Myonycteris torquata

Geographic Range

Little collared fruit bats ( Myonycteris torquata ) are native to the Ethiopian region; their range extends from west to central Africa. They are found natively along the equator in the following countries: Angola, Cameroun, Central African Republic, Congo, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Bioko, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Togo, Uganda, northeastern Zaire and Zambia.

• Biogeographic Regions
• ethiopian ethiopian
  • native native

Habitat

Little collared fruit bats are mainly found in forests. They have been captured deep within the forest and in the forest's edge, many of these captures have occurred at the canopy level. They have also been found in wooded savannas; however, this may be largely due to wet season migrations. Little collared fruit bats have also been observed on farmlands and in gardens located near and within cities. They may be found at medium to low altitudes, but they are typically considered a lowland species.

• Habitat Regions
• tropical tropical

• Terrestrial Biomes
• savanna or grassland savanna or grassland
• forest forest
• rainforest rainforest

• Other Habitat Features
• urban urban
• suburban suburban
• agricultural agricultural

Physical Description

Little collared fruit bats do not show any significant sexual size dimorphism, males tend to weigh 40 g and have a total body length of 112 mm, whereas females typically weigh 34 g and have a total body length of 102 to 105 mm. The differences observed in an individual's size and fur are associated with their age. These bats have unique hairs that resemble the texture of a pinecone. These hairs are thought to be involved with scent dispersal. In addition, these bats have a ring of course hairs around their neck, which extends onto their chest. Little collared fruit bats have variable coloration. Their upper body often ranges from light- to dark brown, but they may also be red- or yellow brown in some cases. Males have a collar of course hairs around their neck that ranges in color from olive to yellow. Little collared fruit bats resemble Angolan fruit bats , especially as juveniles or young adults; however, little collared fruit bats have a much shorter forearm and a hairless distal area on their tibia and webbed hind-foot toes.

• Other Physical Features
• endothermic endothermic
• bilateral symmetry bilateral symmetry

• Sexual Dimorphism
• sexes alike

Reproduction

Little collared fruit bats exhibit year long reproduction. Further research on their mating systems is needed, however, several of their close relatives are polygynous and some are polygynandrous (promiscuous). Their close relatives use vocal calling and wing flapping to attract mates.

• Mating System
• polygynous polygynous
• polygynandrous (promiscuous) polygynandrous (promiscuous)

The breeding season of little collared fruit bats reportedly lasts from July until March. Breeding may last longer, but it is heavily dependent on the climatic conditions experienced during the dry season. Little collared fruit bats undergo two birthing periods, the first of which lasts from approximately August to September and the second lasts from approximately February to March. Males migrate into the savannas during the wet season while the females are pregnant. Females have been observed lactating from November to May. Further research is needed on their reproductive behavior; however, several of their close relatives become sexually mature at the age of two or earlier. In these closely related species, females generally give birth to a single pup and lactating females may feed their young for up to seven months. After weaning, the young may stay with their mothers for four additional months.

• Key Reproductive Features
• year-round breeding year-round breeding
• gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate)
• sexual sexual
• fertilization fertilization
• viviparous viviparous

The only groups of little collared bats that have been reported roosting together are females with their offspring. Males migrate away and are not involved with their offspring. Further research is needed on their parental investment, however, in their close relatives; lactating females may feed their young for up to seven months. After weaning, the young may stay with their mothers for four additional months.

• Parental Investment
• female parental care female parental care

Lifespan/Longevity

Further research is needed on the lifespan of little collared fruit bats; however, their close relatives have lived for nearly 30 years in the wild and in captivity.

Behavior

Little collared fruit bats are arboreal; they are also a nocturnal, non-hibernating species. These bats roost solitarily. Males migrate to the savannas during the wet season. Further research is needed on their behavior.

• Key Behaviors
• arboreal arboreal
• flies
• nocturnal nocturnal
• motile motile
• migratory migratory
• daily torpor
• solitary solitary

Home Range

There is currently little information available regarding the home range size of little collared fruit bats.

Communication and Perception

Little collared fruit bats have gland hairs that resemble pine-cones. These hairs are thought to be involved with scent dispersal. Further research is needed on their communication and perception; however, their close relatives are known to use visual, chemical, tactile and acoustic perception channels.

• Communication Channels
• visual visual
• tactile tactile
• acoustic acoustic
• chemical chemical

• Perception Channels
• visual visual
• tactile tactile
• acoustic acoustic
• chemical chemical

Food Habits

Little collared fruit bats are primarily frugivorous. In some locations, they specialize on the fruits of genus Solanum . During the wet season, when little collared fruit bats migrate, they have been observed feeding on the fruits of shea trees ( Vitellaria paradoxa ), which are at their peak fruiting at that time. These bats have also been observed eating bananas ( Musa ) and they have been captured near guava ( Psidium guajava ) and mango ( Mangifera indica ) trees. Additionally, they have been reported visiting the flowers of fountain trees ( Spathodea campanulata ), kapok trees ( Ceiba pentandra ) and tree beans ( Parkia roxburghii ).

• Primary Diet
• herbivore herbivore
  • frugivore frugivore

• Plant Foods
• fruit

Predation

Further research is needed on the predation of little collared fruit bats. Their close relatives may be preyed upon by birds, mammals, snakes and lizards.

Ecosystem Roles

Little collared fruit bats are used as a host by the mite species Binuncus myonycteris . Likewise, Hepatpcystis perronae is a parasite found in their hepatocytes (liver cells).

Economic Importance for Humans: Positive

Humans hunt and consume little collared fruit bats, providing a source of food and income; however, these bats are a likely natural reservoir of the Ebola-virus. Further research and education about the bats and their migratory patterns is therefore important for human health.

• Positive Impacts
• food food
• research and education

Economic Importance for Humans: Negative

Little collared fruit bats are a likely natural reservoir of the Ebola-virus.

• Negative Impacts
• injures humans
  • causes disease in humans causes disease in humans

Conservation Status

Little collared fruit bats are a species of least concern; nevertheless, they are affected by habitat destruction.

Additional Links

Encyclopedia of Life

Contributors

Jordon Krall (author), University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Christopher Yahnke (editor), University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Leila Siciliano Martina (editor), Texas State University.

References

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