Rhinolophus celebensis, Andersen, 1905

Andersen, Knud, 1905, On some Bats of the Genus Rhinolophus, with Remarks on their Mutual Affinities, and Descriptions of Twenty-six new Forms., Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 2, pp. 75-145 : 83-84

5. Rhinolophus celebensis , sp. n.

(Plate III. fig. 4 a, b .)

Rhinolophus megaphyllus (non Gray), var. ss (partim), Dobson, Cat. Chir. Brit. Mus. (1878) p. 111 (Menado).

Diagnosis. Supraorbital crests meeting at a point more or less in front of the middle of the orbit. Nasal swellings narrow. Nose-leaves as in Rh. nanus and Rh. borneensis . Small: forearm 43 *7 mm.

Details. In the foregoing species ( Rh. simpleX , megaphyllus , truncatus, nanus'), all of which are Australian or Austro-Malayan, the supraorbital crests join the sagittal crest at a point more or less behind the middle of the orbit. In Rh. celebensis , as in all the other species of the present group, which are all Oriental, Palaearctic, or Ethiopian, the supraorbital crests meet at a point imore or less in front of the middle of the orbit. This makes a comparatively shorter postnasal depression, the supraorbital crests being the lateral borders of this depression. In this point therefore Rh. celebensis agrees with the Western forms of the group, differing from the Eastern.

The mechanical reason for this modification is evidently the following: a slight increase in the size of the temporal muscle has pushed the sagittal crest more forwards; this involves a shortening of the supraorbital crests; this again a reduction in the length of the postnasal depression.

'Ehe nasal swellings are narrow (*8 mm.), as in the closely related Eastern forms ( nanus , truncatus). In the more Western Rh. borneensis they are, at least somewhat, and as a rule considerably, broader. Compare figs. 4 and 5 on Pl. III.

It is worth noticing that the cranial characters of this species are, so to say, “ in accordance with ” its geographical habitat: Celebes is, geographically, intermediate between the Austro- Malayan and Indo-Malayan subregions, and in its more important cranial characters Rh. celebensis points partly westwards (shortening of supraorbital crests), partly eastwards (narrow nasal swellings). 1

The nose-leaves, ears, wings, and the general size are as in Rh. nanus and Rh. borneensis .

Colour. (1) Makassar specimen (♀ ad.; in alcohol; unfaded; teeth unworn).—General impression of upper side: brown; the true colour is a deep brown shade of “ drab ”; base of hairs a little lighter than drab; under side drab with a tinge of “broccolibrown. ”

(2) Menado specimens (two skins; ad.; teeth almost unworn).—Above uniform dull “ mars-brown, ” base of hairs but

slightly lighter; colour of the fur of the under side very much as on the tipper side.

The Makassar specimen seems to represent the true “dark phase ”; the mars-brown tinge of the Menado skins may indicate a tendency towards a “ russet phase. ” Similar differences in colour are very common in this section of the group.

Dentition. As in Rh. nanus .

Measurements. Below.

Type. ♀ ad. (in alcohol). Makassar, S. Celebes, November 1895. Collected by A. Everett, Esq. Brit. Mus. no. 97.1.3.19 .

Distribution. Celebes: Makassar, Menado.

Figures

Plate IV. Rhinolophus simpleX, lepidus, and midas groups; skulls; front views f, all other figures y. Fig. 4 a, ♂, _Rh. ferrum-equinum tragatus (p. Ill); Nepal; one of the cotypes. Upper, lower, lateral, and front views. 15. Rh.f. proXimus (p. 112); Gilgit; type. Upper view. 6 a, b, c. Rh. refulgens (p. 124); Perak; type. Upper, lateral, and front views. 7 a, 6, c. Rh. cornutus pumilus (p. 127); Loo-choo Isl.; topotype; B.M. no. 2.10.7.2. Upper, lateral, and front views. 18a, b, c. Rh. gracilis (p. 129); Malabar coast; type. Upper, lateral, and front views. 9 a, b, c. Rh. calypso (p. 134); Engano; type. Upper, lateral, and front views. 20 a, b, c, d. Rh. midas (p. 138); Jask, Persia; type. Upper, lower, lateral, and front views.