Duke of Abruzzi's free-tailed bat
Duke of Abruzzi's free-tailed bat (Chaerephon aloysiisabaudiae) is a species of bat in the family Molossidae. It is found in Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Gabon, Ghana, South Sudan, and Uganda. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forest, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, and moist savanna. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Duke of Abruzzi's free-tailed bat | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Chiroptera |
Family: | Molossidae |
Genus: | Chaerephon |
Species: | C. aloysiisabaudiae |
Binomial name | |
Chaerephon aloysiisabaudiae (Festa, 1907) | |
Synonyms | |
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Taxonomy and etymology
It was described as a new species in 1907 by Dr. E. Festa. Festa placed it in the now-defunct genus Nyctinomus, with the name Nyctinomus Aloysii-Sabaudiae.[2] Its species name "aloysiisabaudiae" is a Latinization of one of the names of Prince Luigi Amedeo, the Duke of Abruzzi. "Luigi" is an Italian variant of Latin Aloysius, while Latin "sabaudiae" refers to the House of Savoy.[3]
Description
Its fur is a light chestnut brown color.[2] Its flight membranes are blackish-brown.[3] It has large, rounded ears with very small tragi. Its upper lip is very wrinkly. It has a dental formula of 1.1.2.32.1.2.3 for a total of 30 teeth. Its forearm is 38–43 mm (1.5–1.7 in) long.[3]
Range and habitat
It is found in several countries in Africa, including Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo; Côte d'Ivoire; Gabon; Ghana; Sudan; and Uganda.[1]
See also
- Luigi Amedeo, Duke of the Abruzzi
Sources
- Monadjem, A.; Fahr, J.; Hutson, A.M.; Mickleburgh, S.; Bergmans, W. (2017). "Chaerephon aloysiisabaudiae". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T4305A22020676. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T4305A22020676.en.
- Festa, E (1907). "Spedizione al ruwenzorii di S A B Luigie Amadeo di Savoia Duca degli Abruzzi". Bollettino dei Musei di Zoologia ed Anatomia Comparata della R. Università di Torino. 22.
- Kingdon, J.; Happold, D.; Butynski, T.; Hoffmann, M.; Happold, M.; Kalina, J. (2013). Mammals of Africa. 4. A&C Black. p. 493. ISBN 9781408189962.