Rhinolophus capensis, Lichtenstein, 1823

Dobson, George Edward, 1878, Rhinolophus, Catalogue of the Chiroptera in the collection of the British Museum, London: British Museum, pp. 100-122 : 121-122

23. Rhinolophus capensis .

Rhinolophus capensis, IÀchtenstein, Verz. Zool. Mus. Beri. p. 4 (1823) Keys. Blas. Wiegm. Archiv, v. p. 328 (1839); Peters, MB. Ahad. Beri. 1871, p. 310.

Rhinolophus geoffroyii, Smith, Zool. Journ. ii. p. 433 (1829).

Rhinolophus clivosus, Smith (non Rüppell), African Zoology, part i. Mammalia, p. 23 (1834).

Rhinolophus auritus, Victorin, Sundevall, Vetensk. Akad, Handl. Stockholm, p. 3 (1858) (vide Peters, I. c.).

Ears as long as the head, broad, subacutely pointed, not attenuated near the tips as in Rh. ferrum-equinum; the inner margin of the ear-conch convex in its upper third, the outer margin concave for a short distance immediately beneath the tip, then convex; the antitragus separated by a very shallow notch; horizontal horseshoe ­ shaped membrane not concealing the muzzle though covering it anteriorly, the remaining parts of the nose-leaf similar to those in Rh. ferrum-equinum (Plate VII. fig. 11).

Interfemoral membrane short, straight along free margin; tip of the tail very slightly projecting. Wing-membrane from the tarsus.

Fur as in Rh. ferrum-equinum.

First upper premolar minute, in the very narrow space between the canine and second premolar, half external.

Length (of an adult ♀ preserved in alcohol), head and body 2"T5, tail 0"’85, head O',-9, ear O',-9, nose-leaf 0"-55x0"-3, forearm " ’9, thumb 0”’3; third finger— metacarp. 1"- 3, 1st ph. 0"'65, 2nd ph.]''•!; fourth finger —metacarp. " ’5, 1st ph. 0"’35, 2nd ph. 0',-65; fifth finger —metacarp. 1"-45, 1st ph. 0"-45, 2nd ph. 0”-55; tibia 0"-75, foot 0"-45.

Hab. South Africa (Zanzibar, Cape Colony).

This species resembles Rh. ferrum-equinum very closely in the form of its nose-leaf, but may be at once distinguished by the very different form of the ears, and by the position of the first minute upper premolar.

a, b, c. ♀ ad., al. Zanzibar. Dr. Kirk [P.].

d-n. ♂ & ♀ ad., al. Cape Town. Trustees S. African Mus. [P.].

o, p. ad. sk. Cape of Good Hope.

q. skull of c.

r. skeleton . Cape Town. Trustees S. African Mus. [P.].