Wahlbergs epauletted fruit bat

Appearance

Wahlberg’s epauletted fruit bat is brown to tawny colored with white hair patches at the base of the ears. Males are typically darker in coloration than females. This species is named for erectable epaulettes of hair that form around large scent glands in males only. Males are also distinguished from females by air sacs on the neck that may increase the volume of courtship calls. Scent glands are located near the white ear patches in both sexes. Wings are broad as compared to other bat species. Adult wingspan is 510–600 mm and 456–540 mm for males and females, respectively. Adults weight 54–125 g .

The eyes of are ''E. wahlbergi'' are large. Ears are simple, oval-shaped, and lack a tragus. The nose is also simple, but the lips are highly folded and expansible. Skulls are 44–57 mm and 41–49 mm long for males and females, respectively.

Species of the genus ''Epomophorus'' can be distinguished from other megabats by their eponymous white epaulettes. A single post-dental palatal ridge in ''E. wahlbergi'' distinguishes this species from other members of the genus.

Habitat

Wahlberg’s epauletted fruit bat is found across southern Africa in forest, shrubland, and savanna habitats at altitudes from sea level up to 2,000 m .Mickleburgh, S., A.M. Hutson, and W. Bergmans. 2008. ''Epomophorus wahlbergi''. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2.. Downloaded on 12 April 2012. Populations have also been found in wooded urban areas and roosting in man-made structures.

Reproduction

Outside of breeding activities and parental care, social interaction typically only occurs while roosting. During the mating season, males leave the roost tree, fly to another tree, and make frog-like courtship calls while displaying their erected epaulettes for up to an hour before moving to another tree. Calling males position themselves approximately 50 m from other males and make 75-120 calls per minute.

Two birth periods occur per year, the first from February to March and the second from October to December The first birth period coincides with peak fruit availability in the rainy season. Gestation is 5–6 months. Litter size is usually one, but, occasionally, two pups may be born. Bats are typically full-grown at 15 months. Females are able to reproduce at 12 months old, while males reach sexual maturity after this but before 18 months of age.

Food

Wahlberg’s epauletted fruit bat is frugivorous, its diet mainly consisting of figs, guava, and various fruits of ''Diospyros'' species. Collected fruit is typically carried away from the source tree to another tree. The soft tissue and fruit are consumed while the seeds and skins are discarded. Leaves from ''Balanites'' species and several insects may also be eaten.

Defense

''E. wahlbergi'' is nocturnal. It roosts in well-lit open trees, under palm fronds, in dense forests near rivers, under thatched roofs of sheds, and, rarely, in caves. Roosting groups may be 3-100 individuals. Bats typically change roost locations daily or every few days and may fly as far as 4 km to feeding areas. Roost locations may follow the ripening of fruit trees. Alternatively, frequently changing roost sites may be a strategy to decrease predation. Females travel greater distances to feeding areas early in the night while males travel farther closer to dawn. Roost trees may be shared with other ''Epomophorus'' species, though roosting groups are formed by single species.

While roosting, ''E. wahlbergi'' is camouflaged by cryptic fur patterns. White ear spots are present in all members of the genus ''Epomophorus'' and may function to break up the outline of the head when viewed from below.