Andaman horseshoe bat

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Andaman horseshoe bat
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Chiroptera
Family: Rhinolophidae
Genus: Rhinolophus
Species:
R. cognatus
Binomial name
Rhinolophus cognatus
Andaman Horseshoe Bat area.png
Andaman horseshoe bat range
Synonyms

Rhinolophus famulus

The Andaman horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus cognatus) is a species of bat in the family Rhinolophidae. It is endemic to the Andaman Islands. [1] During the day, it roosts in caves, but may also choose tree hollows. [2]

Contents

Taxonomy

The Andaman horseshoe bat was first collected by Italian zoologist Enrico Hillyer Giglioli in May 1892. It was collected in Port Blair of the Andaman Islands. The specimen was taken to the Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Genova, where it was described by Danish zoologist Knud Andersen in 1906. [3]

As the horseshoe bat genus is very speciose, it is further divided into closely related species groups. The Andaman horseshoe bat is placed into the pusillus species group. [4] Other species belonging to this species group include:

Description

They have long, spatulate lancets. The lateral margins of the lancet are concave. [6] The forearm of this species measures 39–39.7 millimetres (1.54–1.56 in). Their skulls are 17.2–18.6 millimetres (0.68–0.73 in) long. [6] They roost in colonies of fewer than 50 individuals. [1]

Biology

It is known to form mixed-species colonies. Other species that it will roost with include Dobson's horseshoe bat and the Pomona roundleaf bat. [9] During January, individuals have been observed in a state of torpor. Their average generation time is 7.5 years. [1]

Range and habitat

This species is only found on the Andaman Islands. It is not found on the nearby Nicobar Islands. Its upper elevation limit is 600 metres (2,000 ft). During the day, it roosts in caves, although tree cavities are also sometimes used. [1]

Conservation

During surveys in 2013 and 2014, it was noted that this species was absent from previous known roosts in several caves. This could be indicative of a decline in the number of subpopulations, or in the total population. Prior to 2008, this species was listed as vulnerable through the International Union for Conservation of Nature. In 2008, its status was revised to endangered. The species is in danger of becoming extinct due to its restricted range of less than 500 km2 (190 sq mi), its existence in fewer than five locations, and the continued decline in locations of occurrence. While it is not specifically protected by India's Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, most of its habitat is within protected areas or areas with restricted access. [1] Possible threats to this species include disturbance related to edible-nest swiftlet nest harvesting. [2]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Horseshoe bat</span> Family of mammals

Horseshoe bats are bats in the family Rhinolophidae. In addition to the single living genus, Rhinolophus, which has about 106 species, the extinct genus Palaeonycteris has been recognized. Horseshoe bats are closely related to the Old World leaf-nosed bats, family Hipposideridae, which have sometimes been included in Rhinolophidae. The horseshoe bats are divided into six subgenera and many species groups. The most recent common ancestor of all horseshoe bats lived 34–40 million years ago, though it is unclear where the geographic roots of the family are, and attempts to determine its biogeography have been indecisive. Their taxonomy is complex, as genetic evidence shows the likely existence of many cryptic species, as well as species recognized as distinct that may have little genetic divergence from previously recognized taxa. They are found in the Old World, mostly in tropical or subtropical areas, including Africa, Asia, Europe, and Oceania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Intermediate horseshoe bat</span> Species of bat

The intermediate horseshoe bat is a bat species of the family Rhinolophidae that is very widespread throughout much of the Indian subcontinent, southern and central China and Southeast Asia. It is listed by IUCN as Least Concern as it is considered common where it occurs, without any known major threats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lesser woolly horseshoe bat</span> Species of bat

The lesser woolly horseshoe bat, also called Beddome's horseshoe bat, is a species of bat in the family Rhinolophidae. It is found in India and Sri Lanka. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, caves, and urban areas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cape horseshoe bat</span> Species of bat

The Cape horseshoe bat is a species of bat in the family Rhinolophidae. It is endemic to South Africa, and is potentially threatened by habitat loss and disturbance of its roosting sites, although it is present in large enough numbers to be considered of least concern by the IUCN.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Convex horseshoe bat</span> Species of bat

The convex horseshoe bat is a species of bat in the family Rhinolophidae. It is found in Malaysia and Laos.

<i>Rhinolophus hilli</i> Species of bat

Rhinolophus hilli, Hill's horseshoe bat, is a species of bat in the family Rhinolophidae. It is endemic to Rwanda. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, caves, and subterranean habitats. In 2013, Bat Conservation International listed this species as one of the 35 species of its worldwide priority list of conservation. It is threatened by habitat loss.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blyth's horseshoe bat</span> Species of bat

Blyth's horseshoe bat is a species of bat in the family Rhinolophidae. It is found across southern Asia from Afghanistan to Vietnam. The species can be identified from its pointed, bifid sella.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maclaud's horseshoe bat</span> Species of bat

Maclaud's horseshoe bat is a species of bat in the family Rhinolophidae. It is endemic to Guinea. Its natural habitats are moist savanna, caves and other subterranean habitats. It is one of five African microbat species to be listed as endangered by the IUCN. In 2013, Bat Conservation International listed this species as one of the 35 species of its worldwide priority list of conservation. It is threatened by habitat loss.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big-eared horseshoe bat</span> Species of bat

The big-eared horseshoe bat is a bat species within the Rhinolophidae native to Asia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Smaller horseshoe bat</span> Species of bat

The smaller horseshoe bat is a species of bat in the family Rhinolophidae. It is found in Australia and Papua New Guinea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mehely's horseshoe bat</span> Species of bat

Mehely's horseshoe bat is a species of insectivorous bat in the family Rhinolophidae found in Southern Europe and parts of the Middle East. It is distributed in a narrow band around the Mediterranean Sea from North-Western Africa across Portugal, Spain, the Balearics, southern France, Sardinia, Sicily and the Balkan Peninsula to Asia Minor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Least horseshoe bat</span> Species of bat

The least horseshoe bat is a species of bat in the family Rhinolophidae. It is found in Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand and Vietnam. It is a food source of the parasite Sinospelaeobdella, a jawed land leech.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thai horseshoe bat</span> Species of bat

The Thai horseshoe bat, sometimes called the Thai leaf-nosed bat, is a species of bat from the family Rhinolophidae. It is frequently listed as a subspecies of the Big-eared horseshoe bat, but this may be a result of the two species being taken in sympatry in Laos. It is native to China, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Madura horseshoe bat</span> Species of bat

The Madura horseshoe bat is a species of bat from the family Rhinolophidae. Current taxonomy treats the Madura horseshoe bat as a species separate of the Sulawesi horseshoe bat and not including parvus, but Csorba et al. (2003) recognizes both as subspecies of the Sulawesi horseshoe bat. It is known only from seven specimens from Madura Island and the Kangean Islands in Indonesia, and its type locality is Soemenep, Madura Island. The species is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, and it suffers from habitat loss due to limestone excavation and deforestation for logging and agriculture in its habitat. It is also unknown whether or not the Madura horseshoe bat lives in any protected areas. The species is cave-roosting and most likely independent of water, foraging in primary forest.

The Bornean woolly horseshoe bat or Proconsul's horseshoe bat is an endangered species of horseshoe bat found in Malaysia. Though it was discovered in 1959, it was not recognized as a distinct species until 2013.

Rhinolophus xinanzhongguoensis, the wedge-sellaed horseshoe bat or southwestern China horseshoe bat, is a species of horseshoe bat from China.

The Sulawesi broad-eared horseshoe bat or Tatar horseshoe bat is a species of horseshoe bat found in Sulawesi, Indonesia.

The Yaeyama little horseshoe bat is a species of bat in the family Rhinolophidae that is endemic to the Yaeyama Islands of Japan.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Aul, B.; Chakravarty, R. (2016). "Rhinolophus cognatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T19533A21981807. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T19533A21981807.en . Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 Aul, Bandana; Bates, P.J.J.; Harrison, D.L. & Marimuthu, G. (2014). "Diversity, distribution and status of bats on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India". Oryx. 48 (2): 204–212. doi: 10.1017/S0030605312000646 .
  3. ↑ Andersen, K. (1906). On some new or little-known bats of the genus Rhinolophus in the collection of the Museo Civico, Genoa. Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturalia di Genova, Serie, 3(2), 1905.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Srinivasulu, C., & Srinivasulu, B. (2012). South Asian Mammals. In South Asian Mammals (pp. 9-98). Springer New York.
  5. ↑ Bates, P. J.; Thi, M. M.; Nwe, T.; Bu, S. S. H.; Mie, K. M.; Nyo, N.; Khaing, A. A.; Aye, N. N.; Oo, T. & Mackie, I. (2004). "A review of Rhinolophus (Chiroptera: Rhinolophidae) from Myanmar, including three species new to the country". Acta Chiropterologica. 6 (1): 23–48. doi: 10.3161/001.006.0103 .
  6. 1 2 3 Csorba, G. (1997). "Description of a new species of Rhinolophus (Chiroptera: Rhinolophidae) from Malaysia". Journal of Mammalogy. 78 (2): 342–347. doi: 10.2307/1382887 . JSTOR   1382887.
  7. ↑ Wu, Yi; Motokawa, Masaharu; Harada, Masashi; Thong, Vu Dinh; Lin, Liang-Kong & Li, Yu-Chun (2012). "Morphometric variation in the pusillus group of the genus Rhinolophus (Mammalia: Chiroptera: Rhinolophidae) in east Asia". Zoological Science. 29 (6): 396–402. doi:10.2108/zsj.29.396. PMID   22639811.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Simmons, N.B. 2005. Order Chiroptera. Pp. 312–529 in Wilson, D.E. and Reeder, D.M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: a taxonomic and geographic reference. 3rd ed. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2 vols., 2142 pp.  ISBN   978-0-8018-8221-0. Simmons, N.B. 2005. Order Chiroptera. Pp. 312–529 in Wilson, D.E. and Reeder, D.M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: a taxonomic and geographic reference. 3rd ed. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2 vols., 2142 pp.  ISBN   978-0-8018-8221-0
  9. ↑ Aul, B. 2003. The Status and Distribution of Bats in Andaman and Little Andaman Islands. Madras Crocodile Bank Trust, Mamallapuram, India.
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