EPOMOl'HOKPS WAHLBERGI. 521 



1. Epomophorus wahlbergi, Sund. 



Epomopliorus gamhianus (pt.), Dobson, Cat. Chir. B. M. p. 10. 

 Epomo [ihorus lahiatus (pt.), Dobsoii, op. c. p. 11. 



(Synonyms under the subspecies.) 



Diagnosis. — Oue postdental palate-ridge ; 22-33 vertical fascise 

 in mesopatagium ; light abdoraiual patch none or obsolescent. 

 Forearm 77-S9 (males) and 72-S6 mm. (females). Hah. From 

 Cameroous and British East Africa in the north, to Benguela and 

 Grahamstown in the south ; absent from the whole of the Guinea 

 coast west of Cameroons. 



Skull. — Rostrum and palate relatively considerably longer and 

 narrower than in lloustttus, but less lengthened and narrowed 

 than in other species of Epomophorus of approximately similar size 

 (e. g. E. crypturus and anurus) ; skull on the whole more heavily 

 built, and broader across zygomata. Median palatal length (in- 

 cisive foramina to palatiou) less than twice the breadth across 

 external surfaces of m^-m^ ; postdental palate (hinder edge of m' 

 to postero-external corner of bony palate) only about |, in females 

 often only |, of same breadth ; rostrum, from front of orbit to tip 

 of nasals, generally distinctly shorter than, sometimes subequal to, 

 maxillary tooth-row (c-m^); front of orbit vertically above middle, 

 or some point of posterior half, of m', never behind m^ ; zygomatic 

 breadth much more than half the total length of the skuU. 



Palate-ridges (tig. 37 A, p. 516). — Five interdenral ridges, one 

 postdental (and two or three thin and serrate ridges close together 

 at extreme hinder edge of palate) ; four anterior ridges approxi- 

 mately straight, undivided, fifth and sixth arcuate, divided. First 

 ridge at hinder edges of canines ; second and third between p^-p' 

 (second at front, third at back of these teeth); fourth between 

 p^-p\ individually varying in position from level of middle to le\ li 

 of hinder edges of these teeth ; fifth between m'-m\ quite similarly 

 varying in position ; sixth situated toward (generally a little in 

 front of) middle of postdental palate. 



Eur. — Soft, silky, slightly adpressed on back, more so on under- 

 parts ; foreneck much more thinly haired than breast and belly. 

 Fur of upperside exteiiding on proximal half or two-thirds of fore- 

 arm and on tibia quite or nearly to ankle, in some individuals even 

 in a thin line along metatarsus to base of toes. Small tufts of 

 closely adpressed hairs thinly scattered over the whole of the upper 

 surface of the mesojiatagium. Interfemoral, except region above 

 calcar which is practically naked, covered with rather long hair 

 overhanging posterior free margin. Beneath, femur, tibia im- 

 mediately below knee, and proximal half of forearm clothed ; thinly- 

 spread woolly hair on lateral membrane along flanks and outer side 

 of forearm. Length of hair, back 14-17 (longest hairs) and 10-5- 

 11 (shortest), nape of neck 13-14-5 and 9-10-5, belly 11-14 and 

 7-S mm. Keither in the length nor in the distribution of the fur 

 is there any dili'erence between the subspecies of E. wahlbergi. 



