habitat_narrative
Terrestrial
The Angolan Free-tailed Bat is commonly associated with both moist and dry savannah habitats, but also occasionally occurs at the edges of woodland (Monadjem et al. 2016). Natural roost sites include narrow crevices in rock faces and caves, as well as hollows in trees (Fenton et al. 1994), and sites that allow for a free vertical drop as they take flight are preferred (Verschuren 1957). This species has also taken to roosting in anthropogenic structures, particularly roofs of houses, in the expansion joints of bridges (Monadjem et al. 2010) and within mine shafts (Skinner & Chimimba 2005). In the assessment region, the species has been recorded from Mopane Bioregion, Central Bushveld, Lowveld, Mesic Highveld Grassland, Indian Ocean Coastal Belt and Sub-Escarpment Savanna bioregions.Within hot, dry summer conditions in South Africa, the Angolan Free-tailed Bat reveals a preference for temperature zones of 35â40°C within the roost to maintain basal metabolism and minimise energetic costs associated with thermoregulation (Monadjem et al. 2010). They are capable of utilising a broad range of climatic and environmental (semi-arid to mesic) conditions using adaptive thermoregulation and osmoregulation, and will enter a state of torpor during both summer and winter conditions (Bronner et al. 1999; Buffenstein et al. 1999; Maloney et al. 1999; Vivier & van der Merwe 2007).
The species is considered an open-air forager and feeds primarily on Coleoptera, Hemiptera and Lepidoptera (Monadjem et al. 2010). They commonly forage throughout the night, departing from the roost site at dusk and only returning at dawn (Monadjem et al. 2010).
Female Angolan Free-tailed Bats are considered seasonally polyoestrus, exhibiting a bimodal pattern of reproduction with two birth seasons from early September to early May (Skinner & Chimimba 2005; Monadjem et al. 2010). The gestation period is 85 days, and lactation occurs for about 50â60 days after birth (Vivier & van der Merwe 1997). The breeding season of males in Mpumalanga was found to occur for a duration of 9 months from June to February, peaking in August/September, and then again in November/December (Vivier & van der Merwe 1996).
Ecosystem and cultural services: As this species is insectivorous, it may contribute to controlling insect populations (Boyles et al. 2011; Kunz et al. 2011). Bats often prey on the insect species that destroy crops (Boyles et al. 2011; Kunz et al. 2011). Ensuring a healthy population of insectivorous bats can thus result in a decrease in the use of pesticides.
