Hipposideros megalotis, Heuglin, 1862

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Hipposideridae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 227-258 : 237

24.

Large-eared Leaf-nosed Bat

Hipposideros megalotis

French: Phyllorhine à grandes oreilles I German: Grossohr-Rundblattnase / Spanish: Hiposidérido de grandes orejas

Other common names: Ethiopian Large-eared Leaf-nosed Bat, Ethiopian Large-eared Roundleaf Bat

Taxonomy. PhyUarrhina megalotis Heuglin, 1862 ,

Keren, Bogos Land, Eritrea.

Hipposideros megalotis is the sole member of the megalotis species group, and has in the past been placed in a separate genus or subgenus, Syndesmotis. Monotypic.

Distribution. Patchily recorded from the W coast of Saudi Arabia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Kenya.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 35 mm, tail 21-27 mm, ear 18—25 mm, hindfoot 5-6 mm, forearm 34-39 mm; weight 5 g. Muzzle of the Large-eared Leaf-nosed Bat is relatively short with large but simple noseleaf that has no lateral leaflets. Frontal sac is absent Intemarial septum is not swollen and does not partially cover the nares. Ears are separate and relatively large and, unusually for Hipposideros , they arejoined at base. Fur is reddish brown-gray dorsally, cream or whitish ventrally; an orange morph also occurs and is typically bright cinnamon in color. Dental formula is 11/2, C 1/1, P 1/2, M 3/3 (x2) = 28.

Habitat. Affomontane vegetation, including bushland, wooded grassland, and arid savanna.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. A pregnant female with one embryo was collected in December in Kenya.

Activity patterns. The Large-eared Leaf-nosed Bat has been recorded roosting in a lava tube at Mount Suswa, where fewer than 100 adults were hanging from the ceiling. It is also known to use anthropogenic structures as day roosts.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Largeeared Leaf-nosed Bat has a relatively wide distribution, although it has only rarely been observed, and never in large numbers.

Bibliography. Gaucher & Brosset (1990), Happold (2013z), Harrison & Bates (1991), Hill (1963a), Kingdon (1974), Kock & Hillman (1975), Largen et al. (1974), Legendre (1982), Patterson & Webala (2012), Pearch et al. (2001), Tate (1941a).

Figures

24. Large-eared Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros megalotis), 25. Boeadi’s Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros boeadii), 26. Ha Long Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros alongensis), 27. Great Himalayan Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros armiger), 28. Griffin’s Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros griffoni), 29. Pendlebury’s Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros pendleburyi), 30. Lesser Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros turpis), 31. Grand Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros grandis), 32. Horsfield’s Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros larvatus), 33. Maduran Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros madurae), 34. Sorensen’s Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros sorenseni), 35. Sumban Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros sumbae), 36. Shield-faced Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros lylei), 37. Pratt’s Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros pratti), 38. Shield-nosed Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros scutinares), 39. Makira Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros demissus), 40. Diadem Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros diadema), 41. Fierce Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros dinops), 42. Crested Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros inexpectatus), 43. Amhem Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros inomatus), 44. Indian Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros lankadiva), 45. Large Asian Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros lekaguli), 46. Peleng Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros pelingensis)

Distribution. Patchily recorded from the W coast of Saudi Arabia , Eritrea , Djibouti , Ethiopia , and Kenya .