to inhabit woodlands and coastal forests.^[2] These bats typically weight about 10 g, and have a low aspect ratio, as well as low wing loading.^[3]

Damara woolly bat
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Chiroptera
Family:	Vespertilionidae
Genus:	Kerivoula
Species:	K. argentata
Binomial name
Kerivoula argentata Tomes, 1861

Appearance

These bats typically have a rich brown mixed with grizzled silver coat of hair on top and grey or whitish hair underneath. The ears are proportionally large compared to their size and have rounded tips. They typically weigh between 6 and 9 g and are between 8.3 and 10 cm long, with an average wingspan of 25 cm. A feature relatively unique to K. argentata is the fringe of hair on the outer edge of interfemoral membrane which stretches between its legs, as this hair is distinctive to this species.^[4]

Echolocation

The echolocation for this species is a relatively low-intensity call that lasts about two milliseconds with a low frequency peak of around 90-118 kilohertz (kHz).^[5] These properties allow the bats to come as close as 3 m from its prey before the calls are detectable.^[6]

Ecology

As with several other Kerivoula species, the Damara woolly bat uses abandoned nests of weaverbirds and the scarlet-chested sunbird.^[7] Typically, the bats roost alone, but colonies can reach up to six members. The range of the bats extends across much of sub-Saharan Africa and has been identified in Angola, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.^[8]

References

1. Monadjem, A.; Taylor, P.J.; Jacobs, D.; Cotterill, F.P.D. (2017). "Kerivoula argentata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T10969A21970780. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T10969A21970780.en. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
2. Taylor10, Peter J., and Swaziland Kwaluseni. "A recent inventory of the bats of Mozambique with documentation of seven new species to the country." Evolutionary history and its relevance in understanding and conserving southern African biodiversity: 113.
3. Aldridge, H. D. J. N., and I. L. Rautenbach. "Morphology, echolocation and resource partitioning in insectivorous bats." Journal of Animal Ecology (1987): 763-778.
4. Apps, P. (2000) Smither's Mammals of Southern Africa: A Field Guide. Struik Publishers, Cape Town. ISBN 978-1868725502
5. Monadjem, A., Taylor P.J., Cotterill, F.P.D. and Corrie Schoeman. M. Bats of Southern and Central Africa: A Biographic and Taxonomic Synthesis . University of Witwatersrand Press, Johannesburg. ISBN 978-1868145089
6. Fullard, J. H. and Thomas, D.W. (1981) Detection of certain African, insectivorous bats by sympatric, tympanate moths. Journal of Comparative Physiology, 143: 363-368.
7. Stuart, S. and Stuart, T. (2007) Field Guide to Mammals of Southern Africa. Struik Publishers, Cape Town.
8. Apps, P. (2000) Smither's Mammals of Southern Africa: A Field Guide. Struik Publishers, Cape Town.