Rhinolophus thailandensis, Wu Yi, Harada & Motokawa, 2009

Burgin, Connor, 2019, Rhinolophidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 280-332 : 331

105 . Thailand Horseshoe Bat

Rhinolophus thailandensis

French: Rhinolophe deThaïlande / German: Thailand-Hufeisennase / Spanish: Herradura de Tailandia

Other common names: Thai Horseshoe Bat

Taxonomy. hinolophus thailandensis Wu Yi, Harada & Motokawa, 2009 ,

“ from a cave, Doi Chang Kiang, Chiang Mai, Thailand, at an altitude of 1,790 m.”

Rhinolophus thailandensis is included in the pearsonii species group along with R. yunanensis, R. chiewkweeae , and R. pearsonii . The pearsonii group appears to be close to the trifoliatus and hipposideros species groups, although more taxon-inclusive studies are needed to confirm this relationship. It has only recendy been recognized as a species distinct from R.yunanensis . The study in which this species was described included only studied specimens of R.yunanensis from Sichuan and Yunnan, China, and Thailand, identifying each as a distinct species. The rest of the distribution allocated to R.yunanensis has not yet been compared to either taxon, and further studies are needed to identify which populations represent which species. Until then, R. thailandensis is still considered to be restricted to Thailand and probably Cambodia; the rest of the distribution is tentatively attributed to R.yunanensis . Monotypic.

Distribution. Known with certainty only from Chiang Mai Province, NW Thailand, although it is probably the species that occurs in NW, W & SE Thailand, including Tarutao I; specimens from Cambodia, found to be intermediate in size between Dobson’s Horseshoe Bat (. yunanensis ) and Pearson’s Horseshoe Bat (. pearsonii ), are also tentatively included in this species.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 63—72 mm, tail 18—24 mm, ear 26- 2—32 mm, hindfoot 11 • 1-15 mm, forearm 56-2-61- 2 mm. Dorsal pelage is buffy to deep brown (hairs whitish or pale at base, with brown tips) and the ventral pelage is a little lighter and grayer (hairs gray based with buffy brown tips). Ears are large. Noseleafhas a long, triangular, straight-sided lancet; connecting process forms a low rounded arch; sella has a wide base that narrows toward the middle, and tapers slighdy toward the dp; horseshoe is wide, covering the whole muzzle, and has a deep and distinct median emargination. Lower lip has one mental groove. Baculum is relatively long (4 mm long) and has a relatively strong basal cone (weak compared to that of Dobson’s Horseshoe Bat), and a roughly cylindrical shaft; tip is narrowly rounded off and laterally widened. Skull is large and robust (zygomatic width much greater than mastoid width); anterior median swellings are longer than wide (width is greater than in Dobson’s Horseshoe Bat); lateral swellings are much larger than the anterior ones; sagittal crest is strong, especially anteriorly; frontal depression is relatively shallow; supraorbital crests are low but well defined. C1 is strong and well developed; P2 is large and in the tooth row; P3 is moderate in size and more or less extruded from the tooth row. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 60 and FNa = 64 ( Thailand).

Habitat. Tropical forest.

Food and Feeding. Dietary components of 31 fecal pellets comprised mostly Coleoptera (43-2% by volume), Hemiptera (32-0%), and Homoptera (12-3%), although small amounts of Diptera (5-5%), Lepidoptera (3-5%), Ephemeroptera (1-9%), Orthoptera (0-6%), Trichoptera (0-5%), and Hymenoptera (0-3%) were also detected.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. The Thailand Horseshoe Bat roosts in caves. Call shape is FM/CF/ FM with a peak F recorded at 49-50-9 kHz in Thailand, and 53-6 kHz in Cambodia.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Not assessed on The IUCNed List. Until the taxonomy of the Thailand Horseshoe Bat is clarified, the species cannot be fully assessed.

Bibliography. Francis (2008), Harada eta/. (1985), Ith, Csorba et al. (2011), Weterings et al. (2015), Wu Yi, Harada & Motokawa (2009).

Figures

On following pages: 94. Thomas's Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus thomasi); 95. Lesser Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus hipposideros); 96. rancis's Woolly Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus trancisi); 97. Lesser Woolly Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus sedulus); 98. Trefoil Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus trifoliatus); 99. Northern Woolly Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus perniger); 100. Selangor Woolly Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus luctoides); 101. Malaysian Woolly Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus mono); 102. Great Woolly Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus luctus); 1.03. Beddome's Woolly Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus beddomei); 104. Formosan Woolly Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus formosaë); 105. Thailand Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus thailandensis); 106. Dobson's Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus yunanensis); 107. Chiew Kwee's Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus chiewkweeae); 108. Pearson's Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus pearsonii); 109. Mitred Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus mitratus).

Distribution. Known with certainty only from Chiang Mai Province, NW Thailand , although it is probably the species that occurs in NW, W & SE Thailand , including Tarutao I; specimens from Cambodia , found to be intermediate in size between Dobson’s Horseshoe Bat (. yunanensis ) and Pearson’s Horseshoe Bat (. pearsonii ), are also tentatively included in this species.