Red List of South African Species

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

Rationale

This species is distributed across the arid western regions of southern Africa, predominantly occurring in the Northern Cape Province of the assessment region. It occurs in habitats unlikely to be extensively transformed and can roost in old mine adits. The estimated extent of occurrence is 173,750 km2 and population size is inferred to be c. 20,000 individuals (based on 20–50 colonies consisting of < 100 individuals each). Thus, this species qualifies as Least Concern. However, the population trend should be closely monitored since there is an ongoing threat of loss of roost sites due to old mines being re-opened for mining. Additionally population size should be calculated more accurately and a reassessment may be necessary once further data are available.

Regional population effects: Habitat is contiguous with Namibia and thus dispersal is assumed to be occurring.

Distribution

The species is restricted to the arid, warm western parts of southern Africa, with records reported from Angola, Namibia and western South Africa (Jacobs et al. 2013). Within the assessment region, it has been recorded predominantly from the Northern Cape Province and marginally in the North West Province. A record from the Western Cape Province (ACR 2015) is erroneous. The estimated extent of occurrence is 173,750 km2. Within R. damarensis itself, there is cryptic diversification corresponding to a northern and southern lineage (having arisen more recently than the split with R. darlingi), which is possibly a response to changes in biome boundaries during the Miocene (Jacobs et al. 2013).

Population trend

Trend

While not much is known about abundance or population trends of this species, it occurs in small colonies of < 100 individuals per colony (D. Jacobs unpubl. data). We estimate that there are 20–50 colonies and thus infer that the overall population in the assessment region is c. 20,000 individuals. Systematic monitoring is necessary to more accurately estimate population size.

Threats

The species is potentially threatened by the re-opening of mine adits, as well as re-use of old mines. However, it occurs in areas of low human density and so there are no major identified threats. Climate change may become a future threat (sensu Sherwin et al. 2013), but more research is necessary.

Uses and trade

Not known to be utilised or traded in any form.

Conservation

Within the assessment region, the species is recorded from the formally protected Richtersveld National Park and the Augrabies Falls National Park. While no direct interventions are currently necessary, monitoring of populations trends in response to the threat of mining is required.

References 

[@book{19529,
 address = {Johannesburg},
 author = {Monadjem, A., Taylor, P.J., Cotterill, F.P.D. and Schoeman M.C.},
 publisher = {University of Witwatersrand Press},
 title = {Bats of Southern and Central Africa: a biogeographic and taxonomic synthesis},
 year = {2010}
}
,@article{4221,
 author = {Meester JAJ, Rautenbach IL, Dippenaar NJ, Baker CM},
 journal = {Transvaal Museum Monographs},
 pages = {1–359},
 title = {Classification of southern African mammals},
 volume = {5},
 year = {1986}
}
,@techreport{4306,
 address = {Pretoria, South Africa},
 author = {ACR},
 title = {African Chiroptera Report 2015},
 year = {2015}
}
,@article{4306,
 author = {Sherwin HA, Montgomery WI, Lundy MG.},
 journal = {Mammal Review},
 pages = {171–182},
 title = {The impact and implications of climate change for bats},
 volume = {43},
 year = {2013}
}
,@techreport{4306,
 address = {Pretoria. Available from http://www.africanbats.org},
 author = {ACR},
 institution = {African Bats},
 title = {African Chiroptera Report 2014},
 year = {2014}
}
,@article{19531,
 author = {Jacobs DS, Babiker H, Bastian A, Kearney T, van Eeden R, Bishop JM},
 journal = {PloS one },
 pages = {e82614},
 title = {Phenotypic convergence in genetically distinct lineages of a <i>Rhinolophus</i> species complex (Mammalia, Chiroptera)},
 volume = {8},
 year = {2013}
}
,@article{67369846,
 author = {Monadjem A},
 journal = {African Bat Conservation News},
 pages = {2–4},
 title = {Bats recorded from Koegelbeen cave and selected other sites in the Northern Cape, South Africa},
 volume = {18},
 year = {2008}
}
,]
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