Rhinolophus luetus, Temminck

Dobson, George Edward, 1878, Rhinolophus, Catalogue of the Chiroptera in the collection of the British Museum, London: British Museum, pp. 100-122 : 105-106

Rhinolophus luetus, Temminck , Monogr. Mammal, ii. p. 24, pl. xxx.; Peters, MB. Akad. Beri. 1871, p. 304; Dobson, Monogr. Asiatic Chiroptera , p. 39 (1876).

Rhinolophus luctus, var. rufus, Eydoux et Gervais, Voy. Favor. Zoologie , 2e part. (1839).

Rhinolophus morio, Gray, Ann. 8c Mag. Nat. Hist. 1842, p. 257.

Rhinolophus perniger, Hodgson, Journ. As. Soc. Beng. xii. p. 414, xiii. p. 484; Horsfield, Cat. Mamm. Mus. E. I. Comp. (1851).

Aquias luetus, Gray, P. Z. S. 1847, p. 7; id. 1866, p. 81.

This fine species, by far the largest of the genus yet discovered, is distinguished not only by its size but also by the great development and peculiar form of the nasal appendages (Plate VII. fig. 2). The base of the sella is expanded on either side, forming a long lobe, almost equal in size and similar in shape to the vertical process; this lobe is twisted on its base so as to lie with its upper surface partly on the central process of the sella, partly on the horse ­ shoe-shaped nose-leaf. The horseshoe-shaped horizontal nose-leaf is very large, projecting in front and on either side beyond the upper lip. The posterior nose-leaf is developed in proportion to the other parts, and extends backwards between the ears. The lower lip is divided by a single deep vertical groove. The aeutely pointed ears are enormous, even in proportion to the size of the animal, and the leaf-like antitragus is separated from the outer margin of the ear by a very deep angular incision. The wing-membrane is greatly developed, and attached to the base of the outer toe; the interfemoral membrane is large, triangular behind, and the tail is wholly contained within it. The fur of the body is very long and dense, usually of a jet-black colour, with grey tips, which suggested the specific name “ luctus ; ” the colour, however, as in other Rhinolophi, varies considerably accordine to age, sex, and locality; and specimens have been ob-

tained presenting every shade between reddish brown and intense black.

Length (of an adult ♀), head and body 3 "'55, tail 2"-6, head 1"-45, nose-leaf 1"-3 x 0"-65, ear 1"-65, antitragus0"’7,forearm2''-95, thumb 0"-45; third finger —metacarp. 2", 1st ph. 1", 2nd ph. " ’7; fifth finger —metacarp. 2,,-25, 1st ph. 2nd ph. l"'O5; tibia 1,,-5, foot O''-9. _

Hab. India (Western Ghats; Himalaya—Nipal, Masuri, Darjeel ­ ing, Sikkim; Khasia Hills); Ceylon; Java; Sumatra; Borneo; Philippine Islands.

This species appears to be restricted to the highlands of the countries inhabited by it. In the Himalaya the late Capt. T. Hutton found it at an elevation of 5500 feet. (For notes on habits of Rh. luctus , see my ‘ Monograph of the Asiatic Chiroptera ,’ pp. 40, 41).

a. ♀ ad., al. India. E. I. Company [P.J.

b. ♀ imm., al. Ceylon.

c. ad. sk. Malacca.