Rhinolophus refulgens, K. Andersen, 1905

Burgin, Connor, 2019, Rhinolophidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 280-332 : 314

73 . Glossy Horseshoe Bat

Rhinolophus refulgens

French: Rhinolophe irisé / German: Glänzende Hufeisennase / Spanish: Herradura iriscente

Taxonomy. Rhinolophus refulgens K Andersen, 1905 ,

“ Malay Peninsula : Perak; Selangor . ”

Rhinolophus refulgens is included in the pusillus species group. It was recently elevated to species status based on genetic data. Although R. refulgens and R. lepidus are morphometrically very similar, the genetic divergence between them is higher than that found between other sister species of Rhinolophus . The most recent phylogenetic study has placed R refulgens as sister to R. lepidus from Vietnam and Cambodia. The taxon cuneatus is tentatively treated as a subspecies of R. refulgens but the Sumatran specimen has not been comprehensively compared to refulgens . Two subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

. r. refulgens K. Andersen, 1905 - Malay Peninsula and Singapore, along with Tarutao and Tioman Is.

R. r. cuneatus K.Andersen, 1918 - E Sumatra.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 37-2-51- 1 mm, tail 14-6-22- 4 mm, ear 12-3-17- 8 mm, hindfoot 5-3-7- 9 mm, forearm 36-6—42- 6 mm; weight 4—7- 2 g. Dorsal pelage varies between very dark brown and bright foxy red (hairs with paler tip, giving the fur glossy appearance) whereas ventral pelage is wood brown or drab. Ears are small or mediumsized. Noseleaf has slightly concave lancet and has bluntly pointed tip; connecting process is triangular with rounded tip; sella is narrow and usually parallel-sided or slightly convex; horseshoe is relatively wide and does not cover whole muzzle, has wide median emargination, and secondary leaflets are present. Lower lip has three mental grooves. Skull is generally similar to that of Blyth’s Horseshoe Bat (Ä lepidus') but can be distinguished based on broader supraorbital region, with poorly defined supraorbital ridges. C 1 is only slightly higher than P4.

Habitat. Mainly found in mature lowland and hill rainforest, as well as primary and secondary rainforest in Singapore.

Food and Feeding. Glossy Horseshoe Bats are insectivorous. These bats are maneuverable and able to forage in areas with cluttered vegetation.

Breeding. In Malaysia, pregnant females were captured in all months except February, June, andJuly. Pregnant females were most commonly reported with a single fetus, but some have two embryos. Lactating females have been reported in May, June, andJuly. These data suggest that the species may breed year-round.

Activity patterns. The Glossy Horseshoe Bat is generally thought to be nocturnal, but on Tioman Island, Malaysia, the species has been observed foraging throughout both day and night. This atypical diurnal foraging may be attributed to the lack of avian predators hunting under the forest canopy, where the species normally forages. On Tioman Island, individuals were reported roosting in coconut palms, and in Singapore they roosted in caves; they roost in caves and rock crevices on the mainland. Search call shape is a FM/CF/FM with a peak F reported at 98-6-105-2 kHz in males and 100-7-104-1 kHz in females. Peak frequencies in Singapore were reported at 97-8 kHz, with a duration of 28-4 milliseconds.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Glossy Horseshoe Bat roosts in colonies, with up to 300 individuals reported on Tioman Island and 350 in Singapore.

Status and Conservation. Not assessed as a separate species on The IUCN ed List, where it is included under Blyth’s Horseshoe Bat as Least Concern. The Glossy Horseshoe Bat has a relatively limited distribution, as currently known; within this range it is likely to be threatened by habitat destruction, as it is relatively restricted to mature lowland forests.

Bibliography. Chua & Aziz (2018), Dejtaradol (2009), Kingston et al. (2006), Leong & Lim (2009), Lim et al. (1999), Pottie et al. (2005), Soisook et al. (2016), Tingga et al. (2012).

Figures

On following pages: 52. Eastern Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus megaphyllus}; 53. Insular Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus keyensis}; 54. Yellow-faced Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus virgo}; 55. Madura Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus madurensis}; 56. Sulawesi Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus celebensis}; 57. Robinson's Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus robinsoni); 58. Indochinese Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus chasem); 59. Anamban Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus nereis}; 60. Bornean Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus borneensis); 61. Malayan Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus malayanus}; 62. Acuminate Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus acuminatus}; 63. Acuminate Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus acuminatus}; 64. Little Japanese Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus cornutus}; 65. Yaeyama Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus perditus}; 66. Mountain Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus monticolus}; 67. Shortridge's Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus shortridgei}; 68. Formosan Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus monoceros}; 69. Least Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus pusillus}; 70. Little Nepalese Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus subbadius}; 71. Convex Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus convexus}; 72. Andaman Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus cognatus}; 73. Glossy Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus refulgens}; 74. Blyth's Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus lepidus};

Subspecies and Distribution. . r. refulgens K. Andersen, 1905 - Malay Peninsula and Singapore , along with Tarutao and Tioman Is. R. r. cuneatus K.Andersen, 1918 - E Sumatra.