Red List of South African Species

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Least Concern (LC)
Assessors: Ara Monadjem David Jacobs Lientjie Cohen Kate MacEwan Leigh Rosanne Richards Corrie Schoeman Theresa Sethusa Peter Taylor
Contributors: Samantha Page-Nicholson Domitilla Raimondo Matthew Child
Reviewers: Ara Monadjem David Jacobs Lientjie Cohen Kate MacEwan Leigh Rosanne Richards Corrie Shoeman Theresa Sethusa Peter Taylor

Rationale

Listed as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution (estimated extent of occurrence for the assessment region is 331,034 km2), its occurrence in multiple protected areas (including Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park), and because there are no major identified threats that could cause widespread decline. It has been shown to occur more extensively in the assessment region (new subpopulations recorded) than known in the previous assessment. It is unknown whether it tolerates human disturbed habitats. There is no evidence to suggest it qualifies for a threatened status under criterion B because it does not appear to be limited by roost availability. However, it is an uncommon species and further field surveys and research are necessary to delimit population size and trend, distribution and habitat selection more accurately. Once such data are available, this species should be reassessed.

Regional population effects: The range of this species is continuous across the borders of the assessment region through its occurrence in the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park. Additionally, it has intermediate wing loading (Schoeman & Jacobs 2003) so dispersal effects are probably possible.

Distribution

This species has been widely, but patchily, recorded over much of East Africa and southern Africa, parts of southern Central Africa, and a single West African locality in southeastern Guinea (Monadjem et al. 2010; ACR 2015). In East and southern Africa, it is sparsely distributed in the eastern regions, with scattered records distributed from Ethiopia and the Sudan in the north, through Kenya, Tanzania and Malawi, to Zambia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and northeastern South Africa (Fahr & Ebigbo 2003; Monadjem et al. 2010; ACR 2015). It has not been recorded from Namibia or Botswana (ACR 2015). Within the assessment region, it occurs in Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and marginally in the Free State. It is absent from Lesotho and there are no current records for Swaziland (Skinner & Chimimba 2005), but may in future be recorded from Swaziland (sensu Shapiro & Monadjem 2016). Its current estimated extent of occurrence for the assessment region is 331,034 km2.

Population trend

Trend

Although this species is widespread, it is not common (ACR 2015). It tends to roosts singly and hence it is very difficult to estimate population size. It is poorly represented in museums, with just 30 records examined in Monadjem et al. (2010). We presume the population is stable given new subpopulations being recorded since the previous assessment. However, further monitoring and research is needed to estimate population size and trend.

Threats

There appears to be no major threats to this species (ACR 2015). It is able to utilise semi-disturbed vegetation or landscapes for roosting and foraging. However, there is ongoing habitat loss from agricultural and human settlement transformation, especially in KwaZulu-Natal (Jewitt et al. 2015) and Gauteng (Driver et al. 2012; GeoTerraImage 2015). Selective logging of trees for fuelwood and charcoal production may also cause local declines. Pesticide use in agricultural landscapes may reduce the insect prey base.

Uses and trade

There is no evidence to suggest that this species is traded or utilised.

Conservation

This species has been recorded from Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, and is expected to occur in many other smaller protected areas. No direct conservation measures are currently needed for this species. However, the species would benefit from continued protected area expansion to protect additional subpopulations, such as that being planned to link Maputaland to the Lubombo Transfrontier Conservation Area (Smith et al. 2008). Additionally, this species would benefit from holistic land management that reduces pesticide use and conserves buffer strips of natural vegetation to sustain insect biomass.

Recommendations for land managers and practitioners:
  • Reduce pesticide use in agricultural landscapes and maintain buffer strips of natural vegetation.
Research priorities:
  • Quantification of severity of local threats.
  • Research is needed to determine the population size, distribution and trends (through monitoring of known subpopulations).
  • Research into general ecology, habitat selection and foraging ecology.
Encouraged citizen actions:
  • Citizens can assist the conservation of the species by reporting sightings on virtual museum platforms (for example, iSpot and MammalMAP), and therefore contribute to an understanding of the species distribution.

References 

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