Hipposideros hypophyllus, Kock & Bhat, 1994

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Hipposideridae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 227-258 : 255

75.

Kolar Leaf-nosed Bat

Hipposideros hypophyllus

French: Phyllorhine du Kolar / German: Kolar-Rundblattnase / Spanish: Hiposidérido de Kolar

Other common names: Kolar Roundleaf Bat, Leafletted Leaf-nosed Bat

Taxonomy. Hipposideros hypophyllus Kock & Bhat, 1994 ,

“Hanumanahalli village, 15 km E of Kolar Town, 13°09’N- 78°07’E, Kolar District]., Bangalore Region, Karnataka, India.”

Hipposideros hypophyllus was previously included in the bicolor species group, but its position in the phylogeny is unclear and its taxonomy requires further study. Monotypic.

Distribution. Endemic to S India (Kolar district, Karnataka), known only from type locality. Previously also on nearby Therahalli, where now absent.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 40-9—41-7 mm, tail 23-3-24-3 mm, ear 16-7-17-7 mm, hindfoot 6-7-6-9 mm, forearm 38-49 mm. Ears of the Kolar Leaf-nosed Bat are broad. Noseleaf has two lateral supplementary leaflets. Anterior leaf is smoothly rounded, with no emargination. Intemarial septum is broader at base and forms a narrow triangle at tip. Dorsal pelage is grayish brown or rufous brown; ventral area is white to fulvous-white. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 32 and FN = 60.

Habitat. Tropical dry shrubland near villages and agricultural fields. The Kolar Leafnosed Bat can be found at elevations of up to 570 m.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. Pregnant and lactating females were found in late summer.

Activity patterns. The Kolar Leaf-nosed Bat was documented to accumulate fat in winter, suggesting it may use torpor in colder months. Entire known population of this species roosts in a narrow, inaccessible, subterranean cave on a monolithic granite hill. Echolocation call frequency is 103-105 kHz.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Kolar Leaf-nosed Bat shares roosts with Durga Das’s Leaf-nosed Bats ( H. durgadasi ), Fulvus Leaf-nosed Bats { H. fulvus ), and Schneider’s Leaf-nosed Bats ( H. speoris ).

Status and Conservation. Classified as Critically Endangered on IUCNRed List. The Kolar Leaf-nosed Bat is very rare and found in only one cave, with a population of less than 200 individuals. The major threat is habitat loss due to granite mining.

Bibliography. Chakravarty et al. (2016), Kock & Bhat (1994), Srinivasulu, Srinivasulu & Kaur (2016), Srinivasulu, Srinivasulu, Kaur, Shah et al. (2014).

Figures

67. Timor Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros crumeniferus), 68. Bornean Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros doriae), 69. Durga Das’s Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros durgadasi), 70. Dayak Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros dyacorum), 71. House-dwelling Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros einnaythu), 72. Andersen’s Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros gentilis), 73. Fulvus Leaf-nosed (Bat Hipposiderosfulvus), 74. Thailand Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros halophyllus), 75. Kolar Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros hypophyllus), 76. Phou Khao Khouay Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros khaokhouayensis), 77. Kunz’s Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros kunzi), 78. Big-eared Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros macrobullotus), 79. Maggie Taylor’s Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros maggietaylorae), 80. Malayan Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros nequam), 81. Nicobar Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros nicobarulae), 82. Philippine Forest Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros obscurus), 83. Orbiculus Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros orbiculus), 84. Biak Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros papua), 85. Pomona Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros pomona), 86. Philippine Pygmy Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros pygmaeus), 87. Ridley’s Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros ridleyi), 88. Laotian Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros rotalis)

Distribution. Endemic to S India (Kolar district, Karnataka), known only from type locality. Previously also on nearby Therahalli, where now absent.