Rhinolophus mitratus, Blyth, 1844

Csorba, Gábor, Hutso, Anthony, Rossiter, Steve & Burgin, Connor, 2019, Family Rhinolophidae (Horseshoe Bats), Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Lynx Edicions, pp. 280-332 : 3

109. Mitred Horseshoe Bat

Rhinolophus mitratus

French: Rhinolophe mitrò / German: Mitra-Hufeisennase / Spanish: Herradura de mitra

Taxonomy. Rhinolophus mitratus Blyth, 1844 , “ neighbourhood of Chyebassa [= Chaibasa], in Central India.”

Rhinolophus mitratus is not currently listed in any species group, and is considered in- certae sedis. The species, known from the damaged holotype only, has often been in­ cluded in R.philippinensis but more recent authors have placed the species close to R.pearsonii or within the trifoliatus species group. Its taxonomic status is verdoubtful. Monotypic.

Distribution. Known only from type locality in Chaibasa, E India.

Descriptive notes. Head-body c. 70 mm, tail 30 mm, ear c. 25 mm, forearm 57- 1 mm. Fur is described as being rather long and is soft and delicate; dorsal pelage is brown, ventral pelage is light brown. Ears are large. Noseleaf appears to have a broad horseshoe, and intemarial lobes that are abnormally expanded upward, forming a deep cavity; the vertical portion of the sella is short and rounded and the base is not expanded as it is in the Trefoil Horseshoe Bat ( trifoliatus ). Lower lip has three mental grooves. Skull is damaged and thus there is no information available regarding the skull.

Habitat. Recorded at an elevational range up to of 300 m.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. The Mitred Horseshoe Bat is possibly a cave-roosting species.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Data Deficient on The JCN ed List because there are no new data about this species since its first description, based on a single specimen.

Bibliography. Csorba, Molur & Srinivasulu (2016), Csorba, Ujhelyi &Thomas (2003), Molur et al. (2002), Sinha (1973), Tate & Archbold (1939b).