Red List of South African Species

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Near Threatened (NT)
Assessors: Corrie Schoeman Ara Monadjem Lientjie Cohen David Jacobs Kate MacEwan Leigh Rosanne Richards Theresa Sethusa Peter Taylor
Contributors: Domitilla Raimondo Samantha Page-Nicholson Claire Relton
Reviewers: Corrie Shoeman Ara Monadjem Lientjie Cohen David Jacobs Kate MacEwan Leigh Rosanne Richards Theresa Sethusa Peter Taylor

Rationale

This is an edge of range species, known from four collection areas in the assessment region from northern Limpopo, including Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area and Kruger National Park (KNP). It is poorly known and has not been recorded in the assessment region since 1986, with one exception being from Pafuri (KNP) in July 2006 (C. Schoeman unpubl. data). This could be because it avoids mist nets and is a whispering echolocating bat, hence difficult to monitor acoustically. Although the species occurs in at least two protected areas, parts of its roost and foraging and roosting habitats are threatened by agricultural expansion and logging. As the extent of occurrence is 8,922 km2, its habitat may be declining, it has been infrequently sampled over three decades, its subpopulations may be isolated due to presumed poor dispersal capacity based on relatively low wing loading, and it has been found only in four locations, we list it as Vulnerable B1ab(ii,iii,iv,v). However, due to application of the regional criterion (see below) we downlist it to Near Threatened B1ab(ii,iii,iv,v). Further field studies are needed to confirm its presence in the assessment region to determine its range, population size and trend more accurately. It should be reassessed once more data are available.

Regional population effects: This species has low wing-loading (Monadjem et al. 2010), and thus significant dispersal is unlikely. However, the resident population appears continuous with the Zimbabwean population and its habitat is connected between the regions through both the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park and the Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area. Thus we assume rescue effects are possible.

Distribution

This species has been recorded from southern and northern Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi and the extreme northeastern regions of South Africa. One specimen is known from Chicoa in Mozambique but is probably more widespread along the Limpopo, Save and Zambezi valleys (Cotterill 2013). Similarly, one specimen has been recorded from southwestern Tanzania (Cotterill 2013). It is generally a lowland species (ACR 2015). In the assessment region, it occurs in the extreme northern areas of Limpopo (Limpopo valley) in the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park and Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area, with an estimated extent of occurrence of 8,922 km².

Population trend

Trend

The abundance of this species is not well known. It is considered one of the rarest African nycterids (Van Cakenberghe and De Vree 1985), and is poorly represented in museums with only c. 50 specimens examined in Monadjem et al. (2010). However, it is locally common in Zimbabwe, especially in the low-lying valleys of the Limpopo, Save and Zambezi rivers and tributaries (Cotterill 1996). It has been recorded in colonies of a few dozen up to 40 individuals (Monadjem et al. 2010), otherwise animals have been recorded individually (ACR 2015). This species is difficult to monitor because it avoids mist nets and cannot be monitored acoustically because it is a whispering bat.

Threats

No major threats have been identified for this species within the assessment region. Although much of this species range in the assessment region is within protected regions in the Limpopo Province, roost sites outside of these reserves may be impacted by human disturbance (as caves are frequently utilised during traditional ceremonies and ecotourism) and habitat loss due to agricultural expansion (particularly cotton farming). Pesticide use and the loss of hollow Baobabs used as roosts are likely to cause local population decline (Cotterill 2013).

Uses and trade

There is no evidence to indicate that this species is used or traded within the assessment region.

Conservation

Wood’s Slit-faced Bat has been recorded from the protected Kruger National Park and Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area. Additional studies into the distribution, natural history and possible threats to this poorly known species are urgently required before specific interventions can be devised. However, as cavities in large trees, such as Baobabs and Sausage Trees (Cotterill 2013), provide critical roost sites and cool microhabitats (sensu Toussaint and McKechnie 2012), the protection and preservation of these trees is considered crucial for the prolonged local presence of this species.

Recommendations for land managers and practitioners:
  • Reduce pesticide use in agricultural landscapes.
  • Protect and preserve large trees, which provide valuable roosting sites for this species.
Research priorities:
  • A top research priority should be to determine whether this species is still present within the assessment region, as well as determining its current population size and trend.
  • Investigations into the possible threats faced by this species, including impacts from climate change.
Encouraged citizen actions:
  • Citizens can assist the conservation of the species by reporting sightings on virtual museum platforms (e.g., iSpot and MammalMAP), and therefore contribute to an understanding of the species distribution.

References 

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