On the taxonomic status and distribution of African species ofOtomops(Chiroptera: Molossidae)

BackgroundFree-tailed bats of the genusOtomopsare poorly known, and most species are documented from a handful of widely scattered localities. Recently, two allopatric species ofOtomopswere recognized in continental Africa:Otomops martiensseni(Matschie, 1897) in southern, central and western Africa, and the new speciesO. harrisoniRalph et al., 2015 in the northeast and in Yemen.MethodsWe collected additional samples ofOtomopsin Kenya and Rwanda where the ranges of these taxa approach one another to clarify their geographic ranges and taxonomic status. Mitochondrial and nuclear intron sequences served to identify and delimit species; we also documented their echolocation call variation and ectoparasite complements.ResultsOtomops martiensseni, the southern African species, was documented in northern Kenya in Marsabit National Park.O. harrisoni, the northeastern African–Arabian species, was documented in southern Kenya and in a cave in Musanze District, Rwanda. Moreover, individuals of both species were found together at the Musanze cave, establishing them in precise spatial and temporal sympatry. Analyses of mitochondrial and nuclear loci identify no evidence of admixture between these forms, although available samples limit the power of this analysis. Echolocation call differences are also apparent among the three localities we analyzed. Three orders of insects and two families of mites are newly reported as ectoparasites ofO. harrisoni.DiscussionOur results corroborate species rank forO. harrisoniand establish a zone of potential geographic overlap withO. martienssenispanning at least 800 km of latitude. The new records establish the species in sympatry in northern Rwanda and add an additional species to the bat faunas of both Kenya and Rwanda. Future studies are needed to understandOtomopsroosting requirements and movements, thereby explaining the paucity of known colonies and yielding better estimates of their conservation status. The discovery of mixed roosting associations in Rwanda invites further investigation.