Fig 1
Fig 2
Fig 3
Fig 4
Fig 5
Fig 6
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Order : CHIROPTERA
Family : Hipposideridae
Species : Hipposideros armiger
Forearm Length : up to 9.8 cm
Weight : up to 47 grams
The Great Roundleaf Bat is
amongst the largest of the Hipposideros genus, and is the largest
example in Southeast Asia. Typically the species roosts in caves, but is
also found in abandoned buildings.
Roundleaf bats are insectivorous bats characterised by a horseshoe-shaped
base to the noseleaf but, unlike the Rhinolophus horseshoe bats, they lack a
'lancet' or projection from the top of the noseleaf.
Similar in appearance to the closely related, but smaller,
Intermediate Roundleaf Bat
Hipposideros larvatus, the Great Roundleaf Bat possesses four, not
three, lateral accessory leaflets on each side of the main noseleaf
(although the outermost leaflet is poorly developed). Males
also possess a fleshy, swollen area above and behind the noseleaf.
Its thick and woolly fur is medium brown, and the ears dark brown.
Hipposideros armiger ranges from parts of eastern India, Nepal and
southern China (including Taiwan) through Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar
and Thailand to Peninsular
Malaysia. It has not been
recorded in Singapore.
Fig 1 : Female from Penang Island, Peninsular Malaysia, clinging to the
trunk of a coconut palm for a minute or so whilst foraging for insects.
Fig 2 : Female roosting in a limestone cave at Krabi, southern Thailand.
A large pup is taking shelter beneath her wing.
Fig 3 : The fleshy swellings above the noseleaf indicate this example to be
a male. Seen in an
abandoned building at Fraser's Hill, Peninsular Malaysia.
Figs 4 and 5 : Examples from Penang Island, Peninsular Malaysia skimming across a
grass lawn, and patrolling near a stand of bamboo whilst foraging for insects.
Fig 6 : Maternity colony of Hipposideros armiger in a limestone cave at Krabi,
southern
Thailand. Also present in the same cave were a pair of
Black-bearded Tomb Bat
Taphozous melanopogon.
References :
Lekagul, B., McNeely, J., 1977. Mammals of Thailand. Association for the
Conservation of Wildlife, Thailand. 758 pp.
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