Rhinolophus hilli

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Rhinolophus hilli
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Chiroptera
Family: Rhinolophidae
Genus: Rhinolophus
Species:
R. hilli
Binomial name
Rhinolophus hilli
Aellen, 1973
Rhinolophus hilli area.png
Hill's horseshoe bat range

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 (other than caves). In 2013, Bat Conservation International listed this species as one of the 35 species of its worldwide priority list of conservation. [2] It is threatened by habitat loss.

Contents

Taxonomy

As the genus Rhinolophus is quite speciose, it is split into groups. Maclaud's horseshoe bat is the identifier of one of these groups, called the maclaudi group, which currently consists of six species, three of which were not described before 2003. [3] Members of this group have large ears, and a diminished connection between the sella and lancet. [3]

R. maclaudi and R. ziama are considered the two West African taxa, while the other four species are found further east around the Albertine Rift. [3] The West African species are larger in size than the East African species, with R. maclaudi as the largest bat of the species group. [4] As these species are very similar morphologically, it was previously thought that R. hilli and R. ruwenzorii were the same taxon, and that the taxon was a subspecies of the Maclaud's horseshoe bat. [5]

Conservation

The first two individuals of this species were encountered in 1964 and 1981. The locations of the two individuals were only 8 km (5 mi) apart. It is unknown where this species roosts during the day. [4] The IUCN lists this species as critically endangered, due to a small range of occurrence of less than 100 km2 (39 sq mi), habitat destruction, a small number of subpopulations, and over-harvesting for bushmeat. [1] In 2019, Hill's horseshoe bat was documented again for the first time since 1981, when single individual was found in Nyungwe National Park in Rwanda. Its calls were recorded, and the species has since been acoustically identified at eight other sites in the area. [6]

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">Geoffroy's horseshoe bat</span> Species of bat

Geoffroy's horseshoe bat is a species of bat in the family Rhinolophidae found in Africa. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation, caves and other subterranean habitats, and hot deserts.

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

The Andaman horseshoe bat is a species of bat in the family Rhinolophidae. It is endemic to the Andaman Islands. During the day, it roosts in caves, but may also choose tree hollows.

<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.

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

Dent's horseshoe bat is a species of bat in the family Rhinolophidae. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. The bat's natural habitats are dry savannah country and it roosts in caves and other subterranean habitats.

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

The Mediterranean horseshoe bat is a species of insectivorous bat in the family Rhinolophidae. It is found in the Mediterranean region and Balkan peninsula, as well as parts of Italy.

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

The Guinean horseshoe bat is a species of bat in the family Rhinolophidae. It is found in Ivory Coast, Guinea, Liberia, Senegal, and Sierra Leone. Its natural habitats are subtropical and tropical forests, moist savanna, caves, and other subterranean habitats.

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

The Hills' horseshoe bat is a species of bat in the family Rhinolophidae. It is found in Cameroon, Guinea, Liberia, and Nigeria. Its natural habitats are subtropical and tropical moist lowland and montane forest, caves and other subterranean habitats.

<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">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">Ruwenzori horseshoe bat</span> Species of bat

The Ruwenzori horseshoe bat is a species of bat in the family Rhinolophidae. It is found in Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and swamps, caves and other subterranean habitats.

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

The Ziama horseshoe bat is a species of bat in the family Rhinolophidae. It was first described in 2002. It is found in Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia. Its natural habitats are subtropical and tropical moist lowland and monstane forests. In 2013, Bat Conservation International listed this species as one of the 35 species of its worldwide priority list of conservation.

The Poso horseshoe bat or belligerent horseshoe bat is an endangered species of horseshoe bat found only on Sulawesi Island, which is part of Indonesia.

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

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

McIntyre's horseshoe bat is a species of horseshoe bat that is endemic to Papua New Guinea.

Willard's horseshoe bat is a newly described species of bat in the family Rhinolophidae. It is endemic to a small area in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is listed as endangered by the IUCN Red List.

The Kahuzi horseshoe bat is a species of bat in the family Rhinolophidae, which is found in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is named after Mount Kahuzi.

References

  1. 1 2 Webala, P.; Flanders, J.; Frick, W.F.; Fahr, J. (2021). "Rhinolophus hilli". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2021: e.T44781A203829053. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T44781A203829053.en . Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  2. ↑ "Annual Report 2013-2014" (PDF). batcon.org. Bat Conservation International. August 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 7, 2017. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 Peterhans, J. C. K., Fahr, J., Huhndorf, M. H., Kaleme, P., Plumptre, A. J., Marks, B. D., & Kizungu, R. (2013). Bats (Chiroptera) from the Albertine Rift, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, with the description of two new species of the Rhinolophus maclaudi group. Bonn Zool Bull, 62, 186-202.
  4. 1 2 Fahr, J., Vierhaus, H., Hutterer, R., & Kock, D. (2002). A revision of the Rhinolophus maclaudi species group with the description of a new species from West Africa (Chiroptera: Rhinolophidae). Myotis, 40, 95-126.
  5. ↑ Smith, J. D., & Hood, C. S. (1980). Additional material of Rhinolophus ruwenzorii Hill, 1942, with comments on its natural history and taxonomic status. In Proceedings of the Fifth International Bat Research Conference,(eds. DE Wilson & AL Gardner) (pp. 163-171).
  6. ↑ "CONSERVATIONISTS ANNOUNCE THE REDISCOVERY OF AN AFRICAN BAT SPECIES LOST FOR 40 YEARS". Bat Conservation International. 8 March 2022. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
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