African Bat Conservation Species Guide to Bats of Malawi P a g e | 1

Nycteridae Slit-faced bats

Nycteris grandis Large slit-faced bat

Genus: Nycteris Family: Nycteridae

Description Nycteris grandis is a large bat and can be separated from all other Nycteris species by its much larger size. The pelage is variable, mostly dark beige to sepia-brown on the upper parts and slightly paler on the underparts. The wings are short and broad, light brown coloured and sparsely covered in hair. The ears are long and the tragus is characteristically more or less half- moon shaped (semi-lunate). A net of collagen strands reinforces the wings and interfemoral membrane. The sexes resemble each other. The facial slit covering the noseleaf distinguishes the genus in which this species is nested (Nycteris) from other microbats in the region. Distribution Nycteris grandis is present in the north and northeast of the region. It occurs sparsely in eastern and northern Zimbabwe, southeast Zambia, southern Malawi, and northern Mozambique; there are two isolated records from southern DRC. Habitat Predominantly a rainforest species, but also occurs in savannahs along riparian forest & associated woodlands. Ecology Diet Nycteris grandis is clutter and clutter-edge forager. It is the only truly carnivorous bat in Africa, carpturing frogs, bats, birds and insects. Reproduction Pregnant females have been recorded in late September, while females attached young have been recorded in early December. Roosting behaviour It typically roosts in hollow of large trees such as Faidherbia albida and Adansionia digitata, but may also use caverns and built structures such as disused water towers. Status Least concern African Bat Conservation Species Guide to Bats of Malawi P a g e | 2

Nycteris macrotis Large-eared slit-faced bat

Genus: Nycteris Family: Nycteridae

Description Nycteris macrotis is a medium-sized bat with a light sandy- brown to orange-brown pelage although the upper parts are slightly darker than the underparts. The wings are short and broad, light brown coloured and sparsely covered in hair. The ears are long and the tragus is characteristically half-moon shaped (semi-lunate). The facial slit covering the noseleaf distinguishes the genus in which this species is nested (i.e. Nycteris) from other microbats in the region. Distribution Nycteris macrotis has been recorded throughout the northern part of the region. It occurs in northern Botswana in the Okavango swamps and along the Zambezi River in Zimbabwe. It is widespread in Zambia, Malawi and southern DRC. Habitat Nycteris macrotis appears to favour moist savannas in south-central Africa. Ecology Diet Nycteris macrotis is a clutter forager whose diet consist of Orthropoda, Coleoptera, Isoptera and Diptera. Reproduction No reproductive information is available for southern Africa. Roosting behaviour The roosting habit of Nycteris macrotis are not well known, but roosts during the day in a variety of shelters, including caves, culverts, under roads, and the trunks of large trees such as Adansonia digitata. It presumably also uses night roosts. Status Least concern

African Bat Conservation Species Guide to Bats of Malawi P a g e | 3

Nycteris thebaica Egyptian slit-faced bat

Genus: Nycteris Family: Nycteridae

©Merlin D Description Nycteris thabaica is a small bat and the pelage is highly variable, ranging from pale sandy-brown to rich orange or golden. The underparts are slightly paler than the upper parts. The wings are short and rounded, light brown coloured and sparsely covered in hair. The ears are long and the tragus is characteristic shape, elongated with a rounded tip (i.e. pyriform). The facial slit covering the noseleaf distinguishes the genus in which this species is nested (i.e. Nycteris) from other microbats in the region. Distribution Nycteris thebaica has been recorded widely throughout the entire region, from all the southern African countries except Lesotho. However, it is absent from much of the plateau grasslands of South Africa, the central Karoo and the central Kalahari. Habitat Nycteris thebaica appears to occur throughout the savanna and karoo biomes, but avoid open grasslands. Ecology Diet Nycteris thebaica is a clutter forager which forages by flying low above the ground, listening for prey scurrying on the surface. Its diet varies seasonally, with Orthoptera, Coleoptera and Lepidoptera predominating, but this species also take a variety of other insects and arachnids in small proportions. Reproduction Breeding is seasonal. Copulations take place on the wing, while both bats are hovering. Females come into oestrous in June, at the peak period of the sperm production in males. Copulation and fertilization occur in late June. The young are born in November after a five-month gestation. In some parts of southern Africa, births also occur in the early wet season. Roosting behaviour Nycteris thebaica roosts during the day in a variety of shelters including caves, aardvark (Orycteropus afer) burrows, culverts under roads, and the trunks of large trees such as Adansonia digitata. The day roost is often not completely dark and caves need not to be extensive or deep. This species also utilises night roosts at which it consumes its prey and socialises with conspecifics. Both day and night roosts may contain several hundred bats. Individuals appear to co-inhabit the same day roost over many years. Status Least concern

Reference Monadjem. A, T. P. (2010). Bats of Southern and Central Africa: A Biogeographic and Taxonomic Synthesis. Witts University Press.