Niangara free-tailed bat

The Niangara free-tailed bat or Niangara mops bat (Mops niangarae) is a species of bat in the family Molossidae known only from its holotype. It is endemic to Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its natural habitat is either moist tropical forest or savanna.^[1][2]

Niangara free-tailed bat
Conservation status
Data Deficient  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Chiroptera
Family:	Molossidae
Genus:	Mops
Species:	M. niangarae
Binomial name
Mops niangarae J.A. Allen, 1917

Taxonomy

The holotype of the bat was collected in Niangara in northeastern DR Congo, near the border with Sudan. The species was initially called a subspecies of both M. trevori and M. congicus. However, it was retained as an independent species following an assessment that indicated that the holotype's skull significantly differed from skulls of both M. trevori and congicus. The bat's taxonomic relationship with M. trevori is unclear.^[1][3]

Habitat and distribution

The bat is only known to inhabit the DRC. Its area of inhabitation is 893 km² (345 sq mi). It appears to roost in tree stumps.^[1][4]

Conservation

Very little is known about the bat's habits, range, and population. Consequently, it is assessed as data-deficient.^[1]