On the taxonomic status and distribution of African species of Otomops (Chiroptera: Molossidae).

ABSTRACT:

Background

Free-tailed bats of the genus Otomops are poorly known, and most species are documented from a handful of widely scattered localities. Recently, two allopatric species of Otomops were recognized in continental Africa: Otomops martiensseni (Matschie, 1897) in southern, central and western Africa, and the new species O. harrisoni Ralph et al., 2015 in the northeast and in Yemen.

Methods

We collected additional samples of Otomops in Kenya and Rwanda where the ranges of these taxa approach one another to clarify their geographic ranges and taxonomic status. Mitochondrial and nuclear intron sequences served to identify and delimit species; we also documented their echolocation call variation and ectoparasite complements.

Results

SUBMITTER: Patterson BD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5971098 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature