SANBI

Rationale (Changed due to Same category and criteria)

This is a widely distributed species outside of the assessment region, found in moist and dry woodland savannah and shrubland and commonly associated with swamps in degraded habitats and can thus occupy habitats that have been disturbed. In southern Africa, it occurs in sparsely separated localities, and has only been recorded in Bonamanzi Game Reserve in northern KwaZulu-Natal Province within the assessment region (despite it being easily sampled with mist nets and extensive surveys having taken place in the region). However, it is possible that it may be more widely distributed in southern coastal Mozambique where suitable habitat abounds. As the sole subpopulation occurs in a protected area with no imminent threats, the locality does not qualify as a location. While the species may technically qualify for a threatened category in the assessment region, this is an extreme edge-of-range species that is common and adaptable elsewhere in Africa. Thus, we list as Least Concern. However, as the population from Mozambique and South Africa is isolated from the rest of the African range, this population may be revealed to be taxonomically distinct, and thus a reassessment will be needed. Additionally, as there are no recent records for the South African population, field surveys are required to determine its continued existence in the assessment region. Once such data are available, reassessment will be necessary.

Regional population effects: This species has been recorded from Palmiera in southern Mozambique and is suspected to occur more extensively in the region. However, it flies low to the ground and has low wing-loading so rescue effects are uncertain.

Distribution

This species has been widely, but patchily, recorded over much of sub-Saharan Africa, ranging from Senegal in the west, through West and Central Africa to Somalia in the east, and as far south as South Africa. It occurs at a few widely separated localities in southern Africa, having been recorded from the southern The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), south-central Zambia, Chiromo in southern Malawi, the Okavango Delta in northern Botswana (Monadjem et al. 2010), Mana Pools National Park in Zimbabwe (Rautenbach & Fenton 1992), the Tete Province (Skinner & Chimimba 2005) and Palmiera in Mozambique (Monadjem et al. 2010). In the assessment region, the species is only recorded from Bonamanzi Game Reserve (Kearney & Taylor 1997), near Hluhluwe and iSimangaliso Wetland Park in KwaZulu-Natal (Figure 1). Surveys in suitable habitat across the range, including neighbouring protected areas, have revealed no further subpopulations. As this species is relatively easy to sample using conventional capture techniques (e.g. mist nets), it is likely that Bonamanzi represents the only locality.

Habitat View more ecological information

Population trend

Trend

In southern Africa, this species is very poorly represented in museums, with just 17 records examined in Monadjem et al. (2010). It appears to be a locally rare species, usually occurring as moderately small colonies of several individuals up to a few dozen animals (ACR 2015). Though only recorded from one locality in the assessment region, this species is widespread and common throughout the rest of the continent.

Threats

In some parts of its range, including the one locality in the assessment region, this species is possibly threatened by the conversion of its habitat to agricultural use. For example, clearing lala palms was listed as its major threat in Friedmann and Daly (2004). It is uncertain whether this is occurring within Bonamanzi. Additionally, climate change may represent an emerging threat as anecdotal evidence suggests that the small stream in Bonamanzi, where this species was last found, has not flowed more than intermittently since 2003 due to the extended Zululand drought (W. White unpubl. data).

Uses and trade

This species is not known to be utilised or traded in any form.

Conservation

No specific conservation interventions can be recommended until more research is conducted to quantity habitat preferences, threats and identify further potential subpopulations. The only known record of this species in South Africa is outside the protected area iSimangaliso Wetland Park but inside Bonamanzi Game Reserve (private). Managers should determine current occupancy inside Bonamanzi and identify key roosting sites and implement measures to protect them.

Recommendations for land managers and practitioners:

Establish a systematic monitoring programme.
Protect key roosting sites on Bonamanzi Game Reserve.

Research priorities:

Further research is needed into the distribution of this patchily recorded species (ACR 2015).
Studies documenting roosting habits and subpopulation sizes and trends in southern Africa.
Research quantifying habitat preferences and threats
Research into taxonomic distinctiveness of the South Africa and Mozambique population.

References

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,]

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