Ansell's epauletted fruit bat


Ansell's epauletted fruit bat is a species of megabat in the family Pteropodidae.

Taxonomy and etymology

It was described as a new species in 2004.
The holotype was collected in 1982 in Kasungu National Park, Malawi at above sea level.
The eponym for the species name "anselli" is W. F. H. Ansell "for his important contributions to the mammalogy of Malawi and other African countries."

Description

Its forearm length is approximately.
Its snout is long and narrow.

Biology and ecology

Very little is known about its reproduction, as only a few individuals have been documented.
However, a female was collected in mid-May that was classified as "nearly adult."

Range and habitat

It has only been recorded in Malawi.
Its range includes the miombo woodland.

Conservation

As of 2016, it is considered a data deficient species by the IUCN.
There are very few occurrence records for this species; its geographic range, population trend, and ecological requirements are unknown.
When describing the species in 2004, the authors stated that there was "no reason to believe that the species is in any danger ", despite its infrequent documentation.