Rediscovery of Glauconycteris superba (bat)

Abstract.

We report the rediscovery of the Pied Butterfly Bat, Glauconycteris superba Hayman, 1939, 40 years after this species was last recorded. The new specimen from Mbiye Island, Democratic Republic of the Congo, is compared with the type specimens of G. s. superba and G. superba sheila Hayman, 1947 and a specimen from Matonguiné, Ivory Coast. The variation in the striking colouration of the pelage as well as in morphometric data is considered to be individual rather than geographic variation and we tentatively regard G. s. sheila as a synonym of the nominate form. Despite the wide distribution of this species in the tropical forest zone of West and Central Africa, only four specimens from four localities are known to date, which might indicate very specific habitat preferences. Contemporary land cover information around historic collection sites shows degraded landscapes. Given the highly uncertain area of occupancy of this species, we suggest changing the status of G. superba in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species from “Least Concern” to “Data Deficient”.

Full paper available free online:

http://www.europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/viewFile/164/207
 
That is a really interesting article surroundx, thanks for posting it.

The bat looks like a very cool species, with a pretty unusual pattern and very interesting history. I'm very surprised that, based on just 3 specimens ever recorded, IUCN would classify this as a Least Concern species. It certainly shows that more effort needs to be put into field research of small mammals, especially poorly known species which may be in need of urgent conservation attention, if they are still extant.
 
Surroundx said:
I've just been informed that this is that bat which was found in South Sudan, the world's newest country, and which was in the news a month or two ago. The one which was moved to a new genus. I was confused because of the different locality data given for the specimen by the paper above, and this one:

A new genus for a rare African vespertilionid bat: insights from South Sudan - Pensoft
Click to expand...

Ah ok. So there are now five known specimens. Still doesn't seem like they should be claiming it as a LC species (as they do in the paper above), I think DD is a much more appropriate category.

There are actually two threads that have already mentioned the new genus: http://www.zoochat.com/65/cool-new-bat-sudan-316232/ and http://www.zoochat.com/65/small-african-bat-placed-new-genus-315922/
although neither actually discusses it.
 
zooboy28 said:
The bat looks like a very cool species, with a pretty unusual pattern and very interesting history. I'm very surprised that, based on just 3 specimens ever recorded, IUCN would classify this as a Least Concern species. It certainly shows that more effort needs to be put into field research of small mammals, especially poorly known species which may be in need of urgent conservation attention, if they are still extant.
Click to expand...
the known specimens have been collected from Ghana, the Ivory Coast, the DRC, and South Sudan. That is a tremendous range, showing that the species is basically found across the entire forest band of central Africa. That is why it is Least Concern. The few specimens collected *may* be because it is a rare bat, but with such a wide distribution it is more likely that it is simply an artifact of collection techniques or localities.
 
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