{{Short description|Species of bat}} {{speciesbox | name = Benito roundleaf bat | image = Hipposideros beatus.jpg | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 16 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=Monadjem, A. |author2=Juste, J. |author3=Bergmans, W. |author4=Mickleburgh, S. |author5=Hutson, A.M. |author6=Fahr, J. |date=2017 |title=''Hipposideros beatus'' |volume=2017 |article-number=e.T10112A22098184 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T10112A22098184.en |access-date=16 November 2021}}</ref> | genus = Hipposideros | species = beatus | authority = K. Andersen, 1906 | synonyms = | range_map = Benito Roundleaf Bat area.png | range_map_caption = Benito roundleaf bat range }}
The '''Benito roundleaf bat''' ('''''Hipposideros beatus''''') is a species of bat in the family Hipposideridae found in Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, and Togo. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.<ref name="iucn status 16 November 2021" />
==Taxonomy== The Benito roundleaf bat was described as a new species in 1906 by Danish mammalogist Knud Andersen. The holotype was collected {{cvt|15|mi|km}} from the Benito River by American naturalist George Latimer Bates.<ref name="Andersen 1906">{{cite journal|last=Andersen|first=K.|year=1906|title=XXXV.—On ''Hipposiderus caffer'', Sund., and its closest Allies; with some notes on ''H. fuliginosus'', Temm| journal=The Annals and Magazine of Natural History; Zoology, Botany, and Geology|series=7|volume=17|pages=279–280|url=https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/19245497}}</ref> Two subspecies are recognized: ''H. b. beatus'' and ''H. b. maximus''.<ref name="Kingdon 2013"/>
==Description== It has fine, fluffy, dark brown hair. Its ears are relatively short for a roundleaf bat, at {{cvt|12-16|mm|in}}. Individuals weigh {{cvt|6-9.5|g|oz}} and have forearm lengths of {{cvt|39-48|mm|in}}.<ref name="Kingdon 2013">{{cite book| editor-last1=Kingdon| editor-first1= J.| editor-last2= Happold| editor-first2= D.| editor-last3= Butynski| editor-first3= T.| editor-last4= Hoffmann| editor-first4= M.| editor-last5= Happold| editor-first5= M.| editor-last6= Kalina| editor-first6= J.| last=Happold| first=Meredith| date= 2013| title= Mammals of Africa| volume=4| publisher= A&C Black| pages=373–375|isbn=978-1-4081-8996-2}}</ref>
==Biology and ecology== It is monoestrous, with one breeding season per year. Mating occurs in June and July (the end of the first wet season; females give birth in October and November (the middle of the second wet season). The litter size is one offspring.<ref name="Kingdon 2013"/>
==Range and habitat== The Benito roundleaf bat has been documented in several countries in Africa, mainly in Central Africa. Its range includes: Cameroon, Republic of the Congo, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Sudan, and Togo. It as found at elevations up to {{cvt|500|m|ft}} above sea level.<ref name="iucn status 16 November 2021" />
==Conservation== As of 2017, the Benito roundleaf bat is classified as a least-concern species by the IUCN.<ref name="iucn status 16 November 2021" />
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
{{Hipposideridae}} {{Taxonbar|from=Q1760873}}
Category:Hipposideros Category:Mammals described in 1906 Category:Taxa named by Knud Andersen Category:Bats of Africa Category:Taxonomy articles created by Polbot