Rhinolophus silvestris, Aellen, 1959

Burgin, Connor, 2019, Rhinolophidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 280-332 : 294

27 . African Forest Horseshoe Bat

Rhinolophus silvestris

French: Rhinolophe sylvestre / German: Waldhufeisennase / Spanish: Herradura forestal

Other common names: Forest Horseshoe Bat

Taxonomy. Rhinolophus silvestris Aellen, 1959 ,

“ Grotte de N’Dumbu [= Dumbu Cave], Latoursville , Gabon .”

Rhinolophus silvestris is in the ferrumequinum species group. It is morphologically very similar to R deckenii , indicating that the two species might be conspecific. It was formerly included within R clivosus but is now generally regarded as a distinct species. Monotypic.

Distribution. Only recorded from three localities in Gabon (Benga, Belinga, and Dumbu caves, Latoursville), and a single site in the Republic of the Congo (Meya-Nzouari).

Descriptive notes. Tail 28-32 mm, ear 22—23 mm, forearm 50-56 mm. The African Forest Horseshoe Bat is very similar to Decken’s Horseshoe Bat { deckenii ) but with higher nasal swellings and trumpet-shaped baculum with rounded shaft. Dorsal pelage is rusty brown; venter is paler. Ears are medium short in length (c.42% of forearm length). Noseleaf has subtriangular and high lancet, with straight to slightly concave sides and bluntly pointed tip; connecting process is rounded and subequal to height of stella; sella is naked, with either parallel or slighdy concave sides and broad, rounded tip; and horseshoe is medium in width at 9-1-11- 5 mm, covers entire muzzle, and has lateral leaflets and distinct median emargination. Lower lip has three grooves: middle groove is well defined, and outer two are poorly defined. Wings and uropatagium are brown and semi-translucent. Skull is robust, with sturdy zygomatic arches (zygomatic width is much larger than mastoid width); nasal swellings are medium in relative height and have smoothly rounded lateral profile; frontal depression is moderately deep, with prominent supraorbital ridges; sagittal crest is well developed anteriorly and absent posteriorly; and interpterygoid groove is shallow but conspicuous. P2 is tiny and completely displaced labially, C1 and P4 are in contact or nearly in contact, P3 is tiny and fully displaced labially or absent, and P2 and P4 are in contact. Dental formula typically has 32 teeth or I 1/2, C 1/1, P 2/2, M 3/3 (x 2) = 30 when a lower premolar is absent.

Habitat Dense rainforests near caves, particularly limestone caves.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. Juveniles and immature African Forest Horseshoe Bats were collected in November.

Activity patterns. African Forest Horseshoe Bats roost in caves.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. African Forest Horseshoe Bats share their roosts with Egyptian Rousettes {ousettus aegyptiacus'), Adam’s Horseshoe Bats { odami ), Noack’s Leaf-nosed Bats {Hipposideros ruber), Giant Leaf-nosed Bats ( Macronycteris gigas ), African Trident Bats { Triaenops afer ), and Least Long-fingered Bats { Miniopterus minor).

Status and Conservation. Classified as Data Deficient on The IUCNRed List. Only twelve specimens of the African Forest Horseshoe Bat are known, and there is virtually no ecological information available. More thorough sampling and taxonomic research are needed to fully evaluate its conservation status.

Bibliography. ACR (2018), Aellen & Brosset (1968), Bates eta/. (2013), Cotterill (2002a, 2008b, 2013d), Csorba eta/. (2003).

Figures

On following pages: 27. African Forest Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus silvestris); 28. Upland Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus hillorum); 29. Sakeji Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus sakejiensis); 30. Bokhara Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus bocharicus); 31. Greater Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum); 32. Geoffrey's Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus clivosus); 33. Greater Japanese Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus nippon); 34. Horacek's Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus horaceki); 35. Maclaud's Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus maclaudi); 36. Ziama Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus ziama); 37. Hill's Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus hilli); 38. Kahuzi Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus kahuzi); 39. Willard's Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus willardi); 40. Ruwenzori Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus ruwenzorii); 41. Chinese Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus xinanzhongguoensis); 42. Big-eared Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus macrotis); 43. Osgood's Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus osgoodi); 44. Allen's Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus episcopus); 45. Thai Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus siamensis); 46, Schnitzler's Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus schnitzten); M. King Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus rex); 48. Marshall’s Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus marshalli).

Distribution. Only recorded from three localities in Gabon (Benga, Belinga, and Dumbu caves, Latoursville), and a single site in the Republic of the Congo (Meya-Nzouari).