Seasonally monoestrous reproduction in the molossid bat, Tadarida aegyptiaca from low temperate latitudes (33°S) in South Africa

Abstract

A histological study of reproduction in Egyptian free-tailed bats (Tadarida aegyptiaca) Irom the Eastern Cape Province of South Alrica (c. 33°S) showed that females were seasonally monoestrous. Copulation, ovulation and lerlilizalion occurred in August, at the encf of winter, and births in December, after a four-month pregnancy. These results are compared with those of other molossid bats from tower latitudes in Africa. We conclude that the monoestrous habit of the Egyptian Iree-tailed bat at 33°S may be due to its relatively long pregnancy, and to the short summer period during which minimum temperatures are high enough to ensure an abundance of nocturnal flying insects.