In 1939 Hayman described a new vespertilionid bat from the Belgian Congo (now Democratic Republic of the Congo), noting that it was “one of the most striking discoveries of recent years’’ (Hayman 1939). He placed this species in the genus Glauconycteris Dobson, 1875, aptly erecting the specific name superba for its spectacularly bold black and white color pattern. Since that time, only a few specimens of this species have been collected. Our capture of a parous female in July 2012 in southwestern South Sudan represents a new country record for this poorly known bat, extending its range eastward. The only species of Glauconycteris previously reported from South Sudan is Glauconycteris variegata (Koopman 1975, McLellen 1986).
Hayman (1939) placed superba in Glauconycteris on the basis of its boldly patterned markings, dental formula, and properties of the incisors (Rosevear 1965; Rambaldini 2010).
Close examination of our 2012 South Sudan specimen relative to other specimens of Glauconycteris superba and of other Glauconycteris species indicates that, while this taxon is probably closely related to species of Glauconycteris, it lacks many of the most notable specializations of that genus, and we suggest that it is sufficiently and remarkably different from other vespertilionids as to warrant placement in a unique genus.
Among vespertilionids, Niumbaha bears closest comparison with species of Glauconycteris (the type species of which is Glauconycteris poensis), to which it is apparently closely related, but it has a considerably larger skull and is more strikingly patterned compared to any member of Glauconycteris (its patterning most closely approaching the Asian vespertilionid genus Scotomanes). It lacks various of the most exaggeratedly derived traits (specializations) that uniquely unite the species of Glauconycteris among African vespertilionids, including the excessively foreshortened rostrum, moderately to highly reduced relative canine size, and very elongate wing tips (second wing phalanxes) of Glauconycteris (Rosevear 1965). Externally, Niumbaha is immediately distinguished from all other African vespertilionid bats by its distinct coloration pattern, including pale yellow spots and stripes on an otherwise dark black pelage (Fig. 2, Fig. 3, and detailed descriptions below). While Hayman (1939:222) noted that, “in general form Glauconycteris superba does not differ from other Glauconycteris, ” we find that most external features are in fact different from Glauconycteris sensu stricto. The ears of Niumbaha are more robust and subquadrangular, contain a larger free lobe at the inner margin, and contain a more strongly curved tragus than Glauconycteris (Fig. 3). The muzzle of Niumbaha is more robust than Glauconycteris sensu stricto and contains nostrils that open more to the front than to the side (Fig. 3). The wingtips in Niumbaha are longer than in most other African vespertilionids in that phalanx 2 of the third digit is longer than phalanx 1, yet remain considerably shorter than in the characteristically long-wingtipped Glauconycteris (ratio of Ph2/Ph1 in Niumbaha, at 1.15 ± 0.05 SD, is significantly shorter than Glauconycteris, at 1.51 ± 0.12 SD; Fig. 4). Niumbaha shares its dental formula with Glauconycteris, at 2.1.1.3/3.1.2.3 = 32, but is overall significantly larger than species of Glauconycteris in all characters, with a total skull length of greater than 16.0 mm (Table 2; Fig. 5). While the rostrum of Glauconycteris is short and generally rises in an even plane from the incisors to the occiput, the frontal region of the skull in Niumbaha is excavated or ‘hollowed out’, with the upper surface of the longer rostrum largely flat and roughly parallel to the upper toothrows (see Fig. 5). Additionally, the skull is relatively less broad and less domed and more elongate than in Glauconycteris (indicated by ratios of the mastoid width, breadth of the braincase, height of the braincase, and zygomatic breadth to the greatest length of the skull (Table 2)), although the anterior portion of the rostrum is relatively broader (indicated by the ratio of the width at the upper canines to the width at the last molar (M3-M3)).
Glauconycteris superba Hayman, 1939, the Pied or Superb Butterfly Bat, is one of the most spectacularly coloured bats found in Africa. It is the largest species of the genus and characterised by black wings and a predominantly black pelage, which is strikingly marked with white spots and stripes on the head, back and belly.
Despite this unique and conspicuous colouration, only two additional specimens had been collected since its discovery in 1938 in Pawa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC): one on 6 Dec. 1946 in Oda, southern Ghana (and designated as type of Glauconycteris superba sheila Hayman, 1947), and one on 24 Jan. 1972 in Matonguiné [sometimes spelled as Matongouiné], southwestern Ivory Coast (Fahr 2013). In this paper we report on a fourth specimen, constituting the rediscovery of this species after 40 years since the last record, present data on its morphology and distribution, characterize climatic and land cover conditions at the collection sites, and discuss the taxonomy and conservation status of G. superba.
The pied butterfly bat (Glauconycteris superba), also known as the pied bat or badger bat, is a rare species of vesper bat in the family Vespertilionidae.[2]
First discovered in 1939 in Belgian Congo, the species was, at that time, placed in the genus Glauconycteris under the name Glauconycteris superba. Following a 2013 capture in South Sudan, only the fifth recorded capture of the species, the pied bat was relocated to an entirely new genus, Niumbaha, named after the Zande word for "rare".[3][4] Biology professor DeeAnn Reeder, one of the authors of the genus Niumbaha, said, "its cranial characters, its wing characters, its size, the ears – literally everything you look at doesn't fit. It's so unique that we need to create a new genus."[5] However, recognition of Niumbaha renders Glauconycteris paraphyletic and it is incorrect to treat Niumbaha as a valid genus without further splitting of Glauconycteris.[6] Due to this, both taxa have once again been synonymized.[7]
The distinctive pied bat partly resembles a bee, with light yellow stripes and blotches on its body.
It is found in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Equatorial Guinea and South Sudan.[4] Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland and dry forests.
{{cite web}}: External link in |work=The pied butterfly bat (Glauconycteris superba), also known as the pied bat or badger bat, is a rare species of vesper bat in the family Vespertilionidae.
