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Commerson's leaf-nosed bat
Arboretum d'Antsokay
Conservation status
Near Threatened  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Chiroptera
Family:	Hipposideridae
Genus:	Macronycteris
Species:	M. commersoni
Binomial name
Macronycteris commersoni (É. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1813)

Commerson's roundleaf bat (Macronycteris commersoni), also known as Commerson's leaf-nosed bat, is a species of bat endemic to Madagascar. It is named after French naturalist Philibert Commerson (1727-1773). Bat populations of Africa or São Tomé and Príncipe formerly considered part of this species are now classified separately as M. gigas, M. thomensis or M. vittata, while one from Madagascar was split off to become M. cryptovalorona. It was formerly placed in the genus Hipposideros, but moved to the resurrected Macronycteris in 2017 on the basis of molecular evidence.

Distribution and habitat

The species is found in forests of several types on Madagascar, including dry deciduous forest, littoral forest and gallery forest, at elevations from sea level to at least 1350 m. It roosts in caves, on mature trees and in buildings. While its habitat is largely intact forest, it sometimes feeds near or in villages.

Biology

Commerson's roundleaf bat is a specialized predator of beetles. It exhibits significant sexual dimorphism, with males being larger. Females vary in morphology with latitude. During the winter these bats are either inactive or they migrate to different locations.

Conservation

Populations are threatened by deforestation and hunting. The bats are particularly vulnerable to hunting as they emerge from roosting sites at dusk. Large harvests of them are apparently taken throughout west Madagascar wherever their roosting sites are in proximity to settlements.

The species is present in a number of national parks and protected forests (Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park, Isalo National Park, Ankarafantsika National Park, Namoroka National Park, Tsimanampetsotsa National Park, Ankarana Reserve, Analamerana Reserve, Amber Mountain National Park and Kirindy Mitea National Park).

Hunting in west Madagascar is thought to have caused in a 20-25% population decline in that region over 15 years. However, the species is widespread across the island and appears to tolerate a degree of habitat degradation. The IUCN thus classifies it as a "near threatened" species.

References

1. ^ Monadjem, A.; Andriafidison, D.; Cardiff, S.G.; Goodman, S.; Hutson, A.M.; Jenkins, R.K.B.; Kofoky, A.; Racey, P.A.; Ranivo, J.; Ratrimomanarivo, F.H.; Razafimanahaka, J. (2019). "Macronycteris commersoni". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T10120A22092860. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T10120A22092860.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
2. ^ Simmons, N.B. (2005). "Order Chiroptera". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 369. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
3. Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2009-09-28). The Eponym Dictionary of Mammals. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 82–83. ISBN 978-0-8018-9304-9. OCLC 270129903.
4. Goodman, S. M.; Schoeman, M. C.; Rakotoarivelo, A.; Willows-Munro, S. (2016). "How many species of Hipposideros have occurred on Madagascar since the Late Pleistocene?". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 177 (2): 428–449. doi:10.1111/zoj.12368.
5. Foley, N. M.; Goodman, S. M.; Whelan, C. V.; Puechmaille, S. J.; Teeling, E. (June 2017). "Towards Navigating the Minotaur's Labyrinth: Cryptic Diversity and Taxonomic Revision within the Speciose Genus Hipposideros (Hipposideridae)". Acta Chiropterologica. 19 (1): 1–18. doi:10.3161/15081109acc2017.19.1.001.

• IUCN Red List near threatened species
• Mammals described in 1813
• Taxa named by Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire
• Mammals of Madagascar