Hipposideros alongensis, Bourret, 1942

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Hipposideridae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 227-258 : 237

26.

Ha Long Leaf-nosed Bat

Hipposideros alongensis

French: Phyllorhine d'Halong / German: Halong-Rundblattnase / Spanish: Hiposidérido de Halong

Other common names: Halong Bay Leaf-nosed Bat, Ha Long Roundleaf Bat

Taxonomy. Hipposideros larvatus alongensis Bourret, 1942 ,

Ha Long Bay, north-east Vietnam.

Hipposideros alongensis is in the armiger species group along (5 species). This species was initially classified as a subspecies of H. larvatus . Subsequently, it was reclassified as a distinct species by G. Topal in 1975, who then reclassified again it as a subspecies of H. turpis . The recent study of Thong Vu Dinh and colleagues in 2012 demonstrated through genetic analyses that the three former subspecies of H. turpis instead constituted three different species. Two subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

H.a.alongensisBourret,1942—CatBaI,H.a.LongBay,NEVietnam.

H. a. sungi Thong et al, 2012 scattered localities in mainland NE Vietnam (Na H.a. Nature Reserve and Ba Be and Cue Phuong national parks).

Descriptive notes. Ear 18-29 mm, forearm 68-1-76 mm; weight 22-5— 35 g. The two subspecies are very similar, sungi being slightly larger than nominotypical alongensis . Pelage of the Ha Long Leaf-nosed Bat is bicolored; fur is dark brown on dorsum, and brownish or grayish on ventral part. This species presents a well-defined antitragus. It has three pairs of supplementary lateral leaflets in its noseleaf. Inflated intermediate leaf is narrower than anterior and posterior ones. Posterior leaf has a well-developed fold on upper margin, and its upperpart is wider than base. Four noticeable cells are formed by three vertical septa on frontal part. Males present a protuberance behind posterior leaf, which becomes more noticeable during breeding season. Baculum is small with fork-like bifid tip.

Habitat. The Ha Long Leaf-nosed Bat occurs in limestone karst areas, commonly inhabiting caves and woodlands, from primary forest to more degraded habitats.

Food and Feeding. Details of its diet are unknown. The Ha Long Leaf-nosed Bat forages in both primary forest and disturbed woodland areas.

Breeding. The reproductive period is in summer and autumn, generally from May to September. Several females have been captured carrying their offspring during May and June, meaning that they must have given birth somewhat earlier. Males are reproductively active in August and September.

Activity patterns. Subspecies differ in echolocation call, F part being 73-3 kHz in sungi and 79-3 kHz in alongensis .

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Ha Long Leaf-nosed Bats can aggregate, forming large colonies of 300-500 bats. Some authors have suggested that this species changes its roosts seasonally.

Status and Conservation. Not assessed on The IUCN Red List as a separate species from the Lesser Leaf-nosed Bat ( H. turpis ), which is classified as Near Threatened. As its overall range is much smaller than that previously attributed to the Lesser Leaf-nosed Bat, the Ha Long Leaf-nosed Bat is likely to be less secure.

Bibliography. Csorba, Bates & Furey (2008a), Thong Vu Dinh, Puechmaille, Denzinger, Bates et al. (2012), Topé I (1975, 1993).

Figures

24. Large-eared Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros megalotis), 25. Boeadi’s Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros boeadii), 26. Ha Long Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros alongensis), 27. Great Himalayan Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros armiger), 28. Griffin’s Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros griffoni), 29. Pendlebury’s Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros pendleburyi), 30. Lesser Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros turpis), 31. Grand Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros grandis), 32. Horsfield’s Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros larvatus), 33. Maduran Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros madurae), 34. Sorensen’s Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros sorenseni), 35. Sumban Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros sumbae), 36. Shield-faced Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros lylei), 37. Pratt’s Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros pratti), 38. Shield-nosed Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros scutinares), 39. Makira Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros demissus), 40. Diadem Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros diadema), 41. Fierce Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros dinops), 42. Crested Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros inexpectatus), 43. Amhem Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros inomatus), 44. Indian Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros lankadiva), 45. Large Asian Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros lekaguli), 46. Peleng Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros pelingensis)

Subspecies and Distribution. H.a.alongensisBourret,1942—CatBaI,H.a.LongBay,NEVietnam. H. a. sungi Thong et al, 2012 scattered localities in mainland NE Vietnam (Na H.a. Nature Reserve and Ba Be and Cue Phuong national parks).