The badger bat exhibits certain characteristics reminiscent of a bee, such as its body adorned with light yellow stripes and blotches.
The specimens were derived from regions that are presently characterized by significant degradation and fragmentation, particularly in West Africa.
One of the primary concerns is the significant risk posed by the depletion of natural habitats due to logging and agricultural activities.
The population size is undetermined, however, there is evidence to suggest that the population trend is experiencing a decline.
Based on the provided information, it is arguable that categorizing the subject as “Least Concern” may be misleading.
Instead, designating it as a threatened category or as Data Deficient would likely be more appropriate. Keep reading to find out more!
How Do I Describe the Badger Bat?
The small microbat species under consideration possess a visually striking black-and-white colouration. Notably, it lacks a noseleaf and exhibits a tail that is predominantly enclosed within the interfemoral membrane.
In terms of dental characteristics, it possesses four upper and five lower cheek teeth, as well as two upper incisors on each side.
The ears of this species are relatively short compared to other vespertilionid bats, measuring approximately 13 mm and displaying a subquadrangular shape.
The wings of this bat are blackish, lacking conspicuous reticulation. The dorsal pelage of the bat is primarily black but is adorned with distinctive white spots and stripes, including three spots on the head.
Furthermore, the rostrum of this bat species is elongated and flattened, distinguishing it from other members of the Glauconycteris genus.
The vespertilionid species under consideration exhibits a medium size, while Glauconycteris represents the largest species within this taxonomic group.
Sexual dimorphism refers to the observable differences between males and females of a species in terms of their physical characteristics, such as size, shape, colouration, and other morphological traits.
The fur of the animal is characterised by its dense and soft pelage, with mid-dorsal hairs measuring approximately 6-7 mm in length.
The dorsal pelage is characterised by a black colouration with white markings. These markings consist of a single spot on the nose and two spots located on the forehead adjacent to each ear.
Additionally, there is a backwards-pointing subtriangular band present on each side of the mid-dorsal line, extending from the shoulder blade to the mid-back. Notably, the chin, flanks, and mid-ventral area remain black in colouration.
The hairs located on the dorsal and ventral regions exhibit a reddish to dark brown hue, accompanied by a black tip, or a pristine white coloration.
The auditory organs possess a strong inclination towards the taxonomic classification known as the genus subquadrangular.
The tragus exhibits a wide breadth, with a posterior margin that is noticeably curved and accompanied by a small basal lobule.
The wing membranes exhibit a blackish colouration on the dorsal side, lacking any reticulation pattern. On the ventral side, the wing membranes display a pale reticulation pattern.
The interfemoral membrane exhibits a dorsal colouration that is blackish, while its ventral surface appears pale grey. The elbows, knees, and ankles exhibit either a dark or light complexion.
The tibia length for this particular genus measures 21 mm. Approximately 79% of the human body is comprised of the tail. The skull of Glauconycteris exhibits a notable size and robustness in comparison to other specimens.
Specifically, when observed from a lateral perspective, the profile of the forehead region displays a distinct concavity.
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What is the Taxonomy of the Badger Bat?
The species was initially identified in 1939 in the Belgian Congo and was classified as Glauconycteris superba within the genus Glauconycteris.
In 2013, a capture of the pied bat in South Sudan took place, marking the fifth documented capture of this species.
Subsequently, the pied bat was transferred to a previously unassigned genus called Niumbaha, which was named after the Zande term denoting “rare”.
According to DeeAnn Reeder, a biology professor and one of the authors of the taxonomic classification known as genus Niumbaha, various anatomical features such as:
- Cranial characteristics
- Wing morphology
- Size
- Auditory structures
do not conform to the expected patterns.
The distinctiveness of the subject matter necessitates the establishment of a novel taxonomic category at the genus level.
Nevertheless, the inclusion of Niumbaha in the taxonomy of Glauconycteris renders the latter paraphyletic.
Therefore, it would be inaccurate to consider Niumbaha as a valid genus without further subdivision of Glauconycteris. As a result, both taxa have once again been considered synonymous.
Read also:Â Bumblebee Bat: Facts, Identification and Behavior
Tip-Off: Where Can the Badger Bat Be Found?
The geographical distribution of this species encompasses the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Equatorial Guinea, and South Sudan.
The natural habitats of the badger bat encompass subtropical and tropical environments, specifically moist lowland forests as well as dry forests.
The badger bat (Glauconycteris superba), alternatively referred to as the pied bat, is a species of vesper bat that belongs to the family Vespertilionidae. It is considered to be a rare species.
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