Rhinolophus virgo, K. Andersen, 1905

Burgin, Connor, 2019, Rhinolophidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 280-332 : 307-308

54 . Yellow-faced Horseshoe Bat

Rhinolophus virgo

French: Rhinolophe à face jaune / German: Gelbgesichthufeisennase / Spanish: Herradura de cara amarillenta

Other common names:

Taxonomy. Rhinolophus virgo K. Andersen, 1905 ,

“ S[outh]. Camarines, Luzon , Philippine Islands .”

This species is included in the megaphyllus species group and seems to be closest to R celebensis . Based on genetic studies, R virgo , as currently defined, may be a species complex, but further research is needed. Monotypic.

Distribution. Philippines on Batan, Sabtang, Calayan, Luzon, Lubang, Mindoro, Tablas, Sibuyan, Catanduanes, Gigantes, Maripipi, Leyte, Panay, Negros, Cebu, Camotes, Bohol, Camiguin, Mindanao, Busuanga, Palawan, Dondonay, andjolo Is; probably throughout the other islands of the archipelago as well.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 45-59 mm, tail 17-23 mm, ear 14- 7-21 mm, hindfoot 7-9 mm, forearm 36- 5-44 mm; weight 4-7 g. Dorsal pelage is distinctly reddish to brownish orange, whereas ventral pelage is slightly lighter. Ears are small to mediumsized. Most individuals have a yellowish face. Noseleaf is small overall, with elongate lancet with slightly concave sides; connecting process is rounded; sella is nearly parallel-sided or slightly narrower at center, and base is a little wider than broadly rounded tip; horseshoe is very narrow (greatest breadth is 7-7- 5 mm), has indications of lateral leaflets and prominent median emargination. Lower lip has three mental grooves. Skull is moderately robust with zygomatic width usually slightly exceeding mastoid width (rarely subequal); anterior and posterior rostral swellings are moderately developed (rostral profile gently sloped posteriorly); sagittal crest is low to medium, and frontal depression is of medium depth, well defined, and bordered by generally conspicuous supraorbital ridges. P2 is well developed and within tooth row, separating P4 and C1; P3 is small or medium-sized and partly or completely displaced labially, which allows P2 and P4 to come in contact.

Habitat. The Yellow-faced Horseshoe Bat is generally recorded in primary and secondary lowland forest and less commonly in montane forest; it occurs from sea level up to 1050 m, though mainly below 800 m elevation. It has also been found in agricultural areas relatively regularly, and in lowland dipterocarp forest.

Food and Feeding. Yellow-faced Horseshoe Bats are insectivorous, feeding in the canopy for insects, primarily lepidopterans and dipterans, and occasionally spiders. This indicates that they forage by fly-catching and possibly foliage-gleaning. Stomach samples of bats on Mindanao included some hair fibers and insect parts, along with bird feathers and 78-6% unidentified flesh; this suggests that the species hunts birds as well.

Breeding. Litter consists of a single young.

Activity patterns. Yellow-faced Horseshoe Bats are nocturnal. They generally roost in caves, culverts, and crevices, but occasionally in dark cavities in trees. Call shape is FM/ CF/FM with a peak F recorded at 83-88 kHz (averaging 85-6 kHz) in Laguna Province, Luzon, and 83-89 kHz on Panay (identity not totally certain).

Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Yellow-faced Horseshoe Bat roosts in small groups and has been recorded roosting with the Small Asian Sheathtailed Bat ( Emballonura alecto ) and Geoffrey's Rousette (ousettus amplexicaudatus).

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN ed List. The Yellow-faced Horseshoe Bat is considered to be common and widespread with no major threats currendy identified.

Bibliography. Csorba et al. (2003), Esselstyn, Widmann & Heaney (2004), Gaiorio & Nuneza (2014), Heaney, Balete, Dolar et al. (1998), Heaney, Balete, Gee et al. (2005), Heaney, Gonzales et al. (1991), Mould (2012), Nuneza & Gaiorio (2014), Ong, Rosell-Ambal &Tabaranza (2008), Rickart et al. (1993), Sedlock &Weyandt (2009).

Figures

On following pages: 52. Eastern Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus megaphyllus}; 53. Insular Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus keyensis}; 54. Yellow-faced Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus virgo}; 55. Madura Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus madurensis}; 56. Sulawesi Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus celebensis}; 57. Robinson's Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus robinsoni); 58. Indochinese Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus chasem); 59. Anamban Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus nereis}; 60. Bornean Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus borneensis); 61. Malayan Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus malayanus}; 62. Acuminate Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus acuminatus}; 63. Acuminate Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus acuminatus}; 64. Little Japanese Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus cornutus}; 65. Yaeyama Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus perditus}; 66. Mountain Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus monticolus}; 67. Shortridge's Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus shortridgei}; 68. Formosan Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus monoceros}; 69. Least Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus pusillus}; 70. Little Nepalese Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus subbadius}; 71. Convex Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus convexus}; 72. Andaman Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus cognatus}; 73. Glossy Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus refulgens}; 74. Blyth's Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus lepidus};

Distribution. Philippines on Batan, Sabtang, Calayan, Luzon, Lubang, Mindoro, Tablas, Sibuyan, Catanduanes, Gigantes, Maripipi, Leyte, Panay, Negros, Cebu, Camotes, Bohol, Camiguin, Mindanao, Busuanga, Palawan, Dondonay, andjolo Is; probably throughout the other islands of the archipelago as well.