Data Sheet

Diet: Not much is known about the specific diet of Lamotte’s roundleaf bat. Based on their relatively delicate teeth, it is thought they feed primarily on soft-bodied insects.  

Fun Fact: Lamotte’s roundleaf bat co-exists with at least seven other species of Hipposideros bat and are easily confused with closely related species such as Sundevall’s roundleaf bat and Noack’s roundleaf bat. 

Appearance: Lamotte’s roundleaf bats are small with a forearm length of about 56 mm (or 2.2 inches). They are named for their round nose leaf, which consists of four small leaflets. They have soft, dense brown fur and blackish brown wing and tail membranes.

Habitat: This bat is a high-altitude specialist, found at elevations ranging from 1,600 – 4,600 feet above sea level. The bat is only known from Mount Nimba, located on the border of Guinea, Liberia and Cote d’Ivoire. The Nimba Mountains are a biodiversity hotspot, particularly rich in bat biodiversity.  

They roost in cave or mine shafts, with the only known roosts located within abandoned mines within an active mine site. Not much is known about their hunting habitat, though it is thought they prefer high-elevation savanna habitat.  

Conservation Concerns: Based on the restricted geographic range and presence of only 4 known roosts, the Lamotte’s roundleaf bat is classified as Critically Endangered by the IUCN. The primary threats to this species are mountain mining activities and general deforestation across its range. Existing abandoned mine roosts are in different states of repair and some are in danger of collapse. BCI is collaborating with local mining companies and scientists to identify roosting and foraging habitat in this biodiversity hotspot. 

 Bat Conservation International Projects including the Lamotte’s roundleaf Bat:

• Endangered Species Interventions

Additional Resources:

• Bat Species of the World
• IUCN Red List 

Written by Alyson Brokaw 
Updated December 2022