Rhinolophus lepidus, Blyth.

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 : 121-123

II. The Rhinolophus lepidus G roup.

Diagnosis. Basioccipital, between coclileae, not unusually narrowed. Posterior connecting process projecting and pointed. I include in this group: — (1) All the forms with projecting connecting process comprised by Dobson under the technical name “ Rh. minor ”; their close relationship is unquestionable; their differences will be pointed out below; (2) Rh. acuminatus and its allies, which are scarcely more than giant forms of the lepidustype; (3) the Rh. blasii and (4) Rh. euryale sections, peculiarly modified Ethiopian and W. Palaearctic representatives of the subbadius-type. The two former sections only will be reviewed below; the two latter will be briefly mentioned in the “ General Remarks” on the group (p. 135).

As this is a first attempt to disentangle the many different forms hitherto confounded with Horsfield’s Rh. minor, the following preliminary remarks are necessary, as a general guidance:—

The first of the above-named sections (the “ lepidus -section ”), viz., all the small Oriental and E. Palaearctic Rhinolophi which have the connecting process projecting and pointed, fall into three natural groups (sub-sections): the lepidus-type, the 7n»èor-type, and the subbadius-type.

I propose to characterise these types at once. It will enable me to confine the diagnoses of the various species to the points in which they differ from the subjoined general characteristic.

(1) The lepidus-type. — Chief characters: skull larger, width of brain-case about 7'7-7'8 mm.; connecting process (in side view) projecting as a small, erect triangle (not curved forwards as a sharply pointed “ horn ”).

Description, based on Rh. lepidus (Wynaad, Mysore, Indian Peninsula).—Supplementary leaflet as in simpleX and its allies. Horse-shoe not completely covering the upper lip; a small toothlike projection on either side of the median notch; front border sometimes, not always, slightly crenulate (individual variation). Sella decidedly broader at base than at summit, slightly, but quite distinctly, constricted at middle, narrow at summit: there is a tendency towards producing an almost subacute summit to the sella (compare with this the 6 orneensis-type: sella broadly rounded off, or even truncated, at summit); height of sella 3'2 mm.; width at base, at constriction, and at summit: "2. 1'8. and 1'2 mm. Connecting process projecting as an acute, sometimes only subacute, triangle beyond the summit of the sella. Lancet strongly hastate, about 3 mm. long. Three mental grooves.

Ears much as in the celebensis-borneensis type, but somewhat more blunt-tipped.

Wing-structure quite primitive, i. e. no lengthening of III *, this phalanx being always less, and very often much less, than 11 the length of III.1; no shortening of the third metacarpal; fourth metacarpal slightly the longest (individually it may fall short of the fifth by a fraction of a millimetre). This wing-structure is perfectly like that of Rh. simpleX and its allies.

Tail slightly longer than (individually equal to, or a trifle shorter than) the lower leg. Plagiopatagium inserted on the ankle, slightly above or below.

Skull. General shape: the simpleX-borneensis type, but considerably smaller, with smaller teeth, and shorter tooth-rows. The orbital cavities (the confluent orbital and temporal fossa?) are shorter and narrower than in borneensis , the zygomatic arches, therefore, less projecting laterally, making the zygomatic width of the skull, as a rule, only equal to, or even a trifle smaller than, the mastoid width. These peculiarities combined make, as a rule, the skulls of the species of the lepidus-ty^ e rather easily distinguishable from those of the borneensis-ty'pQ.— Arrangement of the nasal swellings, essentially, as in borneensis . Palatal bridge, on I an average ', somewhat less than 4 0- /, but ■ Bi I more than -j- the length O of the maxillar tooth-row.

Dentition. Position of p3 (in, or external to, the tooth-row) " vacillating. ’ p'2 invariably in the tooth-row. This dentition is precisely as in simpleX-borneensis.

Species. Rh. lepidus , monticola , refulgens .

(2) The minor-type. — Chief characters: skull, also proportionately, very small; width of brain-case about 6'8-7'2 mm.; connecting process of the- lepidus-tyge. (text-fig. 22, b, p. 121).

Description, based on Rh. cormitus pumilus (Loo-choo Islands). — Nose-leaves as in the lepidus-type, but: sella narrower; height about 2'8 mm.; width at base, at constriction, and at summit: 1'7, T 5, and 1'1 mm. Connecting process slightly higher, slightly more acute, but of the same general shape.

The other external characters as in the lepidus -type.

Skull. Considerably smaller; nasal swellings narrower. Teeth smaller.

Dentition. As in lepidus .

Species. Rh. minor, cornutus , 11 minutas ” (Miller, nec Montagu), gracilis .

(3) The subbadius- type. — Chief character: connecting process long, slender, very sharply pointed, curved forwards, projecting like a small, curved “ horn ” (text-fig. 22, c, p. 121).

Nose-leaves, and other external characters, much as in minor, but connecting process as described above; lancet more or less approaching the shape of an equilateral triangle; length of sella about 2'4 mm.; width at base, at constriction, and at summit: 1'7, 1'3, and 0'9 mm.

Skull. To judge from fragments, and the skull of a quite young individual, much of the minor-tyge.

Dentition. As in lepidus and minor.

Species. Rh. subbadius , monoceros .