FAMILY HIPPOSIDERIDAE (OLD WORLD LEAF-NOSED BATS)

Identification

Rounded nose-leaf, sometimes with three-pronged protrusion on top resembling a trident

Large ears

Tragus absent

Tail present, variable size

Food

Moths, beetles, flying termites

Roosts

Cabes, mines, sometimes buildings, tree hollows and porcupine burrows

Number of species worldwide: 63 (occurs in the Old World only)

Number of species in Southern Africa: 4

Common bats in KZN

Sundevall’s leaf-nosed bat  -  Hipposideros caffer

Commerson’s leaf-nosed bat  -  Hipposideros commersonii

Short eared trident bat  -  Cloeotis percivali