Rhinolophus xinanzhongguoensis

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Rhinolophus xinanzhongguoensis
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Chiroptera
Family: Rhinolophidae
Genus: Rhinolophus
Species:
R. xinanzhongguoensis
Binomial name
Rhinolophus xinanzhongguoensis
Zhou, Guillén-Servent, Lim, Eger, Wang & Jiang, 2009

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

Contents

Taxonomy and etymology

It was described as a new species in 2009 based on specimens collected in May 2005 and April 2006. One individual of the new species was collected in 2005, and a second was found in 2006. Later, three more individuals were identified in the mammal collections at Kunming Institute of Zoology that had been originally collected in 1963. Its species name xinanzhongguoensis is pronounced “shee-nan-joong-guo-en-sis.” The name xinanzhongguoensis was derived from the Pinyin words "west" (xi), "south" (nan), and "China" (Zhongguo), describing a species that can be found in southwestern China.

Analysis of mitochondrial DNA placed R. xinanzhongguoensis as the basal member of a clade containing Geoffroy's horseshoe bat, greater horseshoe bat, Ruwenzori horseshoe bat, Rüppell's horseshoe bat, and Darling's horseshoe bat. Phylogenetically, it belongs to the "Afro-Palearctic" lineage of the horseshoe bat family, as described by Guillén-Servent et al. in 2003. [2] [3] Species in the horseshoe bat genus are traditionally divided into "species groups"; Amador et al. stated that they believe that R. xinanzhongguoensis is so unique, it belongs in its own species group. [4]

Description

It weighs 20–26 g (0.71–0.92 oz). It is considered a large member of its genus. Its dorsal fur is "dull medium brown" and its ventral fur is paler in color. Its flight membranes are dark brown. Its ears are brown, relatively small, and partly transparent. Near its base, the sides of the sella are parallel; it narrows to a wedge-shaped, rounded tip. The lancet is spear-shaped. Its dental formula is typical for a horseshoe bat, at 1.1.2.32.1.3.3, for a total of 32 teeth. The length of its whole body is 59–70 mm (2.3–2.8 in); its forearm is 58.7–60.4 mm (2.31–2.38 in) long; its tail is 30–39 mm (1.2–1.5 in) long; its ear is 21–22 mm (0.83–0.87 in) long. [2]

Biology

It is nocturnal, sleeping in sheltered roosts during the day such as caves. It is known to roost with other horseshoe bats, including the intermediate horseshoe bat. Few individuals have been encountered, so little is known about its reproductive biology. However, a pregnant female was once encountered in April. [2]

Range and habitat

It occurs in wet habitat within the East Asian Monsoon zone. [2] It has been documented at elevations of 1,500–1,980 m (4,920–6,500 ft) above sea level. All three areas where it has been documented are mountainous. [1]

Conservation

It is currently evaluated as near-threatened by the IUCN. It is only known from three localities and it has an estimated extent of occurrence of 26,865 km2 (10,373 sq mi). The habitat in areas where it does occur is severely fragmented, with ongoing declines in the extent and quality of the habitat. It is threatened by disturbance of its roosts as caving tourism expands in China. Degradation of its habitat is also caused by logging and agricultural conversion. [1]

Related Research Articles

Horseshoe bat 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 also 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.

Greater horseshoe bat Species of bat

The greater horseshoe bat is an insectivorous bat of the genus Rhinolophus. Its distribution covers Europe, Northern Africa, Central Asia and Eastern Asia. It is the largest of the horseshoe bats in Europe and is thus easily distinguished from other species. The species is sedentary, typically travelling up to 30 kilometres (19 mi) between the winter and summer roosts, with the longest recorded movement being 180 km (110 mi). The frequencies used by this bat species for echolocation lie between 69–83 kHz, have most energy at 81 kHz and have an average duration of 37.4 ms.

Lesser horseshoe bat Species of bat

The lesser horseshoe bat is a type of small European insectivorous bat, related to its larger cousin, the greater horseshoe bat. As with all horseshoe bats, the species gets its name from its distinctive horseshoe-shaped noseleaf.

Halcyon horseshoe bat Species of bat

The halcyon horseshoe bat is a species of bat in the family Rhinolophidae. It is found in Cameroon, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, South Sudan, Togo, Uganda, possibly Gabon, and possibly Sierra Leone. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forest, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, moist savanna, caves, and subterranean habitats. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Blasiuss horseshoe bat Species of bat

Blasius's horseshoe bat is a species of insectivorous bat in the family Rhinolophidae found throughout large parts of the Mediterranean, Middle East and Northern Africa.

Geoffroys horseshoe bat 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, subterranean habitats, and hot deserts.

Andaman horseshoe bat 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.

Darlings horseshoe bat Species of bat

Darling's horseshoe bat is a species of bat in the family Rhinolophidae found in Africa. Its natural habitats are dry savanna, caves, and subterranean habitats.

Deckens horseshoe bat Species of bat

Decken's horseshoe bat is a species of horseshoe bat. It is found in Kenya and Tanzania. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, subtropical or tropical moist montane forest, moist savanna, caves, and subterranean habitats. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Dents horseshoe bat 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.

Mediterranean horseshoe bat 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.

Blyths horseshoe bat 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.

Maclauds horseshoe bat 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 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.

Big-eared horseshoe bat Species of bat

The big-eared horseshoe bat is a bat species within the Rhinolophidae native to China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Smaller horseshoe bat 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.

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

The lesser woolly horseshoe bat is a species of bat in the family Rhinolophidae. It is found in Brunei, Indonesia, and Malaysia. It is assessed as near-threatened by the IUCN.

Swinnys horseshoe bat Species of bat

Swinny's horseshoe bat is a species of bat in the family Rhinolophidae. In English, R. swinnyi is commonly referred to as Swinny's horseshoe bat. In Afrikaans, it is commonly referred to as Swinny se saalneusvlermuis. This species belongs to the African clade. R. swinnyi was discovered by an African collector H. H. Swinny. They have been recorded in Angola, Republic of the Congo, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Malawi.

Timorese horseshoe bat Species of bat native to Timor-Leste

The Timorese horseshoe bat is a species of bat native to Timor-Leste.

Rhinolophus procunsulis 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.

Schnitzler's horseshoe bat is a species of bat in the family Rhinolophidae. It is endemic to China.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Zhou, Z.; Jiang, X. (2017). "Rhinolophus xinanzhongguoensis". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T82348701A82349975. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T82348701A82349975.en.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Zhou, Z. M.; Guillén-Servent, A.; Lim, B. K.; Eger, J. L.; Wang, Y. X.; Jiang, X. L. (2009). "A new species from southwestern China in the Afro-Palearctic lineage of the horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus)". Journal of Mammalogy. 90 (1): 57–73. doi: 10.1644/08-MAMM-A-048.1 .
  3. Guillén-Servent, A.; Francis, C. M.; Ricklefs, R. E. (2003). "Phylogeny and biogeography of the horseshoe bats". Horseshoe Bats of the World (Chiroptera: Rhinolophidae). Shropshire, UK: Alana Books.
  4. Amador, L. I.; Arévalo, R. L. M.; Almeida, F. C.; Catalano, S. A.; Giannini, N. P. (2016). "Bat systematics in the light of unconstrained analyses of a comprehensive molecular supermatrix". Journal of Mammalian Evolution. 25: 37–70. doi:10.1007/s10914-016-9363-8.