Hipposideridae
Author
Don E. Wilson
Author
Russell A. Mittermeier
text
2019
2019-10-31
Lynx Edicions
Barcelona
Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats
227
258
book chapter
http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3739808
b7e93c79-44a6-4d9c-8b78-dcb62033fb0d
978-84-16728-19-0
3739808
9.
Fly
River
Leaf-nosed Bat
Doryrhina muscinus
French:
Phyllorhine de Fly
River
/
German:
Fly-River-Rundblattnase
/
Spanish:
Doryrina de Fly
River
Other common names:
Fly
River
Roundleaf Bat
Taxonomy.
Phyllorhina [sic] muscina Thomas & Doria, 1886
,
“Fly River,” Western Province,
Papua New Guinea
.
This species is monotypic.
Distribution.
Endemic to New
Guinea
, mostly along the Central Range, including
Papua Province
of
Indonesia
and
Sandaun
, Western,
Chimbu
,
Gulf
, and Central provinces of
Papua New Guinea
.
Descriptive notes.
Head—body 44-52 mm, tail
23 mm
, ear
18 mm
, hindfoot 7-4-
11 mm
, forearm 45-47 mm. Like Wollaston’s Leaf-nosed Bat (
D. wollastoni
), the Fly
River
Leaf-nosed Bat presents a posterior lateral leaflet, extended beneath anterior leaflet onto upper lip. Both species also present club-shaped processes in intermediate and posterior leaves. The Fly
River
Leaf-nosed Bat differs from Wollaston’s Leaf-nosed Bat in its lack of posterior leaf, and in its nearly flat rostrum profile. This species is brownish.
Habitat.
The Fly
River
Leaf-nosed Bat occupies lowland tropical forest rather than the caves typical for its congeners. Altitudinal range was reckoned to extend from sea level up to
750 m
, but a more recent study suggested its presence up to
2400 m
, based on acoustic registrations. However, its echolocation call might be confused with that of Wollaston’s Leaf-nosed Bat, which is a more montane species.
Food and Feeding.
The Fly
River
Leaf-nosed Bat is probably insectivorous.
Breeding.
This species probably reproduces in forests, as it does not inhabit caves.
Activity patterns.
The Fly
River
Leaf-nosed Bat has been found roosting in tree holes. Small aggregations of this species have been observed roosting in hollow trees and, on one occasion, inside a curled banana leaf. Echolocation call frequency is c.89— 90 kHz
Movements, Home range and Social organization.
No information.
Status and Conservation.
Classified as Least Concern on The IUCNRed List (as
Hipposideros muscinus
). Current population size and trends are unknown, but it is probably not greatly fragmented. Habitat loss and fragmentation might be the major threats for this species, although large areas of intact forest still remain within its range. It is thought to be more tolerant to habitat modification than other congeneric cave-dwellers. More research is needed to study and assess its ecology and population status.
Bibliography.
Armstrong & Aplin (2017d), Armstrong, Aplin & Lamaris (2015), Decher & Fahr (2005), Flannery I Colgan (1993).