Hipposideros demissus, K. Andersen, 1909

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Hipposideridae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 227-258 : 241

39.

Makira Leaf-nosed Bat

Hipposideros demissus

French: Phyllorhine de Makira / German: Makira-Rundblattnase / Spanish: Hiposidérido de Makira

Other common names: Makira Roundleaf Bat

Taxonomy. Hipposiderus [sic] demissus K. Andersen, 1909 ,

“Yanuta, San Christoval [= San Cristobal Island],” Solomon Islands .

Hipposideros demissus is in the diadema species group along (8 species). It was initially described as a distinct species. Subsequently, J. E. Hill in 1963 and. J. Phillips in 1967 suggested reclassifying it as a subspecies of H. diadema , but more recently D.J. Kitchener and colleagues in 1992 and T. F. Flannery in 1995 supported the status of H. demissus as a separate species, based on its noticeably distinct morphological traits. In addition, T. H. Lavery and colleagues in 2014 found strong genetic differences between H. diadema and H. demissus , and recommended that further genetic analyses of these taxa were required to clarify their taxonomy. Monotypic.

Distribution. Endemic to Makira (= San Cristobal) I, Solomon Is.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 64*8-70* 3 mm, tail 34*1-42* 6 mm, ear 20*6-24* 5 mm, forearm 66* 9 mm; weight 27 g. Ears of the Makira Leaf-nosed Bat are large, triangular, and slightly concave below tips. Posterior noseleaf has three pairs of supplementary lateral leaflets. In central part of intermediate noseleaf there is a small protuberance. Posterior noseleaf has a semicircular upper margin and there are four cells on frontal surface, divided by three vertical septa. Tail is long, surpassing uropatagium. In adult males, pelage is yellowish-brownish or greyish on dorsum, with whitish coloration in central portion of each hair. In adult females, pelage can be bright orange. Ventral part is slighdy paler.

Habitat. The Makira Leaf-nosed Bat has been reported in caves, along streams, in secondary forest, and also in disturbed habitats such as cacao plantations.

Food and Feeding. The Makira Leaf-nosed Bat may forage in both disturbed and undisturbed habitats and its diet is probably based on insects.

Breeding. Breeding biology of the Makira Leaf-nosed Bat is still unknown. o date, only a few breeding colonies have been reported, all of them in caves.

Activity patterns. The Makira Leaf-nosed Bat roosts in caves. The F part of its echolocation call is 69*3 kHz.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Makira Leaf-nosed Bat is gregarious, forming large groups at some roosts.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Vulnerable on 77ze IUCN Red List due to its restricted range. Population trends of this species are unknown. One of its major threats might be the disturbance of its roosts. Cyclones are also suspected of being a threat to this species. More research focused on the Makira Leaf-nosed Bat is needed in order to assess its ecology and threats adequately.

Bibliography. Davies et al. (2016), Flannery (1995a), Hamilton (2008b), Hill (1963a), Kitchener, How, Cooper & Suyanto (1992), Lavery et al. (2014), Phillips (1967).

Figures

24. Large-eared Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros megalotis), 25. Boeadi’s Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros boeadii), 26. Ha Long Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros alongensis), 27. Great Himalayan Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros armiger), 28. Griffin’s Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros griffoni), 29. Pendlebury’s Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros pendleburyi), 30. Lesser Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros turpis), 31. Grand Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros grandis), 32. Horsfield’s Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros larvatus), 33. Maduran Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros madurae), 34. Sorensen’s Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros sorenseni), 35. Sumban Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros sumbae), 36. Shield-faced Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros lylei), 37. Pratt’s Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros pratti), 38. Shield-nosed Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros scutinares), 39. Makira Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros demissus), 40. Diadem Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros diadema), 41. Fierce Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros dinops), 42. Crested Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros inexpectatus), 43. Amhem Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros inomatus), 44. Indian Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros lankadiva), 45. Large Asian Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros lekaguli), 46. Peleng Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros pelingensis)

Distribution. Endemic to Makira (= San Cristobal ) I, Solomon Is.