Rhinolophidae
Author
Burgin, Connor
text
2019
2019-10-31
Lynx Edicions
Barcelona
Editor
Wilson, Don E.
Editor
Mittermeier, Russell A.
Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats
280
332
book chapter
http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3748525
6384b520-7e9f-4874-a414-76c2e9b01d74
978-84-16728-19-0
3748525
54
. Yellow-faced Horseshoe
Bat
Rhinolophus
virgo
French: Rhinolophe à face
jaune
/
German:
Gelbgesichthufeisennase /
Spanish:
Herradura de cara amarillenta
Other common names:
Taxonomy.
Rhinolophus virgo
K. Andersen, 1905
,
“
S[outh]. Camarines, Luzon
,
Philippine Islands
.”
This species is included in the
megaphyllus
species group and seems to be closest to
R celebensis
.
Based on genetic studies,
R
virgo
, as currently defined, may be a species complex,
but
further research is needed. Monotypic.
Distribution
.
Philippines
on Batan, Sabtang, Calayan, Luzon, Lubang, Mindoro, Tablas, Sibuyan,
Catanduanes
, Gigantes, Maripipi,
Leyte
, Panay, Negros,
Cebu
, Camotes,
Bohol
,
Camiguin
, Mindanao, Busuanga,
Palawan
, Dondonay, andjolo
Is
; probably throughout the other islands of the archipelago as well.
Descriptive
notes.
Head-body
45-59 mm
, tail
17-23 mm
, ear 14-
7-21 mm
, hindfoot
7-9 mm
, forearm 36-
5-44 mm
; weight
4-7 g
. Dorsal pelage is
distinctly
reddish to brownish orange, whereas ventral pelage is slightly lighter. Ears are small to mediumsized. Most individuals have a yellowish face. Noseleaf is small overall, with elongate lancet with
slightly
concave sides; connecting process is rounded; sella is nearly
parallel-sided
or slightly narrower at center, and base is a little wider than broadly rounded tip; horseshoe is very narrow (greatest breadth is 7-7-
5 mm
), has indications of lateral leaflets and prominent median emargination. Lower lip has three mental grooves. Skull is moderately robust with zygomatic width
usually
slightly exceeding mastoid width (rarely subequal); anterior and posterior rostral swellings are moderately developed (rostral profile
gently
sloped
posteriorly
); sagittal crest is low to medium, and frontal depression is of medium depth, well defined, and bordered by generally conspicuous supraorbital ridges. P2 is well developed and within tooth row, separating P4 and C1; P3 is small or medium-sized and partly or
completely
displaced labially, which allows P2 and P4 to come in contact.
Habitat.
The Yellow-faced Horseshoe Bat is generally recorded in primary and
secondary
lowland forest and less
commonly
in montane forest; it occurs from sea level up to
1050 m
, though
mainly
below
800 m
elevation. It has also been found in agricultural areas
relatively
regularly, and in lowland dipterocarp forest.
Food and
Feeding. Yellow-faced Horseshoe Bats are insectivorous, feeding in the canopy for insects, primarily lepidopterans and dipterans, and occasionally spiders. This indicates that they forage
by
fly-catching and possibly foliage-gleaning. Stomach samples of bats on Mindanao included some hair fibers and insect parts, along with bird feathers and 78-6% unidentified flesh; this
suggests
that the species hunts birds as well.
Breeding. Litter consists of a single young.
Activity patterns.
Yellow-faced Horseshoe Bats are nocturnal.
They
generally roost in caves, culverts, and crevices, but
occasionally
in dark cavities in trees. Call shape is FM/ CF/FM with a peak F recorded at 83-88 kHz (averaging 85-6 kHz) in
Laguna Province
, Luzon, and 83-89 kHz on
Panay
(identity not totally certain).
Movements, Home range and Social
organization. The Yellow-faced Horseshoe Bat roosts in small groups and has been recorded roosting with the Small Asian Sheathtailed Bat (
Emballonura alecto
)
and Geoffrey's Rousette
(ousettus amplexicaudatus).
Status and Conservation.
Classified as Least Concern on
The IUCN ed List.
The Yellow-faced Horseshoe Bat is considered to be common and widespread with no major threats currendy identified.
Bibliography.
Csorba et al. (2003), Esselstyn, Widmann & Heaney (2004), Gaiorio & Nuneza (2014),
Heaney
, Balete, Dolar
et
al. (1998),
Heaney
, Balete, Gee et al. (2005),
Heaney
, Gonzales et al. (1991), Mould (2012),
Nuneza
&
Gaiorio
(2014), Ong, Rosell-Ambal &Tabaranza (2008),
Rickart
et al. (1993),
Sedlock
&Weyandt (2009).