74.

Thailand Leaf-nosed Bat

Hipposideros halophyllus

French: Phyllorhine deThaïlande / German: Thailand-Rundblattnase I Spanish: Hiposidérido deTailandia

Other common names: Thailand Roundleaf Bat

Taxonomy. Hipposideros halophyllus HM & Yenbutra, 1984,

“Khao Sa Moa Khon [= Khao Samor Khon], Tha Woong, Lop Buri, Thailand.”

Hipposideros halophyllus was formerly included in the bicolor species group, but is now placed in the new ater species group. Monotypic.

Distribution. Scattered records in N, C & S Thailand (Chiang Mai, Phitsanulok, Uthai Thani, Lop Buri, Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi, Petchaburi, Sa Kaeo, Phang Nga, and Nakhon Si Thammarat provinces) and N Peninsular Malaysia (Perlis State).

Descriptive notes. Forearm 36-39 mm. Noseleaf of the Thailand Leaf-nosed Bat lacks supplementary leaflet. Intemarial septum is kidney-shaped. Pelage is grayish brown. Rostrum is poorly inflated; anterior part is low and gradually slopes upward to pos-tenor part. P2 is small, situated the tooth row or slightly extruded. Baculum is very small, with straight shaft, slightly expanded base, and rounded tip.

Habitat. Thailand Leaf-nosed Bats forage in a variety of habitats, from shrubs near ricefields and plantations, to mangroves, bamboo and primary evergreen forests. Found from sea level up to 480 m.

Food and Feeding. The Thailand Leafnosed Bat feeds on small insects over ricefields or by the edge of vegetation.

Breeding. Females were found pregnant in March-April. Lactating females were captured in May-June, which is the same period that groups of young were observed roosting in caves during the night.

Activity patterns. The Thailand Leaf-nosed Bat roosts in caves or rock crevices. Echolocation call frequency of 156-187 kHz has been reported.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Thailand Leaf-nosed Bat roosts in small colonies of up to c.200 individuals in a single cave (e.g. Pha Daeng and Khao Singto caves); however, in Khao Samor Khon caves, a population size of c. 1000-1400 individuals was estimated. The species is commonly found coexisting with Least Leafnosed Bats {H. cineraceus), Bicolored Leaf-nosed Bats (H. bicolor), Andersen’s Leafnosed Bats (H. gentilis), Cantor’s Leaf-nosed Bats {H. galeritus), Great Himalayan Leafnosed Bats {H. armiger), and Horsfield’s Leaf-nosed Bats (H. larvatus).

Status and Conservation. Classified as Vulnerable on The IUCN Red List. The major threats to the Thailand Leaf-nosed Bat appear to be habitat loss due to limestone mining, habitat degradation by livestock and deforestation, and human disturbance. The species was reported as being hunted at Khao Samor Khon caves, and being disturbed by tourist activities in Ton Chan and Khao Yoi caves.

Bibliography. Douangboubpha & Soisook (2016), Douangboubpha, Bumrungsri, Soisook, Murray et al. (2010), Francis (2008a).