The little collared fruit bat was named for its prominent collar of stiff and sticky hairs that line its throat and sides of its neck in adults.[2] On its dorsal side, its fur is dark chestnut brown and long, compared to its ventral surface which is shorter and paler in color.[2] White basal ear tufts and epaulets are absent, helping distinguish the little collared fruit bat from related fruit bat species.
Ecologyedit
Little is known about the ecology of the little collared fruit bat. According to Bergmans (1976), it appears to be a solitary species, spending most of its time in the rainforest zone and near the forest-savanna boundary.[2][3] The little collared bat tends to fly in the upper strata of the forest, sometimes descending to lower levels where it can be observed. Very few specimens are available in collections, suggesting the rarity of the species.[4]
Taxonomyedit
There is little difference between the two described subspecies M. t. leptodon and M. t. wroughtoni, and they are often considered undefined taxonomic divisions.[2]
Connection to Ebola virusedit
The little collared fruit bat is one of three species of African fruit bat in which antibodies to Ebola virus have been detected along with viral RNA.[4] No culturable virus has been isolated. It is not known whether these species are incidental hosts or a reservoir of Ebola virus infection for humans and other terrestrial mammals. Despite the fact that scientists have found evidence of Ebola infections in the little collared fruit bat, the bats do not seem to get sick.[5]
Referencesedit
^Bakwo Fils, E.M.; Kaleme, P. (2016). "Myonycteris torquata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T84463104A22046504. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T84463104A22046504.en. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
^ abcdHappold, D.C.D (1976). The Fruit Bats of Western Nigeria. Department of Zoology, University of Ibadan: The Nigerian Field, Vol. XLIII. pp. 30–76. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
^Javier, J. B.; Ibanez, C.; Machordom, A. (22 August 1997). "Evolutionary Relationships among the African Fruit Bats: Rousettus egyptiacus, R. angolensis, and Myonycteris". Journal of Mammalogy. 78 (3): 766–774. doi:10.2307/1382935. JSTOR 1382935.
^ abLeroy, EM; Kumulungui, B; Pourrut, X; Rouquet, P; Hassanin, A; Yaba, P; Délicat, A; Paweska, JT; Gonzalez, JP; Swanepoel, R (1 December 2005). "Fruit bats as reservoirs of Ebola virus". Nature. 438 (7068): 575–6. doi:10.1038/438575a. PMID 16319873. S2CID 4403209.
^Vogel, G. (10 April 2014). "Are Bats Spreading Ebola Across Sub-Saharan Africa?". Science. 344 (6180): 140. doi:10.1126/science.344.6180.140. PMID 24723589.
May 08, 2024
little, collared, fruit, little, collared, fruit, myonycteris, torquata, species, megabat, family, pteropodidae, found, angola, cameroon, central, african, republic, republic, congo, democratic, republic, congo, ivory, coast, equatorial, guinea, gabon, ghana, . The little collared fruit bat Myonycteris torquata is a species of megabat in the family Pteropodidae found in Angola Cameroon the Central African Republic the Republic of the Congo the Democratic Republic of the Congo Ivory Coast Equatorial Guinea Gabon Ghana Guinea Liberia Nigeria Rwanda Sierra Leone South Sudan Togo and Uganda Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and moist savanna Little collared fruit bat Conservation status Least Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Mammalia Order Chiroptera Family Pteropodidae Genus Myonycteris Species M torquata Binomial name Myonycteris torquataDobson 1878 Little collared fruit bat range Contents 1 Anatomy and physiology 2 Ecology 3 Taxonomy 4 Connection to Ebola virus 5 ReferencesAnatomy and physiology editThe little collared fruit bat was named for its prominent collar of stiff and sticky hairs that line its throat and sides of its neck in adults 2 On its dorsal side its fur is dark chestnut brown and long compared to its ventral surface which is shorter and paler in color 2 White basal ear tufts and epaulets are absent helping distinguish the little collared fruit bat from related fruit bat species Ecology editLittle is known about the ecology of the little collared fruit bat According to Bergmans 1976 it appears to be a solitary species spending most of its time in the rainforest zone and near the forest savanna boundary 2 3 The little collared bat tends to fly in the upper strata of the forest sometimes descending to lower levels where it can be observed Very few specimens are available in collections suggesting the rarity of the species 4 Taxonomy editThere is little difference between the two described subspecies M t leptodon and M t wroughtoni and they are often considered undefined taxonomic divisions 2 Connection to Ebola virus editThe little collared fruit bat is one of three species of African fruit bat in which antibodies to Ebola virus have been detected along with viral RNA 4 No culturable virus has been isolated It is not known whether these species are incidental hosts or a reservoir of Ebola virus infection for humans and other terrestrial mammals Despite the fact that scientists have found evidence of Ebola infections in the little collared fruit bat the bats do not seem to get sick 5 References edit Bakwo Fils E M Kaleme P 2016 Myonycteris torquata IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016 e T84463104A22046504 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2016 1 RLTS T84463104A22046504 en Retrieved 16 November 2021 a b c d Happold D C D 1976 The Fruit Bats of Western Nigeria Department of Zoology University of Ibadan The Nigerian Field Vol XLIII pp 30 76 Retrieved 25 April 2019 Javier J B Ibanez C Machordom A 22 August 1997 Evolutionary Relationships among the African Fruit Bats Rousettus egyptiacus R angolensis and Myonycteris Journal of Mammalogy 78 3 766 774 doi 10 2307 1382935 JSTOR 1382935 a b Leroy EM Kumulungui B Pourrut X Rouquet P Hassanin A Yaba P Delicat A Paweska JT Gonzalez JP Swanepoel R 1 December 2005 Fruit bats as reservoirs of Ebola virus Nature 438 7068 575 6 doi 10 1038 438575a PMID 16319873 S2CID 4403209 Vogel G 10 April 2014 Are Bats Spreading Ebola Across Sub Saharan Africa Science 344 6180 140 doi 10 1126 science 344 6180 140 PMID 24723589 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Little collared fruit bat amp oldid 1171071170, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
