Saudi Bats

First published in Journal of the Saudi Arabian Natural History Society, Volume 4, #2 Fall 2000, pp 1-15. Reprinted in The Desert Rambler, Journal of the Riyadh Natural History Society, Volume XXII, September 2000, pp 5-24. Reproduced on WWW.SAUDICAVES.COM with permission of the author.

Bats are the only true flying mammals and are distributed all over the world. They are classified in the Order Chiroptera. There are about 900 species of bats known to science. Most bats are relatively small and their dominant colours are dark brown and grey. The order is divided into two suborders: Megachiroptera which includes the larger fruit bats, and Microchiroptera which includes the smaller bats which feed primarily on animal food, especially insects. The latter group is the most numerous. Almost all bats are active only after dark. They roost during the day usually in dark places in old buildings or in caves and crevices.

In 1976 an article with the same title was published in No. 17 of this Journal. In that article only fifteen species of bats were recorded from Saudi Arabia. Presently, a total of 29 species of bats representing eight families, are known from the kingdom.

Following are brief notes on field identification and present known distribution of each species in the Kingdom. The main purpose of this paper is to aid those who are interested in the natural history of Saudi Arabia to identify these fascinating animals without going into too much technical details. Also, this paper may stimulate an interest to collect specimens and more scientific data to add to a better understanding of these animals in this area.

To aid in the identification, the following notes on the bat morphology may be helpful. The forelimbs in bats are developed as wings similar to those of birds. However, in bats the forelimb itself provides the supporting structure. The usual musculature has almost disappeared, and the skin on the upper and lower surfaces is fused to form a very thin wing membrane. This is supported and kept stretched during flight by the elongated fingers. There are five fingers in each forelimb. The wing membrane, which is almost hairless, extends along the sides of the body to the ankles. There is usually a spur-shaped cartilaginous or bony structure arising from the inner side of the ankle. This is called the calcar. The interfemoral membrane lies between the hindlimbs and the tail. In some species there is an outer extension of skin from the calcar called the postcalcarial lob. The first finger or thumb is always short, free and clawed. In the fruit bats the second finger is also clawed. The feet have five toes, each with a strong curved claw.

In contrast with the Megachiroptera, the eyes of the Microchiropteran bats are very small. Since bats rely extensively on the sense of hearing by using the sonar system, the ears, and especially the external parts, are well-developed, and have different forms in different species. Many species have a small lobe in front of the ear passage called the tragus. In some species there is an upward extension from the basal part of the outer margin of the ear called the antitragus.

Bats in Saudi Arabia are known by several names. In classical Arabic the name 'wat wat' is usually applied for the large fruit bats, while 'khufash' is usually applied for the small insectivorous bat. Local colloquial names, which are generally used, are sahat' and 'abu khafa'. In the Jizan area, in the southwestern region of the Kingdom, local name for the bat is 'fakhdud'.

Prof. Iyad A. Nader is Project Director for the Zoological Society of London at the King Khalid Wildlife Center at Thumamah. His address is Box 61681, Riyadh 11575 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

All drawings are by the author except the following: Detail of the head of R. aegyptiacus after Kingdon, 1974, East Africa Mammals, P.124; details of the head of R. microphyllum, the noseleaf of A. tridens, and the head of 0. hemprichi are after Harrison, 1964, The Mammals of Arabia, P. 54 & P.174, respectively; detail of noseleaf of R hipposideros after Lyneborg, 1971, Mammals in Color, P.18.

SUBORDER MEGACHIROPTERA

Family PTEROPODIDAE - Fruit Bats

Identification: This is one of the largest bats in Saudi Arabia. Total length 134-167 mm; tail length 9-19 mm; forearm length 84-99 mm and wingspan about 60 cm. The muzzle is long, heavy and deep. The ears are somewhat short and not narrowed at their bases. The eyes are large. The wing membrane arises from the flanks thus the dorsal pelage is not narrowed. The second finger is clawed. The tail projects from the ventral surface of the interfemoral membrane to a distance of about 5-6 mm.

Distribution: Known from Taif, Jeddah, Baha, Raydah and vicinity of Abha. It is most likely present all along the western coast of the Kingdom.

Identification: This is the largest bat recorded in Saudi Arabia. Total length 160-210 mm; tail length 7-16 mm; forearm length 109-125 mm and wingspan 550-600 mm.

The eyes are large and the ears are oval-shaped and narrow. The wing membrane arises high up on the back so that the dorsal pelage is narrowed as a result of that. Adult males have golden hairs on the throat.

Identification: A medium-sized fruit bat. Total length of the single adult female 79 mm and forearm length of three adults 65.6-70.2 mm (Gaucher, 1992). Shoulder pouches lined with white hairs are well-developed in adult males. Males are larger than females.

SUBORDER MICROCHIROPTERA

Identification: This is a large mouse-tailed bat. Total length 132-145 mm; tail length 55-69 mm; forearm length 60-72 mm. The tail is very long and slender, a large portion of it projecting free from the interfemoral membrane. The tail in this species is usually shorter than the forearm. The ears are united across the forehead, and the tragus is well developed.

Distribution: It is known from near Madina and the vicinity of Abha however it is expected to be present all along the Red Sea coast.

Identification: This is a smaller bat than R. microphyllum, but otherwise very similar to it. Total length 110-140 mm; tail length 55-70 m; forearm length 48-59 mm. The tail is almost always longer than the forearm. Thus, it is relatively longer than that of R. microphyllum.

Distribution: This species is known from several localities in the western region along the Red Sea from Midian in the north to the vicinity of Abha and Farasan island in the south. It has also been recorded from near Riyadh.

Family EMBALLONURIDAE - Sheath-tailed Bats

Identification: This is a large tomb bat. Total length 105-130 mm; tail length 25-33.5 mm; forearm length 65-79 mm. The posterior parts of both the back and the abdomen are void of hair, hence the name of this species. The extremity of the tragus is expanded and club-shaped. The tail emerges from the central part of the interfemoral membrane or slightly further back. The calcar is well developed.

Distribution: It is known from near Taif, near Abha and Najran in the southwestern part of the Kingdom.

Identification: It is a medium-sized sheath-tailed bat similar to T. nudiventris but smaller. Total length 81-101 mm; tail length 21-27 mm; forearm length 59-65 mm. The hair on the dorsal and the ventral sides extend back to the origin of the interfemoral membrane. The calcar is less developed than T. nudiventris.

Distribution: It is known in the western part of the Kingdom from near Taif, near Usfan, NE Jeddah; and near Abha.

Identification: This is a medium-sized slit-faced bat. Total length 97-110 mm; tail length 47-58 mm; forearm length 42.6-47.0 mm. This bat is easily recognized by the structure of its muzzle, which has a deep median furrow, and by the presence of lateral projections on the dorsal side of the muzzle. Its ears are large, measuring 28-34 mm, and their upper edges are rounded. The last tail vertebra is bifid, with a T-shaped form. There is a well-developed calcar which supports the outer edge of the interfemoral membrane. The pelage is long and dense. Its colour in general is light brown above and lighter colour or greyish white on the ventral side.

Distribution: It is known from several localities in the western part of the Kingdom. These are: Wadi Sawawin; Jeddah and its vicinity; Al Baha; Sabiya; Abha and vicinity; Jizan and Najran.

Identification: This is a medium-sized horseshoe bat. Total length 78-93 mm; tail length 23.0-35.5 mm; forearm length 45.6 –52.0 mm. The muzzle is covered by a noseleaf consisting of an erect part called the lancet and a lower horizontal horseshoe that covers the upper lip and surrounds the nostrils. There is also a perpendicular median outgrowth known as the sella, which has upper and lower processes. The upper process of the sella is bluntly pointed in side view and its anterior border is slightly concave. The ears are pointed and the tragus is absent. The colour of the pelage is light gray-brown-above, and lighter below.

Distribution: It has been recorded in the western region from Muwailih in the northwest on the Red Sea coast; Makka; Taif; Wadi Ad Dawasi; Al Baha; 50 km NNE Abha; Raydah escarpment.

Identification: This is a smaller horseshoe bat than R. clivosus, but otherwise similar to it. Total length 55-77 mm; tail length 22-33 mm; forearm length 34-38 mm. The upper process of the sella is low and blunt in side view, while its lower process projects out quite clearly. The pelage is dense and soft. The color is grayish brown above and lighter below.

Family HIPPOSIDERIDAE - Leaf-nosed Bats

Identification: This is a small leaf-nosed bat with a somewhat long tail. Total length 73-82 mm; tail length 27-35 mm; forearm 42-47 mm. The nose leaf almost covers the muzzle. The fur is soft and long. The colour is variable, ranging from orange to greyish brown.

Distribution: In the southwest of Saudi Arabia from Al Jowa; Mothra; Al Baha; Ablah and Wargan.

Identification: A small, lightly built leaf-nosed bat. Length of head and body 35.2 mm; forearm length 35 mm. The ears are large, rounded and united at the base. The nose leaf is simple. The colour of the pelage is pale grey above, whitish below.

Distribution: This an African bat. In Saudi Arabia it is recorded only from Jeddah.

Identification: This is also a small leaf-nosed bat. Total length 71-90 mm; tail length 19-26 mm; forearm length 44-54 mm. The nose leaf has three vertical projections at its superior edge. The central projection is pointed, while the outer ones are blunt. The tip of the ear is bluntly pointed and directed outward. Its anterior margin is strongly convex. The tail is well-developed and its tip projects out from the interfemoral membrane for about 3-5 mm.

Distribution: The Trident nose-leaf bat is known from near Usfan, about 80 km NW of Mecca; Jeddah and its vicinity; near Taif; Durma and Hufuf.

Identification: A small-sized trident leaf-nosed bat. Very much like A. tridens but smaller. Forearm length 37.5-39.4 mm.

Distribution: A rare African bat known from several localities in Ethiopia and Eritrea.

Identification: A large free-tailed bat. The body is well built, the ears are large and the wings are long and narrow. Total length 123-140 mm; tail length 43-55 mm; forearm 58-64 mm and wingspan 400-450 mm. The upper lips have a series of vertical furrows. The tips of the ears are rounded and not joined at their anterior bases. The outline of the tragus is square and the antitragus is large. The toes are densely covered with short stiff hairs. The pelage is soft and dense and the colour is dark grey.

Distribution: In Saudi Arabia it is known from two localities in the western region: Wadi Sawawin and Taif.

Identification: A medium-sized free-tailed bat. Smaller than T. teniotis. Total length 100-121 mm; tail length 34-55 mm; forearm length 48-54 mm. The tragus is small. The pelage is fine and dense. The colour is light greyish brown dorsally.

Distribution: In Saudi Arabia it is known from two localities in the Al Baha region.

Identification: This is a small free-tailed bat. Total length 77-85 mm; tail length 25-30 mm; forearm length 36-38 mm. The tail is well-developed and about half of it projects beyond the interfermoral membrane which is short. The calcar is developed. The tragus is small, but the antitragus is large. The upper lip has about three vertical ridges on its anterior part. The wings are long and narrow. A connecting membrane joins the ears across the forehead. The outline of the ear is triangular. Adult males have a frontal crest of hair behind the ears. The toes have long hairs.

Distribution: It has been recorded from Jizan and Sabiya in the southwestern part of the Kingdom.

Identification: A medium-sized free-tailed bat. Measurements of the two subadult specimens are: Total length 95,100 mm; tail length 35,36 mm; forearm length 43,46 mm (of adult African specimens are 47-51 mm). The upper lip has seven ridges with short stiff spines. The relatively small ears are almost ovoid in shape and are connected across the forehead by a membrane.

Identification: This is a larger free-tailed bat than T. pumila. Total length 125-138 mm; tail length 41-51mm; forearm length 57.7-60.0 mm. External features are similar to T. pumila; however it is clearly heavier built, with larger feet and tail. There are seven vertical ridges on the anterior part of the upper lip. The calcar is strong. The ears are large, oval-shaped and joined by a connecting membrane across the forehead.

Distribution: It has been recorded only from south of Al Mowassam, near the Yemen border and Al Jowa.

Identification: A small, lightly built bat. Total length 87-93 mm; tail length 38-44 mm; forearm length 40-44 mm. The tail is well developed, only its extreme tip projects from the interfemoral membrane. The pelage is dense and woolly. The colour is distinctive. The hairs on the back are tricoloured. The basal third is slate grey, the middle third is buff and the tips darker, mostly orange brown. The ventral surface is paler. The wing membrane blackish.

Distribution: In Saudi Arabia it is known from near Taif and Raydah escarpment.

Identification: A medium sized serotine bat. Total length 90-97 mm; tail length 39-42 mm; forearm length 40-42 mm. The tip of the tail extends about 3.5 mm from the interfemoral membrane. The pelage is soft, dense and usually long. The tips of the hairs are pale buffy clay colour. The lower surface is white.

Distribution: A rare bat in Saudi Arabia. It is known only from Misfera, about 40 km north of Abha.

Identification: This is a small serotine bat. Total length 80.5-91.0 mm; tail length 38.0-38.5 mm; forearm length 33.0-38.5 mm. The muzzle is simple. The tail is well- developed and it is completely enclosed in the interfemoral membrane except for its extreme tip which projects out of the membrane. The ear is small and its anterior edge has a well-developed angular basal lobe. The tragus is well-developed also. The colour of the limbs and ears are blackish contrasting with the uniform pale buffy colour of the pelage.

Distribution: It has been recorded from near Jeddah; Al Jow in the southwest; Al Aflaj and Dhahran. It is expected that this species has a wider range in the Kingdom.

Identification: This is a small vespertilionid bat. Total length 70-93 mm; tail length 32-42 mm; forearm length 30-36 mm. This bat is similar in external features to Eptesicus nasutus however there are some cranial differences especially in the dental formula. This bat has two upper premolars while E. nasutus has only one. The colour of the pelage is brownish to blackish above and light brown or whitish below. The wing membrane always has a distinct white border between the foot and the fifth digit, tending to invade the membrane which is paler-coloured and has translucent striation.

Distribution: In Saudi Arabia it is known from near Taif; Raydah escarpment; near Marrat in central Najd; Riyadh and Hufuf.

Identification: It is one of the smallest pipistrelles of the peninsula. Total length 70-72 mm; tail length 32-35 mm; forearm length 30-30.5 mm. The tail is relatively long. The tip of the tail slightly extends from the interfemoral membrane. The interfemoral membrane is pale, translucent and contrast with the dusky blakish wing membrane. The pelage is long, dense and grey-coloured dorsally and paler ventrally.

Identification: This is also a small vespertilionid bat. Total length 69-79 mm; tail length 28.5-33 mm; forearm length 29.6-32.7 mm. It is quite similar externally to E. nasutus, however there are some cranial differences especially in the dental formula. This species has one upper incisor while E. nasutus has two. The ears are short and somewhat broad. The calcar is long, supporting about half of the free edge of the interfemoral membrane. The pelage colour is variable ranging from reddish brown to geyish. The ventral side is paler.

Distribution: It has been recorded from near Qunfida and from 20 miles SE of Qunfida in the western part of the Kingdom.

Identification: A moderately robust vespertilionid bat. Total length 102-118 mm; tail length 41-49 mm; forearm length 51-53 mm. The tail is well developed and it projects 3 mm from the interfemoral membrane. The wing membranes are attached to the bases of the outer toes. The colour of the dorsal side is mostly olive brown and that of the ventral side is paler. The lower throat is buffy yellow.

Distribution: In Saudi Arabia it is recorded only from Abha-Raydah escarpment.

Identification: This is a large vespertilionid bat. Total length 122-188 mm; tail length 55-58 mm; forearm length 62.6-66.0 mm. This bat is easily distinguished by its long ears, which are about two third as long as the forearm. The ear tip is bluntly rounded off. The antitragus is very small, while the tragus is very large. The tail is well- developed and its tip projects from the interfemoral membrane for about 4-5 mm. The pelage is dense and long. Its colour is very pallid dorsally and it is white ventrally in the adults.

Distribution: In Saudi Arabia it is has been recorded from Hail; Unaiza; Taif; Riyadh and Hufuf.

Identification: A small vespertilionid bat with large ears. Measurements of two specimens from Saudi Arabia are: total length 85 mm; tail length 35-37 mm; forearm length 40 mm. The tail is relatively long. The tragus is large. The wing membranes are inserted on the bases of the outer toes. The calcar is well-developed. The pelage is long and dense and the colour of the dorsal side is greyish and the ventral side is white.

Identification: A medium sized bat with relatively long legs and tail. Total length 105-106 mm; tail length 50-51 mm; forearm length 44.0-44.4 mm. The wings are dark and moderately wide at the base, narrow and elongated at the distal end. The interfemoral membrane is pale brown and semi translucent. The colour of the head and neck is blackish and the dorsal side is dark brown.

Distribution: In Saudi Arabia it has been recorded from near Taif; Abha; Abha-Raydah escarpment and Ablah.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

This bibliography includes all known published literature on the bats of Saudi Arabia.

Abu Yaman, I. K. 1966. Insect pests of Saudi Arabia. Z. angew. Entomol., 58:266-278.

Ayyoub, M. S. 1960. Insects and crop pests and their control in Saudi Arabia; Ministry of Agr., Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 405 pp. (in Arabic).

Cheesman D.R.E. and M. A. C. Hinton. 1924. On the mammals collected in the desert of Central Arabia by Major R. E. Cheesman. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. 9th Ser. 14:548-558.

Ellerman, J. R. and T. C. S. Morrison-Scott. 1951. Checklist of Palaearctic and Indian Mammals, 1758 to 1946: British Museum (Nat. History.), London 810 pp.

Gaucher, P. 1992. New record of an epaulated bat Epomophorus labiatus Temminck, 1837 (Mammalia: Chiroptera; Pteropodidae) in Saudi Arabia. Mammalia, Vol. 56, No. 4: 657-559.

Gaucher, P. 1993. First record of Scotophilus leucogaster (Cretzschmar, 1826) (Mammalia: Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) in Saudi Arabia. Mammalia, Vol. 57, No. 1:146-147.

Gaucher, P. and A. Brosset. 1990. Record of Hipposideros (Synesmotis) megalotis Heuglin) in Saudi Arabia. Mammalia, Vol. 54, No. 4: 653-654.

Gaucher, P. and D. L. Harrison. 1995. Occurrence of Bodenheimer’s pipistrelle Pipistrellus bodenheimeri Harrison, 1960 (Mammalia: Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) in Saudi Arabia. Mammalia, Vol. 59, No. 4: 672-673.

Harrison, D.L. 1956. A key to the identification of bats (Chiroptera) of the Arabian Peninsula: Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 127, Part 4: 447 A52.

Harrison, D. L. 1957, Some systematic notes on the Trident bats (Asellia tridens E. Geoffroy) of Arabia: Mammalia, Vol. 21, No.1:1-8.

Harrison, D. L. 1964. The Mammals of Arabia. Vol.1. Insectivora. Chiroptera. Primates: Emest Benn Ltd., London, xx+192 pp.

Harrison, D. L. 1972. The Mammals of Arabia. Vol. 3. Lagomorpha. Rodentia: Ernest Benn Ltd., London, P. 383-670 (App. IV:626-629).

Harrison, D. L. and P. J. J. Bates. 1991. The Mammals of Arabia. 2^nd ed. Harrison Zoological Museum Publication. 354 pp.

Hayman, R.W. 1954. Notes on some African Bats, mainly from the Belgian Congo. Revue Zool. Bot. Afr., 50: 277-295.

Hayman, R.W. and D. L. Harrison. 1950. Notes on some mammals newly recorded from Arabia. Ann, Mag. Nat. Hist. (Ser 12), Vol. 3:417-419.

Moeschler, P., I. A. Nader and P. Gaucher. 1990. First record of Asellia patrizii De Beaux, 1931 (Chiroptera: Hipposideridae) in Saudi Arabia. Mammalia, Vol. 54, No. 4: 654-655.

Kock, D. and I. A. Nader. 1984. Tadarida teniotis (Rafinesque, 1814) in the W-Palaearctic and a lectotype for Dysopes rupellii Temminck, 1826 (Chiroptera: Molossidae). Z.F. Saugetierkunde, Vol. 49, No. 3: 129-135.

Morrison-Scott, T. C. S. 1939, Some Arabian mammals collected by Mr. H. St. J.B. Philby: C.I.E. Novit. Zool., 41:181-211.

Nader, I. A. 1973. In Quest of bats. Jour. Saudi Arabian Nat. Hist. Soc., No. 10: 5-7.

Nader, I. A. 1975. On the bats (Chiropetra) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Jour. Zool., Lond., Vol.176: 331-340.

Nader, I. A. 1976. Bats of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Jour. Saudi Arabian Nat. Hist. Soc., No. 17: 4-12.

Nader, I. A. 1978. Zoogeographical notes on the bat fauna of Saudi Arabia. 4^th. Int. Bat Res.Conf., : 173-176; Nairobi.

Nader, I. A. 1982. New distributional records of bats from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Mammalia: Chiroptera). Jour. Zool., Lond., Vol. 198: 69-82.

Nader, I. A. and D. Kock. 1980. First record of Tadarida nigeriae (Thomas 1913) from the Arabian Peninsula. Senckenbergiana biol., Vol. 60, No. 3/4: 131-135.

Nader, I. A. and D. Kock. 1983. Notes on some bats from the Near East (Mammalia: Chiroptera). Z. Saugetierkde, Vol. 48, No. 1: 1-9.

Nader, I. A. and D. Kock. 1983. A new slit-faced bat from central Saudi Arabia (Mammalia: Chiroptera: Nycteridae). Senckenbergiana biol., Vol. 63, No. 4/6: 9-15.

Nader, I. A. and D. Kock. 1983. Rhinopoma microphyllum asirensis n. subsp. from southwestern Saudi Arabia. (Mammalia: Chiroptera: Rhinopomatidae). Senckenbergiana biol., Vol. 63, No. 3/4: 147-152.

Nader, I. A. and D. Kock. 1986. First record of Miniopterus schreibersi (Kuhl 1819) (Mammalia: Chiroptera) from North Yemen with zoogeographical relationship evidenced by wing mites (Acarina: Spinturnicidae). Senckenbergiana biol., Vol. 67, No. 4/6: 225-229.

Nader, I. A. and D. Kock. 1990. Eptesicus (Eptesicus) bottae (Peters 1869) in Saudi Arabia with notes on its subspecies and distribution (Mammalia: Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae). Senckenbergiana biol., Vol. 70, No. 1/3: 1-13.

Nader, I. A. and D. Kock. 1990. Plecotus austriacus (Fischer, 1829) new to Saudi Arabia, with remarks on taxonomy and zoogeography (Mammalia: Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae). Fauna of Saudi Arabia, Vol. 11: 318-322.

SAUDI BATS

Looking for a specific Saudi bat?

Find it fast in the Systematic List of Saudi Bats

by Iyad A. Nader PhD

SUBORDER MEGACHIROPTERA

Family PTEROPODIDAE - Fruit Bats

SUBORDER MICROCHIROPTERA

Family EMBALLONURIDAE - Sheath-tailed Bats

Family HIPPOSIDERIDAE - Leaf-nosed Bats