Rhinolophus francisi Soisook 2015

96. Francis’s Woolly Horseshoe Bat

Rhinolophus francisi

French: Rhinolophe de rancis / German: Francis-Wollhaar-Hufeisennase / Spanish: Herradura de Francis

Taxonomy. Rhinolophus frantisi Soisook et al, 2015,

“ Gunung Trus Madi, Sabah, Malaysia (approx. 5°34’N, 116°29’ E), at an elevation of about 1,600 m a.s.l.”

Rhinolophus frantisi is included in the trifoliatus species group, along with. sedulus,. trifoliatus, R.perniger, R.luctoides, R.mono, R. luctus, R. beddomei, and R formosae. It appears to be sister to the rest of the trifoliatus species group. The trifoliatus group appears to be close to the hipposideros and pearsonii species groups, based on mitochondrial genes; they form a clade that is basal to the rest of the Asiatic clade of Rhinolophus or is sister to the rest of hinolophus, based on nuclear genes, although further genetic studies are needed to confirm the respective positions of the species groups within the genus. Specimens ofthis species from Thailand were previously attributed to R.beddomei, in 2010, but proved to represent A frantisi The current distribution of this species is limited to two widely separate areas; the species may also be present in Vietnam, based on genetic evidence that placed three Vietnamese specimens as sister to the nominate race. Race thailandicus may ultimately prove to be a distinct species when more specimens are available for comparison. Two subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

R.f. frantisi Soisook et al, 2015 - known only from a few localities in N, SW & S Borneo. R.f. thailandicus Soisook & Bates, 2015 — known only from type locality in SW Thailand. Genetic data suggest that the species may also occur in Vietnam, but this requires more research.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 63- 4 mm, tail 29- 9-38 mm, ear 23- 8-27 mm, hindfoot 13-5-15- 5 mm, forearm 52-9-54- 7 mm; weight 16-18 g. Fur is long and woolly; dorsal and ventral pelage has dark grayish brown appearance, each hair being whitish brown basally and grayish brown at the dp. Ears are medium-sized. Noseleaf is dark brown and the lancet is high and slightly concave in the middle, with a pointed tip; connecting process is long and projects anteriorly; sella is broader basally, abruptly concave in the middle, parallel-sided at top with a rounded off tip, and has two large circular lappets on either side of base; horseshoe is relatively wide (12-2-12- 4 mm) but does not completely cover muzzle, and has a deep median emargination. Lower lip has one mental groove. Skull is robust (zygomatic width is greater than mastoid width); anterior median swellings are well inflated and bulbous; posterior swellings are small and uninflated; frontal depression is deep; supraorbital ridges are very conspicuous; sagittal crest is well defined; zygomatics are strong with a distinct triangular dorsal arch at midpoint. C1 is tall; P2 is very small with distinct cusp, and is within the tooth row; P3 is minute and almost completely extruded from tooth row; P2 and P4 are touching or nearly so.

Habitat In Borneo, Francis’s Woolly Horseshoe Bat was collected in montane forest and undisturbed evergreen forest in Sabah, and undisturbed and logged evergreen forest in Kalimantan; also, over a seasonal stream surrounded by dense primary evergreen forest in Thailand. It was found at 431 m in Thailand and at 1600 m in Sabah.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. Call shape is FM/CF/FM with a peak F of 49-2—50 kHz, durations of 20-2—39-9 milliseconds, and interpulse intervals of 30-7—126 milliseconds, in Kalimantan and Thailand.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Not assessed on The IUCN ed List, due to its recent recognition as a species. Francis’s Woolly Horseshoe Bat is currently known from only six records, two in Sabah and three in Kalimantan, in Borneo, and one in Thailand. It is probably more widely distributed, and should be considered data deficient until more information is available. The species is probably threatened by habitat destruction throughout its range, and perhaps by hunting in some areas.

Bibliography. Soisook, Niyomwan et al. (2010), Soisook, Struebig et al. (2015).