Hipposideros ruber

Hipposideros cf. ruber (Noack, 1893)

(Fig. 14, Table 3)

Phyllorhina rubra Noack, 1893: 586.

COMMON NAME. — English: Noack’s Leaf-nosed Bat. French: Phyllorine de Noack.

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — 137 specimens (including original data). Mount Cameroon area • 14 specimens; Mubenge - Isongo; 4°05’00”N, 9°00’00”E; 0 m; Martin Eisentraut leg.; SMNS 3453, 3454, ZMB 67679 to 67682, 67684, 93814 to 93820 • 4 ♀♀, 6 ♂♂, 2 specimens; Buea; 4°09’00”N, 9°12’00”E; 1050 m; 18.I.1954 - 30.XII.1957; Martin Eisentraut leg.; SMNS 5199 to 5206, 6593 to 6595, ZFMK 1961.0650 • 3 specimens; Koto - Barombi; 4°27’57”N; 9°16’01”E; 457 m; 16.I.1958; Martin Eisentraut leg.; ZFMK 1961.0651, ZFMK 1963.0448, 0449 • 1 specimen; Musake; 4°12’00”N, 9°12’00”E; 2000 m; 19.II.1966; Martin Eisentraut leg.; ZFMK 1969.0447 • 55 specimens; Kumba; 4°38’38”N, 9°26’19”E; 257 m; 15.XII-19. XII.1957; Martin Eisentraut leg.; SMNS 33121 to 33137, 6585 to 6592, ZFMK 1961.0634 to 0663 • 1 ♀; Mabeta; 4°01’20”N, 9°17’08”E; 151 m; 8.III.1938; Martin Eisentraut leg.; SMNS 5600a • 7 specimens; Mukonje; 4°35’02”N, 9°30’18”E; 113 m; 16.II.1938; Martin Eisentraut leg.; ZMB 67673 to 67678, ZMB 93813.

Other localities of Cameroon • 1 ♂; Nyasoso; 4°49’42”N, 9°40’55”E; 1078 m; 5.IV.1954; Martin Eisentraut leg.; SMNS 5207 • 1 speci- men; Mount Kupe; 4°48’05”N, 9°42’29”E; 1078 m; 26.XI.1966; Martin Eisentraut leg.; ZFMK 1969.0446 • 1 ♂; Tombel; 4°45’06”N, 9°40’22”E; 593 m; 19.II-22.II.1938; Martin Eisentraut leg.; SMNS 5600.

ORIGINAL DATA. — A total of 41 specimens of this species were capture during our surveys, of which most were in the understory canopy of primary forest at an altitude of 630 m a.s.l. (Table 1). This corroborates the report by Fedden & MacLeod (1986), who mostly recorded this species at low altitude. Eisentraut (1963) noted that Hipposideros ruber inhabits lowland regions, but could extend into montane forest.

DIAGNOSIS. — The forearm measurement of these specimens are 49.1 to 53.4 mm (Table 3). Other features stated by Happold (1987), such as the variable color phases ranging from orange-rufous to greyish-brown were present in these specimens. Also the ears are large and pointed and the antitragus is well developed. The species is distinguishable from Hipposideros caffer by the larger forearm length of above 50 mm (Patterson & Webala 2012) (Table 3).

HABITATS AND DISTRIBUTION. — This species has been recorded throughout much of West, Central, and East Africa and part of southern Africa (Monadjem et al. 2017c). According to Happold (1987), this species mostly inhabits lowland tropical rain forest, but can also be found in relic and riverine forests in savannah regions where large colonies roost in caves, rocky cavities and abandoned mineshafts.

REMARK. — The species is well known for its variable color phases. The pelage gradually changes from grey or brown just after they early molt to bright russet, as it is oxidized by ammonia fumes within the roosts (Fedden & MacLeod 1986). Recent molecular evidence place Hipposideros ruber as belonging to the caffer/ruber complex whose taxonomy is still confused (Vallo et al. 2008, 2011; Monadjem et al. 2013). Hence while waiting for additional molecular data to resolve the taxonomy of this complex we tentatively include all records from Mount Cameroon in H. cf. ruber.