Rationale
(Changed due to New Information)
Listed as Least Concern as this species, although sparsely distributed, is found in a large protected area (Kruger National Park) in northeastern South Africa and inhabits savannah habitats, which are unlikely to decline significantly within the assessment region. Although it occurs in a limited number of localities within the assessment region, there are no plausible threats and thus Vulnerable D2 does not apply. Further field surveys and vetting of distribution records should be undertaken to improve the accuracy of its range map within the region. Additionally, should molecular research reveal S. damarensis to be a distinct species, a reassessment will be necessary.
Regional population effects: It is uncertain whether rescue effects are possible due to the discontinuity of its distribution in southern Africa. Further research on its dispersal capacity and connectedness is necessary. However, since it occurs in the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Park and its habitat is thus connected to Mozambique and Zimbabwe (Monadjem et al. 2010), we assume rescue effects are possible.
Distribution
The White-bellied House Bat is widely distributed north of 5°N but sparsely and discontinuously distributed in the central savannahs of southern Africa, occurring in northern South Africa, southern Mozambique, and southern Zimbabwe, with a separate population in northern Zimbabwe, central Mozambique and southern Zambia, extending west to northern Botswana and Namibia, with an isolated record from central Angola (Monadjem et al. 2010). Habitat models suggest it might be more widespread in southern Africa than currently recorded (Monadjem et al. 2010), but there is also uncertainty about the validity of its range in southern Africa (encompassing Zambia, Botswana, South Africa and Angola). As such, further molecular research is needed to delimit its range more accurately. Within the assessment region, it occurs in Kruger National Park (KNP) in Limpopo Province. Specimens from Punda Maria (KNP) include large and small animals as well as specimens with both yellow and no yellow in their ventral pelage, which necessitates re-examination of the specimens to determine whether they correspond to either S. leucogaster or S. viridis (Monadjem et al. 2010). The type specimen for the subspecies S. l. damarensis is from northern Namibia (Monadjem et al. 2010).
