{{Short description|Species of bat}} {{speciesbox | name = Commerson's leaf-nosed bat | image = Commerson's leaf-nosed bat (Hipposideros commersoni).jpg | image_caption = Arboretum d'Antsokay | status = NT | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=Monadjem, A. |author2=Andriafidison, D. |author3=Cardiff, S.G. |author4=Goodman, S. |author5=Hutson, A.M. |author6=Jenkins, R.K.B. |author7=Kofoky, A. |author8=Racey, P.A. |author9=Ranivo, J. |author10=Ratrimomanarivo, F.H. |author11=Razafimanahaka, J. |date=2019 |title=''Macronycteris commersoni'' |volume=2019 |article-number=e.T10120A22092860 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T10120A22092860.en |access-date=19 November 2021}}</ref> | genus = Macronycteris | species = commersoni | authority = (É. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1813)<ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021" /> | synonyms = | range_map = | range_map_caption = }}
'''Commerson's roundleaf bat''' ('''''Macronycteris commersoni'''''), also known as '''Commerson's leaf-nosed bat''',<ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021" /> is a species of bat endemic to Madagascar.<ref name = MSW3>{{MSW3 Chiroptera | id = 13800749 | page = 369}}</ref> It is named after French naturalist Philibert Commerson (1727–1773).<ref name = "Beolens">{{Cite book | last = Beolens | first = Bo |author2=Watkins, Michael |author3=Grayson, Michael | title = The Eponym Dictionary of Mammals | publisher = The Johns Hopkins University Press | date = 2009-09-28 | location = Baltimore | pages = 82–83 | url = http://google.com/books?id=I-kSmWLc6vYC&pg=PA82 | isbn = 978-0-8018-9304-9| oclc = 270129903}}</ref> Bat populations of Africa or São Tomé and Príncipe formerly considered part of this species are now classified separately as ''M. gigas'', ''M. thomensis'' or ''M. vittata'',<ref name = MSW3/> while one from Madagascar was split off to become ''M. cryptovalorona''.<ref name="Schoeman2016">{{cite journal|last1= Goodman|first1=S. M.|last2= Schoeman|first2=M. C.|last3= Rakotoarivelo|first3= A.|last4= Willows-Munro|first4= S.|title= How many species of ''Hipposideros'' have occurred on Madagascar since the Late Pleistocene?|journal= Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society|volume= 177|issue= 2|year= 2016|pages= 428–449|doi= 10.1111/zoj.12368|doi-access= free}}</ref> It was formerly placed in the genus ''Hipposideros'', but moved to the resurrected ''Macronycteris'' in 2017 on the basis of molecular evidence.<ref name = "Foley2017">{{Cite journal|last1= Foley|first1=N. M.|last2= Goodman|first2=S. M.|last3= Whelan|first3=C. V.|last4= Puechmaille|first4=S. J.|last5= Teeling|first5= E.|date=June 2017|title= Towards Navigating the Minotaur's Labyrinth: Cryptic Diversity and Taxonomic Revision within the Speciose Genus ''Hipposideros'' (Hipposideridae)|journal= Acta Chiropterologica|volume= 19|issue= 1|pages= 1–18|doi= 10.3161/15081109acc2017.19.1.001 |url=http://publication.plazi.org/id/D73AFFB7FFD02E30FFA4FFCEFF948430 }}</ref>
== Distribution and habitat == The species is found in forests of several types on Madagascar, including dry deciduous forest, littoral forest and gallery forest, at elevations from sea level to at least 1350 m.<ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021" /> It roosts in caves, on mature trees and in buildings.<ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021" /> While its habitat is largely intact forest, it sometimes feeds near or in villages.<ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021" />
==Biology== Commerson's roundleaf bat is a specialized predator of beetles.<ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021" /> It exhibits significant sexual dimorphism, with males being larger.<ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021" /> Females vary in morphology with latitude. During the winter these bats are either inactive or they migrate to different locations.<ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021" />
==Conservation== Populations are threatened by deforestation and hunting. The bats are particularly vulnerable to hunting as they emerge from roosting sites at dusk. Large harvests of them are apparently taken throughout west Madagascar wherever their roosting sites are in proximity to settlements.<ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021" />
The species is present in a number of national parks and protected forests (Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park, Isalo National Park, Ankarafantsika National Park, Namoroka National Park, Tsimanampetsotsa National Park, Ankarana Reserve, Analamerana Reserve, Amber Mountain National Park and Kirindy Mitea National Park).<ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021" />
Hunting in west Madagascar is thought to have caused in a 20-25% population decline in that region over 15 years. However, the species is widespread across the island and appears to tolerate a degree of habitat degradation. The IUCN thus classifies it as a "near threatened" species.<ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021" />
==Predation== Bat hawks are reported predators of this bat. Other small mammals and snakes may prey on this bat as well. Vulnerability to predation is often highest for bats as these animals emerge from roosting sites.<ref>Hipposideros commersoni (Commerson’s roundleaf bat). Animal Diversity Web. https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Hipposideros_commersoni/</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Hipposideridae}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q2595749}}
Category:Mammals described in 1813 Category:Taxa named by Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire Category:Mammals of Madagascar