Rhinolophus ferrum-equinum Schreb

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 : 113-116

4 e. Rhinolophus ferrum-equinum Schreb ., typicus.

Le fer-à-cheval Daubenton, Mém. Acad. Roy. Sei. Belg. 1759, pp. 377, 382, pl. 15. fig. 4 .

Vespertilio Ferrum equinum (partim) Schreber , Säugthiere, i. (1775) pp. 174, 188, pl. 62 (the two upper figures).

Vespertilio equinus (partim) P. L. S. Müller , Natursyst., Suppl. (1776) p. 20.

Vespertilio Ungula (partim) Boddaert , Elenchus animalium, i. (1785) p. 71.

Vespertilio Ferrum equinum, a. major Gmelin, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. (1788) p. 50.

Vespertilio Hippocrepis (partim) Schrank , Fauna Boica, i. (1798) p. 64.

Rhinolophus uni-hastatus Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire , Descr. de l’Égypte, ii. (1812) p. 132; id., Ann. Mus. d’Hist. Nat. xx. (1813) p. 257, pl. 5.

Rhinolophus ferrum-equinum var. germanicus et var. italicus Koch, Jahrb. Ver. Naturk. Nassau, 1862-63, pp. 522, 523 *.

Rhinolophusferrum-equinum (partim) Peters, MB. Akad. Berlin, 1871, p. 310; Dobson, Cat. Chir. Brit. Mus. (1878) p. 119.

Rhinolophus libanoticus , conchifer, et rufescens “ Ehrbg. et Lichtst. Mspt. ” Peters, loc. cit. (1871) (nomina nuda).

Diagnosis. Size moderate, horse-shoe rather narrow, tail long. Skull rather small and slender, with narrow nasal swellings and short tooth-rows.

Details.— (1) Compared with obscurus: the subjoined particulars will make the difference evident:—

59 specimens of the typical form have been examined from the following localities: — Transcaspia (1); Euphrates Valley (3); Syria (2); Galilee (2); Cyprus (2); N. Bulgaria (1); Transsylvania (31); Hungary (1); Moravia (2); Dalmatia (2); Turin (i); Genoa (1); Sicily (2); Switzerland (Tessin and Geneva * 7); Tübingen (1).

Forearm, in these specimens, on an average 57 ’ 5 mm. In no less than 44, i. e. 75 per cent., the forearm measures 57 mm. or more (up to 60’3 mm.); in the remaining (and quite independent of the locality) less than 57 mm. (down to 53'5 mm.).

Of obscurus 3 specimens have been examined from: — Troubate, Hautes-Pyrénées (8); Cintra, Portugal (1); Madrid (3); Valencia! (12); Minorca (5); Algeria (2).

Forearm, in these specimens, on an average 55'5 mm. In no less than 25, i. e. 8 per cent., the forearm measures less than 57 mm. (down to 52"8 mm.); in the remaining between 57 and 58 mm. Although the series is smaller than that of the typical form, the facts here pointed out cannot be due to mere chance; the contrast is too well marked.

As a conclusion: in the typical form the forearm measures generally 57 mm. or more; in obscurus almost always less than 57 mm.; maximum of obscurus is but a trifle larger than the average size of the typical form.

(2) Compared with the eastern races: the proportionately longer tail prevents, in almost all cases, its confusion with any of these races. Thè skull is rather easily discriminated from that of tragatus and regulus (cf. measurements, p. 115), but I fail to find any point by which to distinguish it from the Japanese nippon .

British specimens. 3 specimens have been examined. Forearm on an average 55.4 mm., i. e., British specimens of ferrum-equinum are on an average of the same size as the extreme south-western (Spanish) race, Rh.f. obscurus t. Of the 3 specimens, 2 only have the forearm 57 mm. long or more (up to 58 mm., quite as in obscurus); all the others between 53"8 and 56"2 mm. These indications require, of course, verification by a much larger series §.

Dentition (11 skulls). In seven skulls p3is present on both sides (teeth in very different stages of wear); in one, on one side only (teeth worn); in three (teeth almost unworn, or much worn) completely wanting (no alveoli), p2 is present in all the skulls examined, two of which are of very aged individuals. Cingula of the upper canine and p4 generally more or less overlapping, but in two skulls separated by an extremely small interspace. This dentition is almost exactly as in nippon .

Distribution. From Transcaspia and the Euphrates Valley through Southern and Central Europe, exclusive of the Spanish

Peninsula.

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.