| Semon's leaf-nosed bat | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Chiroptera |
| Family: | Hipposideridae |
| Genus: | Hipposideros |
| Species: | H. semoni |
| Binomial name | |
| Hipposideros semoni Matschie, 1903 | |
 | |
| Semon's roundleaf bat range | |
Semon's leaf-nosed bat or Semon's roundleaf bat (Hipposideros semoni) is a species of bat in the family Hipposideridae. [2] It is found in Australia and Papua New Guinea.
It was described as a new species in 1903 by German zoologist Paul Matschie. The eponym for the species name "semoni" was fellow German zoologist Richard Semon. Semon's research voyage to Australia procured the holotype that Matschie used to describe the new species. [3]
Its head and body is 40–50 mm (1.6–2.0 in) long, while its wingspan is approximately 320 mm (13 in). Individuals weigh 6–10 g (0.21–0.35 oz). It has long, narrow ears with sharply pointed tips. Its fur is a dark, smoky gray in color, with individual hairs relatively long. [4]
It is nocturnal, roosting in sheltered places during the day such as abandoned mines, caves, hollow trees, and rock fissures. It will roost singly or in small colonies. It is insectivorous, preying on arthropods such as spiders, beetles, and moths. While foraging, it flies close to the ground, at heights less than 2 m (6.6 ft). It is possibly a prey species of the ghost bat, which is known to consume other bat species in the family Hipposideridae. [4]
It is currently evaluated as least concern by the IUCN —its lowest conservation priority. [1] However, it has a more urgent conservation status in Australia. Queensland listed it as endangered under the Nature Conservation Act 1992, while nationally it is listed as vulnerable under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Conservation and management actions recommended in Australia include preventing roost disturbance and destruction. Additionally, there is a stated need to determine the extent of the species range in Australia, as well as to assess what its requirements are for acceptable roosts. [4]
Hipposideros is one of the most diverse genera of bats, with more than 70 species. They are collectively called roundleaf bats after the shape of their nasal ornament. It is the type genus of the family Hipposideridae. It is divided into species groups based on morphology.
The Indian roundleaf bat, also known as the large Ceylon leaf-nosed bat or Kelaart's leaf‐nosed bat is a species of bat in the family Hipposideridae. It is endemic to the Indian subcontinent, with marginal populations also detected in Southeast Asia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and caves. The bat has three subspecies that occur in India, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar. The Indian subspecies, H. l. indus, is smaller than the ones found in Sri Lanka and Myanmar, although there are no other characteristics that differentiate the subspecies.
The fawn leaf-nosed bat is a species of bat in the family Hipposideridae found in Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vanuatu.
The diadem leaf-nosed bat or diadem roundleaf bat is one of the most widespread species of bat in the family Hipposideridae. It is probably most closely related to Hipposideros demissus from Makira and to Hipposideros inornatus from the Northern Territory in Australia. Hipposideros diadema is found in Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.
The Khajuria's leaf-nosed bat, also known as Durga Das's leaf-nosed bat, is a species of bat in the family Hipposideridae. It is endemic to India. Its natural habitat is caves. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Hill's roundleaf bat is a species of bat in the family Hipposideridae endemic to Papua New Guinea.
The Kolar leaf-nosed bat, or leafletted leaf-nosed bat is a species of bat in the family Hipposideridae. It is endemic to India. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and caves. It is found in only one cave in India, and its population is less than 200 individuals.
The big-eared roundleaf bat is a species of bat in the family Hipposideridae. It is endemic to Indonesia, known from Kangean Islands, southwestern Sulawesi and Seram Island. It roosts in caves and tree hollows and probably forages in woodland. It is threatened by habitat loss through logging and other human activities.
The Fly River roundleaf bat is a species of bat in the family Hipposideridae. It is found in West Papua, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.
The Biak roundleaf bat or Geelvinck Bay leaf-nosed bat is a species of bat in the family Hipposideridae. It is endemic to the Biak Islands and Cenderawasih Bay area of Papua Province, located in Western New Guinea, Indonesia.
The Pomona roundleaf bat, Pomona leaf-nosed bat, or Andersen's leaf-nosed bat is a species of bat in the family Hipposideridae that is endemic to India.
Sorensen's leaf-nosed bat is a species of bat in the family Hipposideridae that is endemic to Indonesia.
Schneider's leaf-nosed bat or Schneider's roundleaf bat is a species of bat in the family Hipposideridae. It is endemic to South Asia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, caves, and urban areas.
The northern leaf-nosed bat is a micro-bat of the family Hipposideridae, known as "leaf-nosed" bats. The species is endemic to northern regions of Australia. They are highly manoeuvrable in flight, and use echolocation to forage for insect prey.
The São Tomé leaf-nosed bat is a species of bat in the family Hipposideridae. It is endemic to the island of São Tomé, in the Gulf of Guinea off the western coast of Africa. The bat's natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and caves.
The orange leaf-nosed bat is a bat in the family Hipposideridae. It is the only living species in the genus Rhinonicteris which is endemic to Australia, occurring in the far north and north-west of the continent. They roost in caves, eat moths, and are sensitive to human intrusion.
Lamotte's roundleaf bat is a species of bat found only at Mount Nimba on the border of Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea and Liberia. It is critically endangered.
The Hipposideridae are a family of bats commonly known as the Old World leaf-nosed bats. While it has often been seen as a subfamily, Hipposiderinae, of the family Rhinolophidae, it is now more generally classified as its own family. Nevertheless, it is most closely related to Rhinolophidae within the suborder Yinpterochiroptera.
The Arnhem leaf-nosed bat is a species of bat in the family Hipposideridae. It lives in the sandstone areas of Kakadu National Park.
Hipposideros atrox, commonly known as the lesser bicolored leaf-nosed bat, is a species of bat found in Southeast Asia. Originally described as a subspecies in 1918, it was recognized as a full species in 2010. It uses echolocation to navigate and find prey, and roosts in caves during the day.
